In 1988 the IMO made “Seaspeak” the international language of the sea. English is the principle language base of Seaspeak because it was the most common language spoken at sea in 1988. English is also the international language in civil aviation. There are numerous factors that led to English as a common language for communication […]
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Gloomier Picture for Global Container Port Throughput as Tariff Wars Begin to Bite
By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Alphaliner has slashed its global container throughput growth estimate for this year to just 2.5% from 3.6%. A weak first quarter and expected headwinds from the US-China trade war are taking their toll, said the consultant. The downgraded growth prediction is edging closer to the negative view of expansion […]
Mercy Ships Marks 100,000 Surgical Procedures Onboard its Hospital Ships
Mercy Ships is celebrating its 100,000th surgical procedure by medical volunteers onboard its charity hospital ships. The milestone procedure was performed on baby born with a debiliting cleft lip in Guinea. The nonprofit says the 7-month-old child, named Aissata, traveled with her mother nearly 200 miles to receive the surgery on the hospital ship the […]
P&O Sues U.K. Over No-Deal Brexit Settlement With Eurotunnel
By Jonathan Browning (Bloomberg) — P&O Ferries Ltd. sued the British government over its handling of no-deal Brexit preparations, saying that a 33 million-pound ($42 million) settlement with a rival failed to treat all the companies equally. The ferry firm said the U.K.’s last-minute deal with the owners of the Channel Tunnel was “irrational” and […]
Super Sniffer Drones and Jail: Regulators Get Tough on Shipping
By Jack Wittels and Ann Koh (Bloomberg) — Teams of drones are about to start policing the skies of some of the world’s busiest shipping ports. Their target? Environmental rule-breakers. It might sound — and look — like something out of a Marvel Avengers movie, but for many ports around the world, these so-called sniffer […]
Persian Gulf Now Most Risky for Oil Tankers Since Last Iraq War
By Alex Longley (Bloomberg) — Not since 2005 have the world’s insurers considered shipping in the Persian Gulf so dangerous for oil tankers. The Joint War Committee of London’s Lloyd’s Market Association said Friday that it would expand its so-called ‘listed areas’ — those regions that pose the greatest risks for shipping, and potentially warranting higher insurance […]
TOTE Selected as Construction Manager for New Multi-Mission Training Ship
The U.S. Maritime Administration has awarded Jacksonville-based TOTE Services the contract to serve as the Vessel Construction Manager for the new National Security Multi-Mission Vessel that will operate as a training platform for future mariners as well as support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in times of need. The contract was awarded Tuesday by Maritime […]