By Marwa Rashad and Stephen Kalin RIYADH, May 19 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it wanted to avert war in the region but stood ready to respond with "all strength" following last week's attacks on Saudi oil assets, telling Iran that the ball was now in its court. Riyadh has accused Tehran of ordering Tuesday's drone strikes on two oil pumping stations in the … [Read more...]
Mississippi River Barge Shipping Resumes After Floods
By Karl Plume and Rod Nickel May 17 (Reuters) - The upper Mississippi River fully reopened to boat and barge traffic this week for the first time since November as shippers scrambled to move a backlog of overdue fertilizer barges to farmers racing to sow corn before the end of the month. Some fertilizer shipments had been parked on river banks near St. Louis and further … [Read more...]
IMO Agrees on Stricter Efficiency Targets for Some Ships
By Nina Chestney LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday agreed stricter energy efficiency targets for certain types of ships in an effort to speed up action to cut the sector's emissions. The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee has been meeting in London this week to discuss tougher rules on sulfur emissions and other … [Read more...]
London Marine Insurers Widen Middle East Threat Zone
LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - London's marine insurance market has extended the list of waters deemed as high risk to include Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf after ship attacks off Fujairah, officials said on Friday. The London insurance market's Joint War Committee issued a statement saying the additions detail areas of perceived enhanced risk for marine insurers … [Read more...]
Insurer Says Iran’s Guards Likely Organized Tanker Attacks
By Jonathan Saul and Gwladys Fouche LONDON/OSLO, May 17 (Reuters) - Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are "highly likely" to have facilitated attacks last Sunday on four tankers including two Saudi ships off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, according to a Norwegian insurers' report seen by Reuters. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Norway are investigating the attacks, … [Read more...]