Environment

MSC and Costamare settle with Amplify insurers over California oil spill

However, MSC maintained that Amplify is ‘solely responsible for events that led up to the oil spill and that their actions further worsened the pollution substantially’.

Published

2 years ago

April 13, 2023

Admin

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company on Wednesday (12 April) said it has entered into a settlement agreement with the subrogated insurers of Amplify Energy Corp related to the 2021 Orange County oil spill incident.

“The settlement amount will be jointly funded by MSC and Costamare without admission of responsibility or liability for the environmental damage that took place due to Amplify’s negligent management of their underwater pipeline,” it said in a statement.

However, MSC maintained that Amplify is “solely responsible for events that led up to the oil spill and that their actions further worsened the pollution substantially”.

“MSC agreed to this settlement to move forward productively, and we hope this regrettable incident will encourage Amplify to recognize its responsibility as a marine operator in the waters of California,” it said.

The firm said Amplify pleaded guilty to criminal negligence for their role in the oil spill.

“Amplify failed to act as a responsible marine operator by not taking reasonable preventative steps to better protect its pipeline and detect deficiencies within its pipeline despite becoming aware of them for months prior to the spill. For these reasons a preventable pollution event occurred which negatively impacted San Pedro Bay,” it added.

According to the U.S. Justice Department on 26 August 2022, Houston-based Amplify Energy Corp. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Beta Operating Co. LLC and San Pedro Bay Pipeline Co. agreed to plead guilty to violating the federal Clean Water Act, pay a USD 7.1 million criminal fine, and compensate federal programs approximately USD 5.8 million in connection with the discharge of approximately 25,000 gallons of crude oil during an offshore leak in the 17-mile-long San Pedro Bay Pipeline.

In March 2022, it was reported Amplify Energy sued MSC and Costamare claiming gross negligence, liability, and failure to notify the company after their ships dragged their anchors damaging the pipeline nine months before the leak. Marine Exchange of Southern California, which manages traffic in the area was also named in the suit, claiming it failed to direct the ships to deeper waters.

Photo credit: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company
Published: 13 April, 2023

LNG Bunkering

China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Bunkering vessel “Hai Yang Shi You 302” supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres of LNG bunker fuel to containership “MSC Adya” at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port port on 5 January.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

China: Ningbo Zhoushan Port completes first LNG bunkering operation for 2025

Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area on Wednesday (8 January) said Ningbo-Zhoushan Port successfully completed its first LNG bunkering operation for the year.

Bunkering vessel Hai Yang Shi You 302 supplied more than 10,000 cubic metres (m3) of LNG bunker fuel to containership MSC Adya at the port on 5 January.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading, the bunker supplier for the operation, successfully obtained the Zhoushan Anchorage LNG bunkering licence in June 2024, extending refuelling services from dock to sea.

The company’s services cover Meishan, Chuanshan, Daxie and other port areas.

As China's first river-sea LNG transport and bunkering ship, Hai Yang Shi You is currently placed permanently at Ningbo Zhoushan Port, providing a variety of bunkering methods such as ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore.

Zhejiang Seaport International Trading will continue to expand the scope of bonded LNG bunkering operations and new alternative fuels such as green methanol, ammonia and biofuels in the Zhoushan Area.

Photo credit: Zhejiang Pilot Free Trade Zone Zhoushan Area
Published: 10 January, 2025

Nuclear

VARD and partners team up to explore nuclear propulsion for shipping

Project, which involves Knutsen Tankers and DNV, will evaluate fourth-generation nuclear reactor technologies for their viability in commercial shipping applications.

Published

3 days ago

January 10, 2025

Admin

VARD and partners team up in project to explore nuclear propulsion for shipping

Norway-based shipbuilder VARD on Friday (3 January) said it has partnered with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Ålesund, Norway and other key stakeholders in the NuProShip I project, which explores nuclear propulsion for the maritime sector.

NuProShip, short for "Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping," will evaluate fourth-generation nuclear reactor technologies for their viability in commercial shipping applications.

In this project, an extensive assessment of 99 companies developing advanced reactor technologies led to the selection of three promising reactor types:

Kairos Power (USA): Fluoride high-temperature molten salt reactor using Tri-structural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel particles, designed for robust and efficient operation.
Ultrasafe (USA): Helium-cooled gas reactor, also employing TRISO fuel particles, known for their resilience and safety in extreme conditions.
Blykalla (Sweden): Lead-cooled reactor concept utilizing uranium oxide as fuel, offering high efficiency with advanced cooling mechanisms.

VARD said TRISO fuel particles, noted for their durability and containment properties, play a crucial role in two of these reactor types.

“TRISO technology in fact, is renowned as one of the most resilient nuclear fuel types available today,” it added.

Alongside VARD, the NuProShip project is supported by other partners, including DNV, the Norwegian Maritime Administration, ship owner Knutsen Tankers, and the Spanish nuclear consultancy IDOM.

VARD’s primary contribution involves integrating these reactor systems into various vessel types, assessing the technical challenges to enable the future commercial use of nuclear-powered ships.

Photo credit: VARD
Published: 10 January, 2025

LNG Bunkering

Monjasa achieves milestone with first LNG bunkering operation in UAE

Monjasa-operated LNG bunker vessel “Green Zeebrugge” successfully delivered around 3,000 cubic meters of LNG marine fuel to Costa Cruises’ cruise ship “Costa Smeralda” on 4 January.

Published

4 days ago

January 9, 2025

Admin

Monjasa achieves milestone with first LNG bunkering operation in UAE

Marine fuel supplier Monjasa on Wednesday (8 January) announced the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) and the Middle East region’s first LNG bunkering operation, which took place on 4 January at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal B together with Costa Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation.

On this occasion, the Monjasa-operated LNG bunker vessel Green Zeebrugge went alongside the cruise ship Costa Smeralda and successfully delivered around 3,000 cubic meters of LNG.

On 18 December 2024, Monjasa announced the charter of the 5,000 m3 vessel Green Zeebrugge for operations in the UAE.

About a week later, on 26 December, Green Zeebrugge arrived in Dubai waters following the departure from Amsterdam in November.

The vessel was inspected by the authorities in Port Rashid on 27 December 2024, and the official bunkering permits were issued to Monjasa by the Dubai Maritime Authority and Dubai Ports Authority.

Monjasa Group CEO, Anders Østergaard, said: “We are excited about this first successful supply operation and to pioneer LNG as a new marine fuel option in the UAE.”

“However, reaching this milestone was only possible through the close collaboration of our forward-thinking partners at Carnival and Costa Cruises, ADNOC L&S and the UAE’s federal and local authorities, who are constantly embracing maritime innovation.”

“Together, we are all striving to position the UAE as a leading shipping hub in alternative fuels too.”

Photo credit: Monjasa
Published: 9 January, 2025