Norway Commits to Bunkering US Navy Vessels After Boycott Call

 

NATO member Norway will continue to supply fuel for U.S. Navy ships, the country's defence minister said on Sunday, after a call from a private marine fuel supplier to stop doing so in response to the apparent breakdown in U.S.-Ukrainian relations.

"We have seen reports raising concerns about support for U.S. Navy vessels in Norway. This is not in line with the Norwegian government's policy," Norway's Defence Minister Tore Sandvik said in a statement.

"American forces will continue to receive the supply and support they require from Norway," he added.

Sandvik issued his statement after privately held Norwegian fuel supplier Haltbakk Bunkers said that it would stop supplying U.S. Navy ships in response to how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was treated at the White House on Friday.

"Huge credit to the president of Ukraine restraining himself and for keeping calm even though USA put on a backstabbing TV show. It made us sick... No Fuel to Americans!" the company said in a now deleted Facebook post.

Haltbakk Bunkers CEO Gunnar Gran confirmed to Norwegian newspaper VG that the company made a decision not to supply the U.S. military, but said the move would have a "symbolic" impact as it didn't have a fixed contract.

The company did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

(Reuters - Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, editing by Terje Solsvik and Hugh Lawson)

 

 

Finland to Release Tanker Suspected of Power Cable Breach

 

Finland will release an oil tanker which investigators believe broke a Baltic Sea power cable and four internet lines late last year, and will escort the vessel to international waters even as the criminal probe continues, police said on Sunday.

The Cook Islands-registered Eagle S was boarded by Finland's coast guard on December 26 and has been held in custody while authorities probed the case, which remains under investigation on suspicion of sabotage.

Three crew members remain subject to a travel ban and are not allowed to leave Finland, police said in a statement.

"The criminal investigation continues with further interviews of the crew and the examination of the material gathered," police said, while adding that the aim is to conclude the probe by the end of April.

The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.

Investigators believe the cables broke when the Eagle S dragged its anchor along the seabed, and a lost anchor believed to belong to the vessel was later recovered from the ocean.

A lawyer representing the ship's owner has said the alleged damage happened outside of Finland's territorial waters and that the country thus lacked jurisdiction to intervene.

Finnish power grid operator Fingrid said on Sunday it had agreed with Estonian partner Elering to waive their right to enforce a seizure of the Eagle S as the cost of taking over and maintaining it likely exceeded the vessel's value.

(Reuters - Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Elaine Hardcastle and Raju Gopalakrishnan)

 

 

CMA CGM: US Fees on China Vessels Would Impact All Shipping Firms

 

U.S. proposals to hit Chinese vessels with high port fees would have a major impact on all firms in a container shipping industry in which most vessels are built in China, French-based shipping firm CMA CGM said on Friday.

The U.S. Trade Representative's office has proposed charging up to $1.5 million for Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports as part of its investigation into China's expansion in the shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors.

"China builds more than half of all container ships in the world, so this would have a significant effect on all shipping firms," Chief Financial Officer Ramon Fernandez told reporters.

CMA CGM, controlled by the family of Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saade, is the world's third-largest container shipping line. It has a large U.S. presence, operating several port terminals while subsidiary APL has 10 U.S.-flagged vessels, Fernandez said.

Asked about Ocean Alliance, a vessel-sharing agreement involving CMA CGM and Asian partners including China's COSCO, he said CMA CGM has had no indications the alliance could be called into question in view of U.S. policy.

He declined to comment further on the USTR proposals pending a decision expected in April.

The group already expects some impact on shipping this year from new tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, which could accelerate a shift in trade routes underway since Trump's first-term tariffs on China, Fernandez said.

A rush to beat new tariffs fuelled strong shipping volumes last year, a trend which has continued at the start of 2025, Fernandez said.

CMA CGM reported a 7.8% rise in shipped volumes in 2024, supporting an 18% rise in group sales to $55.48 billion.

The market outlook, however, appeared less favourable this year given geopolitical uncertainty and with the risk of vessel overcapacity, he said.

Disruption in the Red Sea due to attacks by Yemen's Houthi militants absorbed extra capacity last year, as many ships took a longer route around Southern Africa.

A return to regular traffic through the Red Sea following the ceasefire in Gaza would change that balance, and might lead firms to scrap older vessels, Fernandez added.

(Reuters - Reporting by Gus Trompiz, additional reporting by Michal Aleksandrowicz; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)

 

 

Petrobras Ups Ship Orders to 48 by 2026

 

Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras will commission four more support vessels by 2026, Chief Executive Magda Chambriard told Reuters, increasing the number of new ships aimed at supporting its operations to 48 by 2026.

The reinforcement of Petrobras' fleet comes amid expectations of higher offshore oil output in the next few years as new production units come online at the Buzios field, where it expects to produce up to 2 million barrels per day by 2030.

The commissioning of new vessels by the oil giant follows President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's plans to revitalize the country's shipbuilding industry, using the firm to fuel demand and create local jobs.

The company initially expected to contract 44 vessels by 2026. The plans include support vessels, platform support vessels, coastal shipping vessels and gas tankers, among others, according to Chambriard.

The head of Petrobras' transportation and logistics subsidiary Transpetro, Sergio Bacci, had already mentioned in an interview with Reuters last week that it was possible that new vessels would be added to the oil firm's plans.

(Reuters - Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Writing by Fabio Teixeira; Editing by Gabriel Araujo)

 

 

US Aircraft Carrier Visit Demonstrates Support for South Korea

 

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the southern city of Busan in South Korea on Sunday as a show of force, South Korea's navy said.

The visit was part of the "ironclad" commitment of the United States to extended deterrence and to show readiness by the military alliance between Seoul and Washington against North Korea, according to the navy.

The nuclear-powered vessel belonging to Carrier Strike Group 1 was joined by the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the USS Sterett guided-missile destroyer, the navy said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a test launch of strategic cruise missiles last month and ordered full readiness to use its nuclear attack capability, according to state media.

It marks the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has called at the country since June when the nuclear-powered Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Busan to take part in joint military exercises.

In November 2023, the U.S. Navy's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson visited in Busan.

 

 

Guyana Says Venezuelan Vessel Entered Contested Waters

 

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali said on Saturday that a Venezuelan coast guard patrol entered Guyanese waters earlier in the day, approaching an output vessel in an offshore oil block managed by Exxon Mobil.

The South American neighbors are involved in a long-running dispute about which country owns the 160,000-square-km (62,000-square-mile) Esequibo area, which is the subject of an ongoing case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The northwest portion of the block, close to Venezuela, has remained in force majeure as the Exxon group has been unable to complete exploration there.

"During this incursion, the Venezuelan vessel approached various assets in our exclusive waters, including FPSO Prosperity," Ali said in a statement.

The Venezuelan government denied Ali's allegations and claimed that the waters they entered were not part of Guyanese territory since it is a maritime zone pending delimitation in accordance with international law.

"Irfaan Ali is blatantly lying when he states that units of the Venezuelan navy are violating Guyana's territory," the Venezuelan government said in a statement shared on Telegram.

Guyana summoned the Venezuelan ambassador to meet with its foreign minister and discuss Guyana's strong objections, and its embassy in Caracas has been advised to lodge a formal complaint with Venezuela, Ali added.

Guyana will also formally report this incident to the ICJ and engage with international partners like the intergovernmental organization CARICOM, the statement added.

The Guyanese government has also deployed unspecified air assets, Ali added.

Venezuela requested Guyana to stop sidestepping the Geneva agreement, referring to a 1966 treaty to resolve the border dispute, and asked the country to "comply with its commitments to seek a solution."

The Organization of American States (OAS) condemned the Venezuelan incursion in "Guyana's internationally recognized maritime territory".

The incident was a violation of Guyana's territory, the United States Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said on X. "Further provocation will result in consequences for the Maduro regime," it added.

(Reuters - Reporting by Kemol King in Georgetown; Aditional Reporting by Mayela Armas; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Nia Williams)

 

 

Chemical Tanker Boarded in Singapore Strait

 

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has reported an unauthorized boarding of the Singapore-registered chemical tanker, Basset, at about 07:00am (SGT) on February 28 in the Singapore Strait, outside Singapore territorial waters.

A crew member was reported to have been injured. The vessel is currently anchored in Singapore waters and the Singapore Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force have been activated to render assistance. Medical evacuation of the injured crew is underway.

The ReCAAP ISC has alerted the maritime community to the increasing number of sea robberies from ships transiting in the Singapore Strait and warns further incidents are likely.

The chemical tanker incident was one of three that were reported by ships while transiting the Phillip Channel in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Singapore Strait on February 28. The incidents occurred near each other, off Takong Kecil Light, Indonesia. The other two incidents involved bulk carriers, one of which had engine spares stolen.

There were 21 incidents reported in the Straits of Malacca and the Singapore Strait during January and February 2025, compared to six incidents during the same period in 2024.

 

 

Maersk Highlights Indian Plans with Vessel Naming in Mumbai

 

A.P. Moller - Maersk celebrated the name-giving of its newest dual-fuel methanol container vessel in Mumbai on February 28 as a part of the vessel’s maiden voyage to India. The vessel, named Albert Maersk, is the eleventh vessel in Maersk’s fleet capable of operating on methanol.

“India is among the world's fastest-growing major economies, with a thriving manufacturing sector, a booming e-commerce industry, and expanding exports. Shipping and logistics are high on India’s priorities, and Maersk says it looks forward to partnering with India on various aspects, such as exploring the potential sourcing of alternative fuels for low-emissions shipping and activities involving ship repairs and shipbuilding,” said Vincent Clerc, CEO of A.P. Moller - Maersk

“It is a privilege for India to host the naming of this advanced dual-fuel vessel, a historic first for a foreign shipping company in our country, said Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. “With the demand for green vessels rising, India has the potential to become a major producer and supplier of green methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen-based fuels.”

Maersk contributes to India’s growing economy by facilitating the movement of one in every six containers imported or exported from the country and enabling global trade through its integrated logistics solutions. The company’s footprint in India includes two APM Terminals operations in Mumbai and Pipavav that facilitate the import and export of over three million containers every year, 26 warehouses spread across 350,000 sq. m., and a distribution network that reaches more than 80% of India's pin codes.

On the backdrop of the name-giving ceremony, Maersk announced that the company sees an investment opportunity pipeline of about $5 billion in ports and terminals as well as landside infrastructure development in India.