Neptune lines has launched RORO service to Middle East

From now on Neptune Lines will be offering a short sea vehicle transportation service to the Middle East ports. The new service will link few Arabian Gulf states such as  United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

As per Neptune Lines representative, the new RORO move took place on September, 27 this year and is a result of a growing demand for vehicles transportation to the Middle East market.

As of today, Greek shipping company is providing service to more than 20 countries and 30 ports worldwide within Mediterranean and the Black Seas.

Based on Hurricane Matthew's current path towards the US, the port in Jacksonville, FL has already declared that the terminal will close tomorrow (10/6) at 10:00 am for receiving. In addition, they will be closed on Friday (10/7) as well.

A Monster Hurricane is Approaching South-East Coast of USA

Hurricane Matthew is expected to reach Florida and North Carolina by Friday. It has already passed over Haiti and right now is located in Cuba and Bahamas area. As per forecasters there can be a reason for concern. Heavy downpours in Haiti caused flood and landfalls. Rick Knabb, hurricane center director, advised to US citizens to leave for some time if they are in evacuation zone. The state of emergency was declared in Florida and North Carolina.

Transport Canada (TC) recently conducted tests on ships entering Canadian ports and found that the ships are in compliance with the required sulphur limit of 0.10%.

Marine Safety Inspectors used portable sulphur analyzers to determine initial compliance. The collected samples are currently being tested at an accredited laboratory for confirmation.

Transport Canada stated that any ship docking at a Canadian port might be inspected, however there is yet no percentage set on how many will actually be tested.

According to a TC official, if a sample is confirmed as non-compliant at the laboratory, the possible penalty would depend "on the circumstance and the decision of the Marine Safety Inspector.”

The 0.10% sulphur limit on fuel in use within the NA-ECA has been in effect since January 1, 2015.

On September 30 the Jacksonville Port Authority’s received the biggest Pure Car and Truck Carrier  (PCTC) in the world, owned by Norwegian RoRo shipping company Höegh Autoliners.

This 8,500 CEU  (car equivalent units) vessel arrived  through recently expanded Panama Canal.

Jacksonville is the one of the busiest ports in USA for vehicle handling. In 2015 it moved around 657 000 vehicles, the biggest volume since 2007.

Also this month the Höegh Vessel became first Neo-Panamax vessel which arrived to Port Freeport in Texas.