The LNG major Shell partnered with Turcas Petrol and launched the first liquefied natural gas filling station in Turkey, commenting that it is an act representing the importance of achieving today’s environmental goals through sustainable methods.
After the launch of the IMO’s 2020 sulphur cap, Turkey updated its fines concerning tariffs for pollution; Accordingly, the new tariffs concern real persons and are applicable from 01/01/20 to 31/12/20. Namely, the fines are divided in four categories: A, B, C and D.
Three sailors are reported to be missing after a collision took place between the Russian-flagged tanker Glard 2 and the Turkish-flagged fishing vessel Dursun Ali Coskun during the early morning hours of Friday, January 10. It is said that the collision occurred at the north side of the Istanbul Strait at around 0600 hours local time, causing the fishing boat to capsize and sink. Three sailors from the six on board have been rescued while the search and rescue operations for the remaining crew members are underway.
The Presidents of Russia and Turkey officially launched the TurkStream gas pipeline in a ceremony that took place on 8 January, in Istanbul. TurkStream, laying 930 km in the Black Sea, is a link between the gas transmission systems of Russia and Turkey.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that in case Greece and Turkey cannot solve their dispute about maritime zones in the Mediterranean, they should address the disagreement at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.
The Liberian-flagged cargo ship “Songa Iridium” experienced engine failure while voyaging south in the Bosphorus, which lead to the vessel running aground ashore in Istanbul, Turkey. Specifically, the incident took place on Friday, December 27. During that time, the vessel had 19 crewmembers onboard, as well as a pilot.
North informs that recent incidents of criminals using cargo ships to smuggle narcotics have highlighted specific routes that are being targeted by smugglers. Namely, one route is Barranquilla to Altamira, as there has been a notable increase in the finding of cocaine on vessels trading from Colombia to Mexico. In most of the cases, bulk carriers have been targeted. The drugs, in the form of packaged cocaine were buried within the cargo and were only discovered during discharge operations.
The Turkish Cypriot government officially informed that the Gecitkale Airport will from now on be a base for the landing Turkish drones. Those drones are escorting drill ships which are searching for hydrocarbons in the eastern Mediterranean. In light of the situation, a Turkish military drone was delivered to northern Cyprus today, on 16 December.
Turkey signed an agreement with Libya’s internationally recognised government clearing the maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea, that could further complicate Ankara’s disputes concerning energy exploration with other countries, Reuters reports.
The EU Council decided, on November 11, to implement a framework for sanctions against natural and legal people who are involved in offshore drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean within Cypriot territorial waters.
