The EU plans to curb contracts and funding for Ankara, following Turkey’s, what is said to be, illegal drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus, as Reuters reports. During a meeting in Brussels the EU reported that it would introduce stricter measures against Turkey, under the condition that Ankara continues drilling operations.
Further escalating tensions among the EU and Turkey, the Turkish ship ‘Yavuz’ arrived Monday night off the island of Cyprus and it is set to drill for oil and gas, triggering a strong protest from Nicosia the EU. This comes less than a month after EU leaders warned Turkey to end its gas drilling in waters around the island.
Concerning Libyan ports, Standard P&I Club has already highlighted to ship operators that the situation remains extremely unstable. In the meantime, Al Jazeera referred to a new potential threat against Turkish flagged ships that call Libyan Ports.
An explosion was reported on board the LPG tanker Syn Zania on July 1st. After the explosion a fire erupted, while one died and 15 crew members were injured and evacuated to receive medical treatment. The ship was moored at a port in Turkey.
According to Demirören News Agency, Turkey announced that it will establish naval and air bases in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, aiming to ensure its security in the Eastern Mediterranean. The announcement followed a visit to Northern Cyprus by a team from the Turkish Navy, which held talks with diplomatic and military officials in the north of the island before returning to Ankara.
Greece and Cyprus called on the European Union to take punitive measures against Turkey amid escalating tensions in the eastern Mediterranean over offshore energy reserves. After Ankara announced it would expand exploration for potentially lucrative gas resources in the region, the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, appealed to the EU to unreservedly condemn the illegal actions of Turkey.
Esben Poulsson, the Chairman of ICS has commended the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) as being a ‘model member’. Mr. Poulsson also highlighted that the lifting of the restrictions that Turkey has imposed on Cypriot-flagged ships would lead to a a win-win situation. Moreover, he expressed ICS’s full support on 2020 sulphur cap, but highlighted its concerns regarding the prices of the new fuels.
The bulk carrier ‘Persenk’ collided with the cargo ship ‘Ahmet Can’ on Saturday, May 18, while sailing in the Marmara Sea. The incident took place between the Marmara island and the Port ofTekirdag, European Turkey. The vessels were both heading to the Dardanelles. According to local sources, both vessels suffered damages, after the collision.
The International Convention on Arrest of Ships, 1999 (1999 Convention) was ratified by the Turkish Parliament on March 2017. Now, on May 3, 2019, the 1999 Convention officially became binding by law upon the Turkish authorities. This recent development paves the way for arrest of ships under demise charter for debts of the charterer given that international conventions take priority over national law.
Iron Chieftain bulker vessel departed from Port Kembla on March 27, and is now heading to its final resting place in Turkey. The vessel suffered a major fire in June 2018, and 100 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire.
