Israel: Port Ascalon and its oil terminal close down in the face of new war conflict

The Israeli port of Ashkelon and its oil terminal (located just over 10 kilometers from the border with the Gaza Strip) have been closed as a result of the conflict between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas, according to maritime and commercial sources. Meanwhile, the ports of Haifa and Ashdod remain open. For its part, the Israeli state-owned Europe Asia Pipeline Company (EAPC), which operates a major terminal in Ashkelon, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.

Fragility of new commercial corridors

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), championed by Washington last month on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi and described as a western rival to China´s Belt and Road, had a lot to prove from everyone. However, the emergence of conflict in Isarel puts on hold any grand financial vision involving the neighborhood.

IMEC´s main promoters were full of praise for the potential of the trade route, which includes railways, ports and green energy. The President of the United States, Joe Biden, called it "big business", while the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, boasted of a "green and digital bridge between continents and civilizations." For his part, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described IMEC as "the basis of global trade for hundreds of years."

The IMEC offers enormous potential, among other things because it would reduce shipping times by up to 40%. The demand is there: India´s total trade with Saudi Arabia has more than doubled in two years, reaching about $53 billion in fiscal 2023. But the real prize for New Delhi would be forging a stronger relationship with Europe, its third business partner.

Ties between India and the Gulf have strengthened considerably, but the corridor requires a reliable link between Saudi Arabia and Israel before goods can be sent to Europe from the port of Haifa, acquired this year by the Indian group Adani.

 

News and image obtained: "Mundo Marítimo"

https://www.mundomaritimo.cl/noticias/israel-puerto-ascalon-y-su-terminal-petrolera-cierran-sus-operaciones-ante-nuevo-conflicto-belic

 

Other news
Bound4blue completes installation of three suction sails on board 50,000 tpm tanker
27 February, 2025

Bound4blue completes installation of three suction sails on board 50,000 tpm tanker

Spanish company bound4blue, which specialises in auxiliary wind propulsion systems, has successfully completed the installation of three eSAIL suction sails on board a product tanker, the Pacific Sentinel, owned by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).

The installation of the three 22 m high sails was carried out at the Besiktas shipyard in Turkey, taking advantage of a scheduled shutdown of the vessel. The assembly of the systems was completed in less than three days, as planned.

The eSAIL auxiliary wind propulsion system developed by bound4blue is based on the use of a thick sail with an intelligent suction system. These sails are easy to install, operate and maintain, have very few moving parts and are suitable for almost all types of vessels. The company expects fuel savings of approximately 10%, depending on the route.

The installation of the systems on the Pacific Sentinel, a 50,000 dwt product tanker, presented a number of unique challenges, including the vessel´s strut and the existence of ATEX zones (where equipment installed on board must comply with explosion-proof regulations). It was carried out in collaboration with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), meeting classification and safety standards. ABS played a key role in granting the ‘wind-assisted’ notation, fundamental for the structural integration of eSAILs with the ship and their alignment with regulatory frameworks such as the ETS Directive, the FuelEU Maritime Regulation or the IMO´s IIC.

 

News and image obtained: ‘Asociación de Navieros Españoles’.

https://anave.es/bound4blue-completa-la-instalacion-de-tres-velas-de-succion-a-bordo-de-un-petrolero-mr/

 

 

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