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China maps the ocean floor to prepare for submarine war with the U.S.
China has been conducting an extensive undersea mapping operation and monitoring across the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Oceans. This vast operation is aimed at gaining detailed knowledge about marine conditions, which naval experts believe will be vital for the conduct of submarine warfare against America and its allies. Ship-tracking data shows that, for example, in 2024 and 2025, the Dong Fang Hong 3?a research ship operated by Ocean University of China sailed back and forth between the seas around Taiwan, Guam and strategic stretches of Indian Ocean. Ocean University reports that in October 2024 it tested a series of powerful Chinese ocean sensors able to identify undersea items near Japan. It returned to the same area last May. In March 2025 it covered the approaches to the Malacca Strait - a crucial chokepoint for maritime trade - by crisscrossing the waters between Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Malacca Strait. According to the university the ship carried out climate research and mud surveys. A scientific paper written by Ocean University academics reveals that the ship has also carried out extensive deep-sea maps. According to U.S. Navy officials and naval-warfare specialists, the Dong Fang Hong 3's deep-sea mapping and sensor placement gives China an idea of what conditions are under the sea so it can better deploy its submersibles and track down its enemies. The Dong Fang Hong 3 doesn't operate alone. The Dong Fang Hong 3 is part of an ocean mapping and monitoring effort involving hundreds of sensors and dozens of research ships. This effort was traced by examining Chinese government records and university publications, as well as journal articles and scientific papers, and analyzing more than five years' worth of movement data from 42 research vessels operating in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, or Arctic Ocean using a ship tracking platform developed by New Zealand-based Starboard Maritime Intelligence. Nine naval warfare experts who reviewed the findings said that while the research is primarily civilian - for example, some areas are being surveyed to determine fishing grounds and mineral deposits - there is also a military purpose. In order to gather information on the underwater terrain, researchers map the seafloor by traveling in a straight line. This type of movement is shown in the tracking data of vessels that have been tracked over large areas of the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean. According to an analysis of Chinese state-run media, descriptions of vessels published by Chinese universities and press releases from government organizations, at least eight of those tracked vessels have performed seabed mapping. Another 10 of them have carried mapping equipment. Peter Scott, former chief of Australia’s submarine force, stated that the survey data from the vessels "would potentially be invaluable in preparing for the battlespace" of Chinese submarines. "Any submariner who is worth his salt will spend a lot of time and effort to understand the environment in which he operates." Ship-tracking data shows that China's seabed surveying effort is focused in part around militarily-important waters near Guam, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Wake atoll is a military base in the north Pacific. Jennifer Parker, adjunct professor of Defense and Security at the University of Western Australia (and former Australian antisubmarine warfare officers), said that "the scale of their actions is more than just about resources." If you take a look at its sheer size, it is clear that the Australians intend to build a blue-water navy that includes submarine operations. Parker and other experts also added that, even when data are gathered for scientific reasons, the integration between civilian scientific research, and military?technology has become a major focus of the Chinese Government under President Xi Jinping. Beijing calls this "civil-military" fusion. The Chinese ministries of foreign affairs, defense and natural resources did not respond to inquiries about ocean monitoring and seabed mapping. The U.S. Defense Department did not respond to any questions. Rear Admiral Mike Brookes of the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence testified to a congressional committee this month that China has dramatically increased its surveying activities, providing data "that enable submarine navigation, concealment and positioning of seabed weapons or sensors." Brookes also said that the "potential collection of military intelligence" by Chinese research vessels "represents an important strategic concern." The United States has recently reorganized its efforts to map the ocean and monitor it, but they do so using military vessels which are permitted to disable the civilian tracking software. China's civilian survey vessels also disable tracking at times, so its campaign could go further than we can determine. It is the first report on the extent of China’s mapping and monitoring efforts across the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean. In previous reporting, a small portion of China's mapping and monitoring effort was revealed around Guam and Taiwan and in some parts of the Indian Ocean. Ryan Martinson, a U.S. associate professor who specializes in Chinese maritime strategies, said: "It's truly astonishing to see the immense scale of Chinese marine science research." Naval War College. Martinson added, "The U.S. Navy has enjoyed an asymmetrical advantage for decades in its knowledge of ocean battlespace." China's efforts "threatens to erode this advantage." This is clearly a grave concern. "PARANOID about being boxed in" According to naval experts, the data collected by Chinese research vessels about seabeds and water conditions are crucial for submarine operations and antisubmarine warfare. According to Australian defense scholar Parker: Commanders need information about the underwater terrain in order to avoid collisions, and conceal their vessels. This data is essential to detect submarines that operate within a few hundred metres of the surface. Submarines can be identified by the sound they make or echoes of signals from sonar systems. Tom Shugart is a former U.S. sub commander and adjunct senior fellow with the Center for a New American Security. He said that the sound waves move differently depending on the underwater terrain. Water temperature, salinity, and currents also affect sound waves and submerged movements. The vessels in question belong to Chinese state entities such as the Ministry of Natural Resources, or to state-affiliated institutions of higher learning like Ocean University. In 2021, its president publicly praised "close ties with China's Navy" and "commitment to building a maritime force and national defense." The university did not respond to a comment request. China's most extensive ocean surveying has been done east of the Philippines. The Philippines is located along the First Island Chain. This chain of territories, largely controlled and governed by America, runs from the Japanese Islands in the north, through Taiwan, to Borneo, in the south. The chain is a natural barrier that separates China's coast seas from the Pacific. Peter Leavy, former Australian naval attache in the U.S. who is now the president of the Australian Naval Institute, said that the First Island Chain was a source of paranoia for the Australians. China's mapping is "an indication of a desire to better understand the maritime domain in order to break out." China's tracking data also shows that it covers the waters around Guam, where American nuclear submarines have been stationed. Chinese vessels also mapped the waters surrounding Hawaii, another of America's regional military hubs. They examined an underwater ridge to the north of a base in Papua New Guinea, where the U.S. gained access recently. And they scouted Christmas Island, a territory of Australia on a route connecting the South China Sea with a crucial Australian submarine base. China's efforts go beyond the South China Sea. China has also mapped vast?swathes of the Indian Ocean. This is a crucial route for Chinese imports from the Middle East, Africa and the Middle East. Parker, a former anti-submarine war officer, said that China has "some key vulnerabilities" when it comes its dependence on maritime trade. Surveying indicates that "they will likely conduct more submarine operations in Indian Ocean." China's ships have also mapped seabeds west and north from Alaska, a vital sea route to the Arctic. Beijing has declared the Arctic a strategic frontier, and its ambition is to become a great polar power by 2030. Shugart said that the extensive surveying, and Beijing's increasing undersea capabilities are "symptomatic" of China's rising as a leading maritime power. A 'TRANSSPARENT OCEAN' Wu Lixin proposed an ambitious project to create a transparent ocean in 2014 by deploying sensors to give China a complete view of the water conditions and its movement. This was according to a report published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which is affiliated with state. According to Shandong officials, the Shandong government quickly backed this proposal with at least $85 millions. Ocean University has announced that it began the project in the South China Sea where they have built an observation system covering the deep-sea area. Brookes Brookes, director of the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence told the congressional commission that China was building underwater surveillance networks to "gather hydrographic information - water temperatures, salinity and currents – in order to optimize sonar performances and enable persistent surveillance of subs transiting crucial waterways such as the South China Sea." Chinese scientists have expanded the project transparent ocean to include the Pacific and Indian Oceans after surveying the South China Sea. Records from the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources and Shandong Government show that China deployed hundreds of sensors and buoys in the Pacific to detect changes like temperature and salinity. Documents from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Chinese Academy of Sciences describe an array of sensors ringing India, Sri Lanka and the Ninety East Ridge, a mountain range under the Indian Ocean. Starboard data shows that Chinese vessels also explored the ridge, which is one of the longest underwater mountain ranges in the world. It sits on the approach to Malacca Strait - through which a large part of China's oil supplies passes. Ocean University and Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have stated that the larger network of sensors provides China with data in real time about the water conditions and movements of subsea. Some experts in naval warfare expressed caution regarding this claim due to the technical difficulties with real-time data communication from underwater. Parker stated that even delayed data could be valuable as it can help China detect U.S. sub operations. Many sensors are located in sensitive areas. Recently, the media reported that the U.S. was fortifying a crucial strait connecting Taiwan and the Philippines in order to block Chinese access to Pacific. Ocean University reports that China has installed?advanced sensor systems in areas of the strait where U.S. subs could move through to reach the South China Sea. Chinese scientists claim that these sensors monitor changes in ocean and climate conditions. In 2017, Shandong officials said that the transparent ocean project aimed to "ensure maritime security and defense" and explicitly compared it with the U.S. military's effort to build an American ocean sensor network. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong Government and Institute of Oceanology did not respond to comments. According to the website of the Naval Submarine Academy in China, the founder of the Mapping-Program, Wu, now oversees the Network through the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology. Wu did not respond to any questions. 'NEW TYPES OF COMBAT CAPABILITIES' China's mapping system and monitoring tools give it the sophisticated tools needed to detect and destroy rival submarines in some of world's most volatile waters. Collin Koh is a senior fellow at Singapore's RSIS Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. He said that this was a manifestation of China’s vast sea reach. "They have a fairly good idea of the maritime domain that they want to operate in either in peacetime, or during war." Chinese researchers also see the strategic value of their work. Zhou Chun is a researcher at Ocean University who supervises the Indian Ocean sensor arrays and Pacific Ocean sensor arrays. He was quoted in a press release from Ocean University last year as saying that his research had shown him, "the rapid growth of my country's military and maritime capabilities." He did not respond to any questions. Zhou promised to "transform our military's most advanced technological and scientific achievements into new combat capabilities at sea."
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As the Middle East conflict escalates, airlines cancel more flights
The global air travel industry is still severely affected by the Iran war, which forced major Middle Eastern hubs to close, including Dubai Doha, and Abu Dhabi. This left tens or thousands of passengers stranded. The latest flight information is listed below alphabetically: AEGEAN AIRLINES Greece's biggest carrier has cancelled flights from Tel Aviv to Beirut, Amman and Erbil until April 22. Baghdad and Erbil will be canceled until May 24. Dubai flights have been cancelled through April 19, and Riyadh flights until April 18. AIRBALTIC AirBaltic, a Latvian airline, announced that all flights to Tel Aviv have been cancelled up until April 29. All flights to Dubai are cancelled until October 24. AIR CANADA All flights from Canada to Tel Aviv and Dubai have been cancelled until the end of March. AIR EUROPA Spanish Airlines has cancelled all flights from Tel Aviv to April 10. AIR FRANCE KLM Air France has cancelled Tel Aviv, Beirut and Dubai flights until the end of March. Riyadh and Dubai flights will be cancelled until the 24th. This includes flights departing Dubai on March 25. KLM has suspended flights from Riyadh to Dammam, Dubai and Tel Aviv up until May 17, and until April 11, respectively. CATHAY PACIFIC Hong Kong Airlines has cancelled all passenger flights and cargo flights from Dubai and Riyadh to April 30. The airline has added more flights to London between March 21-28 due to an increase in demand. U.S. airline has cancelled flights between New York and Tel Aviv until May 31, and Tel Aviv to New York until June 1. Atlanta-Tel Aviv flights have been paused from August 4 to 5. Flights from Tel Aviv will be halted until June 1. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES The Israeli airline said that operational constraints prevent regular flights out of Israel except in "rare, exceptional situations" and it continues to make efforts to get passengers back home. The airline also called on authorities to open Ramon Airport, near Eilat. EMIRATES The UAE airline announced that it would operate a reduced schedule after a partial opening of the regional airspace. ETIHAD AERWAYS The UAE carrier said that it operated a limited schedule of commercial flights between Abu Dhabi, and select destinations. FINNAIR The Finnish airline has cancelled all Dubai flights up until 29 March and Doha flights till 2 July, while continuing to avoid Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Israel's airspace. FLYNAS Flynas, a Saudi low-cost airline, has extended the suspension of its flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi Sharjah Doha, Bahrain Kuwait Iraq and Syria, until March 31, 2019. British Airways, owned by IAG, has extended the cancellations to Amman and Bahrain until May 31, and Doha until April 30. Flights to Bangkok and Singapore have also been added. Flights to Abu Dhabi are suspended until the end of this year. INDIGO The Indian airline has temporarily suspended its operations in Doha, Kuwait and Bahrain, Dammam as well as Fujairah Ras Al Khaimah Sharjah, Fujairah. JAPAN AIRLINES Japan Airlines has suspended its scheduled Tokyo-Doha and Doha to Tokyo flights until April 1; All flights from Tel Aviv to Dubai are cancelled until May 31, according to the Polish airline. The airline has also cancelled its flights to Riyadh and Beirut until April 30, as well as to Riyadh from March 31 through April 30. LUFTHANSA GROUP German airline group Lufthansa has suspended flights from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, and also to Beirut, Dubai and Amman. Flights from Riyadh to Riyadh are suspended until April 5 and flights to Tehran through April 30. MALAYSIA AIRLINES Malaysia Airlines has suspended all flights to Doha until the 28th of March. NORWEGIAN AIR Low-cost airline has delayed the launch of Tel Aviv services and Beirut flights to June 15 from April 1 and 4 respectively. All Dubai flights have been cancelled through April 8. PEGASUS Pegasus Airlines, Turkey's national airline, has cancelled all flights to Iran, Iraq, Amman Kuwait, Bahrain and Doha Dammam until April 13th. Pegasus Airlines, Turkey's national airline, has cancelled flights to Riyadh until March 24. QATAR AIRWAYS The airline said that it would be operating a limited number of revised flights until the 28th March. SINGAPORE Airlines Singapore Airlines has announced that it will suspend its Singapore-Dubai flight until April 30 and add new services between Singapore Gatwick and London from March 31 to November 24. It will also increase the number of flights between Singapore and Melbourne (from March 29 to November 24) to meet increased demand. TURKISH AIRLINES Turkish Airlines has cancelled the majority of Middle East flights up until March 31. SunExpress has cancelled flights from Dubai and Bahrain to its joint venture with Lufthansa until 23 March. VIETNAM Airline Vietnam Airlines, the country's flag carrier, plans to cut 23 flights per week on several routes within Vietnam from April. WIZZ AIR The low-cost carrier has suspended flights from Europe to Israel and other destinations in the Middle East until March 29. Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman will be available until mid-September. (Compiled by Josephine Mason and Jamie Freed; edited by Matt Scuffham and Mill Nissi Prussak.
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Highlights of the EU-Australia Trade Agreement
The EU and Australia signed a free trade agreement on Tuesday, as Europe tries to diversify its markets and extend its ties beyond traditional partners. The following are some of the key points in the agreement: AGRICULTURE The tariffs on key EU exports such as wine, sparkling?wine and some fruits and vegetables will be zero from the first day. This includes preparations, fruit juices and chocolate. In three years, the tariffs on EU Cheese will be zero. The EU will also eliminate tariffs on the majority of Australian agricultural products, including wine, nuts and fruit and vegetables; honey, olive oils, most dairy products; wheat, barley, and seafood. Australian beef, lamb meat, sugars, wheat glutens, rices, skimmed powdered milk, and butter will all receive either new or expanded tariff rate quotas. PROTECTED EUROPEAN Produits After a relatively brief phase-out period, some EU "geographical indicators" names such as Pecorino romano? or Ouzo will be protected. Prior Australian users of some products, such as feta and gruyere can keep the right to use these terms provided that the origin is clearly labeled. Prosecco producers in Australia can continue to produce and sell the wine on their own soil. After 10 years, exports will cease. AUTOMOBILES Australia will liberalise the market for all EU cars, including passenger cars, except for a few truck tariff lines, which will be removed gradually over a short time. Australia will also raise the threshold for luxury cars tax on EU electric vehicles from A$120,000 to A$120,000 (83,600). Around 75% of the electric vehicles imported from the EU are exempted. CRITICAL MINERALS EU will eliminate tariffs on imports of?critical minerals from Australia and?hydrogen. Australia will open investment opportunities to Europeans in this sector. You can also find out more about The agreement will make it easier to sell services in Australia for EU firms, such as in maritime transport, financial services, professional and business services. The agreement will eliminate discrimination, and increase opportunities for EU service providers and Australian investors. INVESTMENTS EU investors will receive the most favourable treatment of any foreign investor in Australia and, in many cases, be treated the same as Australian investors. Both EU and Australian companies will be allowed to operate freely in the other's territory. $1 = 1.4255 Australian Dollars (Reporting and editing by Praveen Manon and Christine Chen, Sydney)
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Democrats condemn the detention of a distraught woman at San Francisco Airport by federal officers
After the videos went viral, local officials in California condemned the detention of a woman?crying at the San Francisco International Airport by federal officers on Sunday. A video posted on Monday by an NBC affiliate showed a woman wailing and crying as she was restrained. Her daughter was seen crying and watching as officers held her down. Scott Wiener (Democrat) said that the incident proved that federal actions brought nothing but chaos and fear. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie is also a Democrat. He said that what happened was "upsetting." U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which has been overseeing Republican President Donald.Trump's crackdown on immigration, announced that the videos showed people being arrested in the u.s. illegally. DHS reported on X that "ICE officers arrested Angelina LopezJimenez, and Wendy GodinezLopez in the San Francisco International Airport." The family was subject to a final removal order from Guatemala for 2019. Democratic?U.S. Doris Matsui, a representative from California, said that the woman who was detained by ICE is a Sacramento resident and called her "our neighbor" and 'a member of our local community. Human rights activists have condemned Trump's crackdown on immigration and the use of ICE agents by his administration. They say that it violates free speech and due process rights and creates an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities. Trump claims that his actions are aimed at improving domestic security and reducing illegal immigration. The airport claimed it had not been involved or informed in advance of the incident. It called it "isolated." The airport said that operations at the airport continued unaffected, and there were no 'impacts on flights or passenger processing as a result of this incident. San Francisco Police released a statement stating that it did not take part in the incident. DHS stated that the incident 'took place before ICE officers deployed to airports. Trump sent armed immigration agents on Monday to help 'ease the hours-long lines of security at major airports?strained by staff shortages. Democrats refuse to fund the DHS unless new restrictions are placed on the immigration agents' actions. The standoff between Trump’s Republicans and the opposition Democrats was not likely to end anytime soon.
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Sources say that Iranian oil is being offered at a premium to Brent to India
Three industry sources reported that traders?offered Iranian oil at a premium over ICE Brent to Indian refiners after Washington temporarily removed sanctions in order to ease the energy shortage caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. India, which is the third largest oil consumer and importer in the world, hasn't received a shipment from Tehran since May 2019, after being pressured by the United States to stop buying Iranian crude. India is 'hit hard' by the disruption of energy shipping via the Strait of Hormuz due to the war against Iran. The conflict has now entered its fourth week. The sources say that India's refiners only have one month to maximize their purchases of oil and LPG from Iran, which is located geographically near India. Indian refiners bought millions of barrels after the U.S. lifted its sanctions on Russia to try and curb the rise in oil prices. India is also suffering from a severe shortage of LPG (primarily used in cooking). Payments in Dollars or even Rupees The sources stated that traders and the National Iranian Oil Co. are looking for payments in dollars. Some parties will even accept payment in Indian rupees. Sources could not be identified because they weren't authorised to talk to the media. Fatih Birol said that the current energy crisis was worse than both oil shocks in the 1970s combined. Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury secretary, said that the Trump administration issued a waiver of sanctions for 30 days on Friday to allow purchase of Iranian oil at sea. According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, this waiver is applicable to oil loaded onto a vessel (including tankers subject to sanctions) on or before 20 March and discharged on 19 April. According to sources, Iranian oil was offered at a $6-$8 premium per barrel over the ICE Brent. Payment would be made within seven days after cargo arrival. They added that Indian refiners wanted to make sure of the payment system before they signed any 'deal' with NIOC, as Iran has been cut off from the SWIFT payments system. Sujata Sharma, joint secretary of the federal oil ministry told reporters that any decision by oil companies to purchase Iranian fuel was "a technological-commercial decision".
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Vietnam Airlines plans domestic route cuts due to jet fuel shortage, regulator says
Vietnam's aviation authority announced that flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will cancel 23 flights a week across several routes in April due to looming fuel shortages. Vietnam imports most of its jet fuel, but the Middle East war is disrupting the supply. Vietnam Airlines, part of the state-owned Vietnam Airlines Corp., prioritises routes that are 'critical for national connectivity, trade and tourism, diplomacy, and domestic travel,' said CAAV in a late Monday statement. The statement said that from April 1, it will cancel 23 flights a week and suspend seven domestic routes to save fuel. These include services from Hai Phong, to Buon Ma Thuot, Cam Ranh and Phu Quoc, as well as from Ho Chi Minh City to Van Don, Rach GIa and Dien Bien. Vietnam Airlines did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The CAAV warned that flight restrictions could begin in April after China and Thailand halted their jet fuel exports due to the war in Iran. The authority said that Vietnamese airlines are planning to implement fuel surcharges for international routes starting in early April. (Reporting and editing by John Mair; Phuong Nguyen)
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As ships reroute to the Cape, African bunkering hubs benefit
The hip-refuelling businesses along Africa's coastline are seeing a boom in business, as more ships divert around Cape of Good Hope. This is due to the Middle East war reshaping the global shipping routes and boosting Africa's role as an important bunkering hub. Since the Houthi attacks against Red Sea shipping in late 2023, carriers have avoided the Suez Canal as well as the Bab el-Mandeb strait. U.S., Israeli and Strait of Hormuz closures and strikes against Iran have reinforced this shift. This has led to expectations that Africa's Bunkering Sector will benefit from the prolonged instability. Container carriers such as Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and CMA CGM have announced this month that they will reroute vessels around Cape of Good Hope. Detours prolong voyage times, but allow vessels to refuel in emerging African supply areas. This accelerates investment by fuel providers and trading houses. Existing suppliers of bunker in Africa such as Denmark’s Monjasa have reported increased demand in the last few years. Meanwhile, new players like Vitol Bunker Partner, Peninsula Flex Commodities, Global Fuel Supply and Bunker Partners have announced plans to expand. The Red Sea security situation has positively affected volumes, causing more vessels reroute southwards of Africa, said Monjasa's spokesperson Thorstein Andreasen. Monjasa - which operates in West Africa and supplies fuel to Fujairah - reported an increase in bunkering during the first weeks of the Iran War. Andreasen stated that "no matter what the outcome of the conflict is, we expect the overall volatility to be high for a significant period of time." NEW ROUTES BECOME 'OPERATIONAL REALITY' Along the Cape Route, the scale of the shift can be seen. Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that diversions increased 112%?as of the beginning of March, signaling what carriers see now as a permanent change in operations. After nearly two years operating in these conditions, it's becoming increasingly difficult to describe our setup as temporary. Instead, it has?become a adaptation to a different operational reality," Bhavan Vempati said. He is the head of Asia Market for Oceans at Maersk. He said Maersk bunkers ports in West Africa, including Tangiers. This trend has attracted new players. Flex Commodities, based in Dubai, launched physical bunkering in Namibia's Walvis Bay & Luderitz. Rakesh Sharma, Flex's managing director, said: "We target the growing traffic around Cape Town and the offshore markets around the region by offering an alternative to the traditional bunkering stop in the area." He added that the company will initially focus on West Africa where there is a shortage of supply, especially offshore. Moses Komodatam, the operations manager at Misa Energy in Ghana, said that Misa Energy is increasing its volumes in order to meet a?rising need in offshore bunkering areas. Moses Komodatam, the operations manager at Misa Energy in Ghana, said that they are increasing their bunkering volume to meet?rising demand in offshore bunkering zones. Tahra Sergeant, Africa Regional Manager at the International Bunker Industry Association, says that long-term growth prospects go beyond geopolitical disruption. Investment in port infrastructure and Africa's position on global shipping routes are supporting demand. Mauritius Ports Authority announced at a conference in March last year that overall bunker fuel sales had almost doubled?at Port Louis, to a record of 929,043?metric tons by 2024, from 509 837 tons the year before. PwC reported earlier this month that regulatory issues in South Africa, historically the continent's biggest bunkering hub, caused it to lose business to Port Louis, Walvis Bay, and other countries. Bunker volumes dropped to 80,000 tons per month in 2024, from 130,000 tons in 2023. GROWTH IS IMPACTED BY RISKS IN SECURITY, SUPPLY AND ACCESS Sources in the industry warned that African bunkering is faced with a number of obstacles, ranging from limited infrastructure and piracy to the uncertainty of supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz which curtails Middle Eastern oil exports. Emril Jamil is a senior analyst with LSEG. He said that "given the loss in crude supply and refinery runs,?fuel supply will tighten up across all bunkering 'hubs". Misa Energy's Komodatam stated that long-term challenges include infrastructure bottlenecks such as congestion in the Port of Tema, Ghana, and high costs of products because of tax regimes. Uncertainty is also created by tax and licensing disputes. Algoa Bay in South Africa, a major refuelling port for international shipping, is experiencing reduced bunkering capacities since the tax crackdown of late 2023.
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NTSB investigates controller as part broader investigation of LaGuardia Airport collision
Investigators are looking into the fatal collision between an 'Air Canada Express jet and a firetruck at New York LaGuardia Airport. They want to speak to an air traffic controller who was dealing with another emergency just before the crash. The Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Homendy, told reporters at LaGuardia airport that the controller will be part of an investigation by this independent federal agency which "will rule nothing out." Air traffic control staffing is a concern at U.S. major airports, following the accident that killed two pilots while seriously injuring nine others. Homendy stated that the collision occurred shortly before midnight Sunday during a controller's overnight shift. Normally, the controller would be relieved of duty following such an incident. She said, "It was a pretty traumatizing experience for the air traffic controller." "We will want to interview the air traffic controller and others who were in that tower." U.S. experts in air safety said that the investigation would focus on the communications between the plane landing and the controller, as well as the trucks. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported 80 runway incursions in the quarter ending December 31. This is up from 54 during the same period last year. The NTSB has recovered the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder to be analyzed. Prior Emergency The air traffic controllers decide when aircraft can land, take off and when vehicles on the ground can enter the runway. According to a recording on liveatc.net, the controller who called for Air Canada Flight 8646 land was trying to locate a gate for United Airlines flight 8786 that had complained about a "bad smell". United pilots declared an emergency and decided to not fly due to the smell that made flight attendants sick. As the Air Canada Express CRJ-900 operated by regional partner Jazz Aviation landed, the fire trucks that appeared to have cleared the same controller for crossing Runway 4 were heading to the United flight. The controller said "Stop truck one, Stop" shortly after authorizing passage across the runway. The plane hit the firetruck as it arrived. According to a separate audio uploaded by liveatc.net an unidentified controller, who appears 'to be the one responsible for the crash,' told another pilot that he was dealing with an earlier emergency, after the collision. He said, "I'm sorry," in a trembling voice. The pilot who had witnessed the crash responded, "Nah, man, you did the best you could." The pilot said that the previous incident "wasn’t good to see." STAFFING LEVELS At LaGuardia, as well as other major airports, air traffic controllers are often responsible for multiple flights. Four commercial?pilots said it wasn't uncommon to have a single controller handling both the tower and ground, which are two different roles in air traffic control. "The real question is, 'What is the sleep and work schedule of this controller and is fatigue a problem?' John Cox, a pilot and aviation safety expert from the United States, said: Homendy stated that it was premature to discuss staffing. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, dismissed any concerns about understaffing. Duffy said to reporters in LaGuardia, on Monday, that the airport has 33 air traffic control officers at an airport that is aiming for 37. Duffy denied reports that the controller worked alone on Sunday night. Flightradar24 flight records show that 51 flights landed at LaGuardia in the hour prior to the Air Canada Express crash. This is more than double the 23 scheduled flights during the hour when the crash occurred. The cause of the jump is not known. Reporting by David Shepardson, Allison Lampert and Dan Catchpole from New York; editing by Peter Henderson and Jamie Freed).
How Biden's Gaza pier project unwinded
The first time President Joe Biden's administration considered buying the U.S. armed force to build a drifting pier off Gaza to deliver help in late 2023, it was put on the backburner.
The United States was under pressure to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn Palestinian enclave, which had been worsened by Israel's closure of many land border crossings, and sea deliveries were viewed as a possible service.
U.S. Admiral Christopher Grady, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Personnel and a career Navy surface area warfare officer, told a conference that he was very worried that the sea could end up being too rough for a pier to provide humanitarian help and laid out weather-related risks, a former U.S. authorities and an existing U.S. official said.
It wasn't until early 2024 that the idea showed up again as the scenario in Gaza grew more desperate and aid organizations alerted that mass starvation among Palestinian civilians was looming.
We sort of reached a point where it appeared proper to take more risk due to the fact that the need was so excellent, a former senior Biden administration official said.
The resulting pier objective did not work out.
It included 1,000 U.S. soldiers, provided only a portion of the promised aid at an expense of nearly $230 million, and was from the start beleaguered by bad luck and mistakes, including fire, bad weather condition and dangers on coast from the fighting in between Israel and Hamas.
Biden, after assuring a massive increase in help, acknowledged that the pier had disappointed his goals. I was enthusiastic that would be more successful, he told reporters on July 11.
The internal discussions about the Gaza pier, consisting of discarded alternatives to briefly deploy soldiers to the enclave, have not been previously reported.
The pier objective, which was officially ended recently, was the most controversial of the U.S. military's attempts to help include the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war that appeared on Oct. 7, 2023, and has actually drawn criticism from Biden's Republican critics and numerous present and former help employees.
The effort also underscores the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's battles to bring the conflict to a close, both of which are in focus during his see to Washington today.
The Pentagon referred questions about the pier to remarks made at a July 17 rundown with Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, the deputy leader of U.S. Central Command. In it, Cooper said the mission was a success, delivering the largest quantity of help ever into the Middle East.
Mike Rogers, the Republican who leads the Pentagon's. oversight committee in your house of Representatives, called the. pier a humiliation.
The pier was an ill-conceived political computation by the. Biden administration, Rogers told .
NO BOOTS ON THE GROUND
With alarm rising over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza in. 2023, Curtis Reid, chief of staff at the White Home National. Security Council, was tasked with creating a working group with. various government firms to take a look at ways to increase help. into Gaza.
( It) was an ask for firms to put whatever you got. on the table, the previous senior official said. The Pentagon. then started taking a look at alternatives.
Requested comment, the NSC acknowledged inter-agency. conversations on possible policy choices.
Due to the fact that of this work, we had the ability to advance the delivery. of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, making use of every tool. possible, stated Adrienne Watson, an NSC representative.
When the head of the armed force's Central Command, General. Michael Erik Kurilla, at first briefed Defense Secretary. Lloyd Austin about the pier objective, his very first proposition included. a minimal variety of U.S. soldiers on the ground, briefly, to. attach the pier to the shore, the previous authorities stated.
Austin knew that the White Home was opposed to. releasing U.S. forces to Gaza and asked Kurilla to go back and. rework it, a current U.S. official and the previous authorities said.
Kurilla produced a plan to train Israeli forces to do the. setup of the pier on the shore, the former authorities. added. Israeli forces later carried out the plan. The Israeli. prime minister's workplace and defense ministry referred '. concerns about the pier to the U.S. military.
Kurilla's Central Command declined to discuss the record. A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of privacy,. rejected the account and said boots on the ground was never a. factor to consider.
Present and former officials explained Central Command as. incredibly positive the pier task would succeed.
CENTCOM and General Kurilla, from Day 1, they were. consistent in stating: 'We can do this,' the previous U.S. official stated.
The first turn of misfortune began April 11, when a fire. broke out in the engine room of the USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, a. Navy ship transferring part of the pier system to the. Mediterranean.
The team put out the fire but the ship had to reverse to. the United States.
THREE FOOT WAVES
Weather condition was an even larger issue.
An early warning of the difficulties from rough seas came last. summertime, when U.S. troops attempted to set up the pier on an. Australian shore during a military workout.
The sea was too rough, a military officer who straight. dealt with the pier workout told .
In the end, the soldiers could not connect the pier to the. beach itself, and rather brought products ashore utilizing boats to. bridge the gap in between completion of the drifting pier and the. beach.
U.S. officials acknowledge that the Mediterranean weather. was a worry. However they were unprepared for how bad the sea. conditions turned out to be.
The forecast that they had (was) essentially that the sea. state was going to be three or less up till around September,. said one senior U.S. defense official, referring to sea state. three, when waves do not go beyond three feet.
Instead, waves broke the pier simply 9 days after it became. operational on May 16. The damage was so bad that it had to be. relocated to the Israeli port of Ashdod for repair work.
The occurrence would be show the norm, with bad weather condition. keeping the pier inoperative for all but 20 days-- half as long. as it required to bring the system across the sea to Gaza.
While there were no deaths or understood direct attacks on the. pier, three U.S. soldiers suffered non-combat injuries in assistance. of the pier in May, with one medically left in crucial. condition.
OVER-ESTIMATING DISTRIBUTION
Providing the food, shelter and medical care that was. brought onshore through the pier likewise proved more difficult than. expected.
The U.S. military aimed to increase to as many as 150 trucks. a day of help coming off the pier.
However since the pier was just operational for a total of 20. days, the military says it moved an overall of only 19.4 million. pounds of help into Gaza. That would have to do with 480 trucks of help. provided in total from the pier, based upon estimates by the. World Food Programme from earlier this year of weight brought by. a truck.
The United Nations states about 500 truckloads of aid are. needed everyday to deal with the needs of Palestinians in Gaza.
Simply days after the very first deliveries of aid rolled off the. pier in Gaza, crowds overwhelmed trucks and took a few of it.
Israel's killings of 7 World Central Cooking area employees in. April and its usage of an area near the pier as it staged a. hostage rescue healing objective in June also dented the. self-confidence of help companies, on whom the U.S. was relying to. bring the supplies from the coast and distribute to citizens.
A senior U.S. defense authorities acknowledged that aid. delivery showed to be possibly more difficult than the. organizers anticipated.
One previous authorities said Kurilla had actually raised distribution as. an issue early on.
General Kurilla was also really clear about that: 'I can do. my piece of this, and I can do circulation if you task me to do. it,' the former authorities stated.
However that was clearly scoped out of what the job was. Therefore we were reliant on these global companies.
Present and former U.S. officials informed that the. United Nations and help companies themselves were always cool. to the pier.
At a closed-door conference of U.S. officials and aid. companies in Cyprus in March, Sigrid Kaag, the U.N. humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, offered. tacit support for Biden's pier project.
But Kaag worried the UN preference was for land, land,. land, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
The United Nations decreased to talk about the meeting. It. referred to a rundown on Monday where a spokesperson for the. company said that the U.N. appreciated every way of getting. help into Gaza, consisting of the pier, but more gain access to through land. routes is needed.
The hidden concern for aid companies was that Biden,. under pressure from fellow Democrats over Israel's killing of. civilians in Gaza, was pushing a service that would at finest be. a short-term fix and at worst would take pressure off Netanyahu's. federal government to open land routes into Gaza.
Dave Harden, a previous USAID objective director to the West. Bank and Gaza, explained the pier project as humanitarian. theater.
It did ease the pressure, sadly, on having the.
(source: Reuters)