15 DEC 2024 Berlin-based industrial equipment firm Aiotec has been hit with a multimillion-dollar sanctions penalty for an elaborate scheme to buy and ship an entire polypropylene plant to Iran, in violation of U.S. sanctions. The penalty is for repeated, “egregious” and “willful” sanctions violations, but the U.S. Treasury decided …
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NEW DRUG FOR ASTHMA AND COPD IS THE FIRST FOUND IN 50 YEARS
14 DEC 2024 Every 30 seconds, someone in the world will experience a flare-up of their asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms. For decades, the standard treatment for these potentially life-threatening episodes has remained unchanged – treatment with steroids, such as prednisolone. Unfortunately, these drugs don’t work for …
Read More »DYNAMIC POSITIONING – KEEPING MARITIME OPERATIONS SAFE
14 DEC 2024 The technology of Dynamic Positioning has revolutionized many aspects of the maritime industry. The pioneering work of Howard Shatto saw his drillship ‘Eureka’ fitted in 1961 with the world’s first automated, algorithmic, positioning system and associated thrusters. In 1972, the U.S. CIA and Honeywell launched Glomar Explorer, of …
Read More »HAUNTED HOUSES HAVE A SURPRISING EFFECT ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
13 DEC 2024 Visiting a haunted house could have a chilling effect on the immune system. According to new research, a jumpscare might be a jump start for the human body’s defenses, similar to a cold plunge. In the study, 22 participants with low levels of inflammatory markers in their …
Read More »SOMALI PIRACY RESURGES AFTER MONSOON LULL
13 DEC 2024 With the Indian Ocean monsoon season ending, Somali piracy activity is expected to rise. After a four-year absence, Somali piracy has resurged dramatically in the past year, culminating in pirates obtaining a multimillion-dollar ransom payment earlier this year. “After four years without a piracy event, Somali piracy …
Read More »OPEC+ EXTENDS CUTS: WHY THE OIL GIANTS ARE DELAYING OUTPUT RISES TO Q2 2025
12 DEC 2024 Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Friday the OPEC+ decision to push back the start of oil output rises by three months until April was based mainly on fundamentals. “There are so many things going on over the next two months but primarily the decision to delay bringing these barrels …
Read More »MAN ENERGY SOLUTIONS ACHIEVES FULL-SCALE AMMONIA ENGINE TESTING MILESTONE
11 DEC 2024 MAN Energy Solutions has commenced testing of the world’s first full-scale, two-stroke marine engine running on ammonia at its Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC). The advancement marks a crucial step in the company’s ME-LGIA (Liquid Gas Injection Ammonia) engine development program. After successfully conducting over 12 months of …
Read More »SPANISH POLICE MAKE TWO COCAINE BUSTS FROM THE SAME CONTAINERSHIP
10 DEC 2024 Spanish authorities are reporting that they have made a second cocaine seizure as they continue to search the containers coming off a vessel that two weeks ago was found to be transporting cocaine into Spain. The investigation is ongoing into the vessel and its possible role in …
Read More »BIOMIMETICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY CREATE NEXT GENERATION IN HULL COATINGS
09 DEC 2024 R&D teams are building on their use of biomimetics, the study of mimicking biological processes, adding in nanotechnology to develop new more efficient hull coatings. These developments are becoming increasingly important as the shipping industry faces the continuing challenge of improving operating efficiency from in-service vessels to …
Read More »HD HYUNDAI RECEIVES CERTIFICATION OF NEW STEPS IN VESSEL AUTOMATION
08 DEC 2024 Efforts are continuing to develop higher levels of ship automation toward the goal of a large commercial vessel that will be able to operate fully independently making decisions on its navigation. South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai held a ceremony on November 27 to mark the next achievement …
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