"More than anything else, Portsmouth International Port offers a living, breathing argument for public ownership. Not only does it work – it thrives. The port’s cruise and ferry terminal, which opened in 2011, uses thermal energy from seawater to heat and cool the building – using only 20% of the energy one would expect from a traditional system."
Aaron Bastani on how one councillor's vote saved Portsmouth Port from #privatisation.
"The Greenwater 01, an all-electric container ship, is positioning itself to be a shipping industry pioneer. Its eco-friendly propulsion system is powered solely by batteries, saving 3,900 kg (8,600 lb) of fuel for every 100 nautical miles sailed."
“Two hundred days into Israel’s siege and #genocida violence, including an unprecedented starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the situation continues to deteriorate. After a 17-year blockade against Gaza, @israel has now created a #famine by cutting off the regular supply of water, food and critical goods into Gaza, destroying livelihoods, the food system and civilian infrastructure. Failing to comply with its humanitarian obligations as the occupying power, Israel is also restricting humanitarian aid, intentionally bombarding humanitarian convoys, and targeting both aid workers and civilians seeking aid."
Q. have P&O had a change of heart as they agree to abide by new French legislation on seafarers' wages, or are they just biding their time before they find a new wheeze to exploit their workforce to pad executive pay & profits?
You'll also note that the French legislation in this are has come into force quicker than the UK version (hmmmm... I wonder why?)
Across the Red Sea & the Gulf of Aden attacks on shipping (including military & pirates) have increased... while advice stands on going faster through these waters & raising the 'freeboard' - the height of the decks from the water, to make it harder to board from pirate boats - many owners are now investigating (or already contracting) private security, to make up for a lack of cover from over-stretched navies.
Yup, where there's a crisis there's a business opportunity!
FBI opens criminal probe into Key Bridge collapse, raids Dali
The criminal investigation will examine, at least in part, whether the ship’s crew knew there were mechanical or electrical issues aboard the Dali before it left the Port of Baltimore three weeks ago, according to an official familiar with the investigation
Somali pirates has released hijacked Bangladeshi cargo vessel MV Abdullah and all 23 crew members after keeping hostage for 32 days, an official of the owner company of this ship said....
Price of a domestic stamp in a booklet, coil or pane would rise to 99 cents
Canada Post is proposing to increase postage rates in 2024. For stamps purchased in a booklet, coil or pane, which represent the majority of stamp sales, the rate would increase by seven cents, to 99 cents per stamp.
The new rates would take effect May 6, 2024.
Permanent stamps will always be accepted at the current domestic postage price.
The proposed rate changes would also affect other products, including U.S., international letter-post and domestic Registered Mail items. The price of a single stamp for a domestic letter (30 grams or less) would increase from $1.07 to $1.15. When purchased in a booklet, coil or pane, the price would increase from 92 cents to 99 cents per stamp.
With eyes on how to get the bridge debris out of the #Baltimore harbor, thought I'd share this extremely large floating crane which was built & used by the Germans in WWII, then seized after the war and transported to Long Beach. It lived there until the naval yard closed in the 1990s and then moved onward to the Panama Canal
EU carbon market emissions fall record 15.5% as renewable power soars
"Carbon dioxide emissions regulated under the European Union's emissions trading system (#ETS) fell by a record 15.5% in 2023 as renewable power output soared, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
Around 45% of the European Union's output of greenhouse gases is regulated by the #EU ETS.
The power sector saw a 24% drop in #emissions compared with 2022 levels."
"The preliminary 2023 data shows that “ETS #emissions are now around 47% below 2005 levels and well on track to achieve the 2030 target of -62%,” the Commission said.
The #ETS regulated about 45 percent of the bloc's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2023, covering energy-intensive industries, power plants and some flights within #Europe. The scheme, which charges a price for licenses to pollute, expanded in 2024 to also cover #shipping emissions. "
Voters out in the "fly over" states who want to buy trucks and tractors that they depend on to do their jobs should be hounding their Congressional Representatives to support opening the port of Baltimore.
Anyone who buys anything from Europe, should also realize that closing the largest port on the east coast of the nation is not going to help their family budget.
My angle critiquing ever-bigger ships isn't really about infrastructural retrofitting; it's that a system of endless expansion is already serving us terribly (see: planetary boundaries, Indigenous dispossession, pollution, etc.). Do economic planners want de-growth on terms they sort of planned for? Or reactive free-fall? Those are the two possibilities
This report makes some business-as-usual assumptions. E.g.
"Growth".
And they forget that 40% of global shipping is of fossil fuels.
And that countries like the US are re-shoring industries (see CHIPS act).
Together, we still have choices.
Let's make the right choices: on our plates, what we buy, whom we vote for.
Stiglitz "said rich countries should support the creation of $300bn of #IMF special drawing rights (SDRs) each year to finance a global green transition."
But the devil is in the details: if this money comes in the shape of high interest loans that's not helping developing countries, that's loansharking.
"Stiell called for the #WorldBank and governments to “step up the pace” on #ClimateFinance, including by addressing new sources of funds. These could include a frequent flyer levy and taxes on the carbon emissions from #shipping.
He called for reform at the development banks, [and] changes to the banks’ lending practices that would give poor countries greater access to finance."
Somali pirates release hijacked Bangladeshi ship (www.bssnews.net)
Somali pirates has released hijacked Bangladeshi cargo vessel MV Abdullah and all 23 crew members after keeping hostage for 32 days, an official of the owner company of this ship said....