Thursday, February 01, 2024

Seanergy Provides Vessel to Demonstrate Hydrogen Power Retrofit

bulker for hydrogen demonstration — Seanergy's Capesize bulker will be used to demonstrate hydrogen power prodcution on an existing vessel (Seanergy)

Greek dry bulk shipping company Seanergy Maritime will be providing a vessel to work as the test bed and demonstration vessel for a new European Union co-funded project to develop and demonstrate the safety and viability and accelerate the adoption of Sustainable Alternative Fuels (SAFs) in waterborne transport. The project recently held its kickoff meeting as it began a four-year effort, 48 months, to develop the technologies to employ alternative fuels on existing vessels.

Seanenergy which is a pure-play Capesize shipowner highlights that it is the first Greek shipping company to be selected to participate in a pioneering project of this scope. The company, which operates a fleet of 16 Capesize and one Newcastlemax bulkers, will provide one of its existing, conventionally fueled vessels as the demonstration ship for the project.

The company’s bulker will be retrofitted to utilize hydrogen (H2) as its main energy source for electric power generation. According to the company, the system is also expected to cover a portion of the vessel's propulsion requirements and, therefore, to reduce reliance on conventional fuels.

The strategic partnership with the European Union and key industry stakeholders is another major achievement of our company towards our global ESG objectives,” said Stamatis Tsantanis, the company’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. “This prominent combination of world-renowned stakeholders consists of classification societies, engineering and industrial firms, the academic community, as well as the European Union. Our collaborative approach will actively contribute to the development of green solutions for the existing fleet, revealing solutions that have an immediate impact.”

Known as the SAFeCRAFT Project Consortium (Safe and Efficient Use of Sustainable Fuels in Maritime Transport Application), the initiative focuses on the utilization of alternative fuels. The project will focus on demonstrating four technologies, acting as SAF enablers for different types of ocean-going and short-sea shipping vessels, both newbuilding and retrofits. Among the areas they will work with are H2 (Dihydrogen), liquid hydrogen, compressed hydrogen, and ammonia and other liquid organic hydrogen carriers, all of which have the potential to become sustainable alternative fuels.

The project calls for physical demonstrations of the groundbreaking technology and its application to the existing maritime fleet. Seanergy reports it will oversee the feasibility study and retrofitting of the equipment aboard its vessel along with the other project partners.

The project includes a total of 11 partners including the classification and consulting companies American Bureau of Shipping and RINA Services. There are also engineering and industrial fuel companies as well as academic participation from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, the University of Paras in Greece, and the Dresden University of Technology in Germany.

The consortium partners are co-funding the project with the European Union. It seeks to align with the goals of the “Horizon Europe” program and the FuelEU Maritime 2040 targets by demonstrating technologies to achieve a 26 percent reduction in CO2 emissions for an existing vessel.

BV Approves Concept for a Full-Size Liquid Hydrogen Carrier

An LNG-type membrane containment system. GTT has developed a similar concept for liquid hydrogen (GTT file image)

A consortium of French shipping, vessel design and energy companies have achieved approval in principle for a new membrane tank-based transport system for liquid hydrogen, including both the underlying containment technology and an initial vessel design.

GTT, the longtime leader in membrane containment systems for LNG carriers, has designed a new system for containing and transporting liquid hydrogen. This new membrane system has now achieved an approval in principle from BV. (GTT also holds approval from DNV for a system developed in concert with Shell.)

Membrane containment would be a groundbreaking development for liquid hydrogen, which is a challenging substance to transport economically and safely. The world's first liquid hydrogen carrier, Suiso Frontier, uses spherical tanks.

The second half of this joint project is the development of a 150,000 cubic meter large scale liquid hydrogen carrier. By volume, this would be approximately comparable to a modern seagoing LNG carrier. Using GTT's containment system as a starting point, French design house LMG Marin created the preliminary design of a vessel that would accommodate the tanks and perform to commercial requirements. French oil major TotalEnergies specified the vessel's dimensions and capacity, the propulsion system type, the shipping routes on which it would be used, and the associated CO2 emissions. According to LMG, it will operate in a "carbon-free way."

Bureau Veritas carried out a risk assessment and reviewed the designs to ensure compliance with regulations and class requirements.

"This joint development project has enabled us to gain a better understanding of the liquefied hydrogen supply chain and the associated challenges," said Karine Boissy-Rousseau, Director of Green Gases at TotalEnergies. "We have reached a major milestone in the development of this sector."

Vincent Rudelle, Managing Director of LMG Marin France, underlines "With the emergence of previously unexplored energy vectors, a whole global supply chain needs to be built, and the conclusions of this JDP provide an initial outline of the maritime aspect," said Vincent Rudelle, managing director of LMG Marine France.

Captain and Third Mate Killed as Ferries Collide in the Philippines

ferry collision — Heavily damaged Hop & Go 1 ferry on which the captain and third mate were killed (PCG)

The Philippine Coast Guard is reporting that the captain and third mate on a small passenger ferry were killed during a collision with a fast excursion boat at midday on January 31. The smaller boat was heading inbound to Batangas, a city in the west of the Philippines south of Manila, when the collision occurred with an outbound passenger vessel.

The high speed ferry, Ocean Jet 6, was carrying 105 passengers and 19 crew. It had departed Batangas bound for Calapan on the neighboring island of Mindoro. There were no reported injuries aboard the vessel and it was permitted to proceed to Calapan.

Ocean Jet operates a fleet of high speed ferries in the Philippines (Ocean Jet file photo)

Officials were investigating the circumstances of the accident reporting only that the smaller, slow ferry was stuck and showing extensive damage with the front of the ferry apparently ripped open. It remained afloat and was being towed to Puerto Galera. Images of the scene appeared to be gray, possibly misty or foggy weather, and a low chop on the seas.

At the time of the collision, there were five foreign passengers aboard the Hop & Go 1 ferry which was sailing to Puerto Galera, also across the strait on Mindoro. Two Chinese passengers were reported injured and receiving medical treatment while two other passengers were uninjured. A Swedish passenger was returning home the report said.

The vessel had four crewmembers aboard. The captain and third mate were killed in the collision. Two other Filippino crew members were taken to the Coast Guard station and were giving sworn statements. They were reported to be cooperating with the Coast Guard as it was investigating the cause of the collision.

Australia Relents and Docks Recalled Livestock Carrier During Heatwave

After nearly a month at sea, Australian authorities permitted a loaded livestock carrier to dock early on Thursday morning, February 1, in Fremantle, while they consider what to do with the 15,000 animals aboard. Animal rights activities are calling the entire situation “shocking,” and “inhumane” after the vessel departed bound for the Middle East but turned around due to the security problems in the Red Sea.

The Bahijah is loaded mostly with live sheep as well as a smaller portion of cattle. It departed Fremantle on January 5 reportedly heading to Jordan although media in Australia is saying the vessel is controlled by Israeli interests and was in fact going to Israel. Past voyages show it operating between Australia and Eilat, Israel. The ship which was built in 2010 is 7,900 dwt and 446 feet (136 meters) in length.

As the security situation in the area around Yemen deteriorated, the vessel was first stopped in the Indian Ocean with reports it would diver around Africa. It sat in the ocean “waiting for orders.”

Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry after consulting with experts and the exporter decided to recall the vessel on January 20 due to uncertainty and for the safety of the animals. The Bahijah arrived off Fremantle on Sunday, January 28, and was expected to dock on January 29. Instead, the vessel was ordered to remain offshore while the authorities considered the biohazard after the animals had been out of the country for at least 25 days aboard the tight conditions aboard the vessel.

The exporter applied to the authorities to bring the vessel to the dock where they are proposing to offload a portion of the shipment. Those animals would be subjected to biosecurity controls to ensure they did not negatively impact livestock in the country. Animal rights groups have offered to care for the animals in quarantine.

The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday sent two independent veterinaries aboard the vessel to inspect the livestock and the facilities aboard the ship. The vessel is carrying a veterinarian who has been making daily reports to the authorities saying the animals remain in good health and “there is no evidence of any significant health, welfare, or environmental concerns.”

The exporter is proposing to restock the vessel with feed and supplies and sail with a smaller number of animals. The ship would take a projected 33-day route to reach the Middle East by going around Africa.

The Australian animal rights group Alliance for Animals issued a statement from its Policy Director Dr. Jed Goodfellow saying the entire plan is “alarming.” He is calling for “common sense and decency to prevail,” noting the animals have already been at sea for nearly a month and would be at sea for another month in poor conditions.

“The fact that the Department is even considering this application is shocking,” Dr. Goodefellow said. “It would be the height of recklessness to subject these animals to another grueling 33 days at sea under these circumstances.”

The Mayor of Fremantle was worrying about the conditions onboard and the impact it would have on the community. She warned of the “smell” after the animals had been at sea on the vessel for a month.

Animal rights groups are also highlighting that Australia, and specifically Fremantle, is in the worst heatwave it has experienced in more than two years. Temperatures have reached 105 F (41 C) and are expected to remain at these levels for four days.

The Agricultural Department confirmed in a statement midday on Thursday that the vessel had been permitted to dock and is currently is being replenished with supplies to ensure the ongoing health and welfare of the livestock. They denied "some public reports," saying no livestock are required to be offloaded for health reasons. However, they are still consulting with experts and working with the exporter to determine the next steps and "to reach a resolution as quickly as possible." No animals are currently being unloaded.

Red Sea Tensions May Help Revive Somali Piracy

The hijacked fishing dhow Al Meraj-1 (Indian Navy)

Maritime security analysts are concerned that the disruption in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden may be creating new opportunities for Somali pirates, who had been quasi-dormant since 2012 but have recently picked up the pace.

EUNAVFOR assesses that there are at least two pirate action groups now operating in the Eastern Indian Ocean, and they may be equipped with mother ships (hijacked dhows) to increase their range. This aligns with a substantial uptick in pirate activity: Neptune P2P, a piracy consultancy, counts 16 incidents (of varying severity) since late November.

The first sign of trouble came on Nov. 22, when Somali pirates hijacked the Iranian fishing vessel Al Miraj 1 off the coast of Puntland. Neptune's local sources reported that the vessel had been stolen by a local gang for duty as a pirate mothership. This working method was used often during the peak years of Somali piracy.

On January 4, suspected Somali pirates boarded and attempted to hijack the bulker Lila Norfolk off Eyl, Somalia. The attack was unsuccessful and the assailants fled.

Multiple smaller fishing vessels have been hijacked over the course of the month (seven more, by Neptune's count); at least three have been rescued by the Indian Navy.

At the same time that pirate action groups have been gearing up again, the foreign naval forces that have protected shipping against Somali piracy have had a portion of their capacity diverted to deal with Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have repeatedly attacked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is likely that Somali criminals see a window of opportunity for piracy now that the Houthis are creating a distraction, according to Neptune.

At the same time, the Houthis' attacks have made the Red Sea less attractive, and have forced hundreds more ships to take the route around the Cape of Good Hope. Depending on the point of departure, the route around the Cape can include a transit through waters nearer to Somalia. "This presents a significant increase in the number of ‘targets’ for pirates to exploit, especially vessels transiting to and from the Persian Gulf," assessed Neptune P2P.

Dr. Ian Ralby, of maritime security consultancy IR Consilium, agrees that the ship diversions also come with a risk of exposure to Somali piracy - and that the pirate action groups have been keeping ready.

"[Somali] skills for piracy were not lost over the last decade, they were transferred. A lot of the attacks by Somali pirates were against vessels that were engaged in illicit trafficking. The reporting just hasn't been there," he said in testimony in Congress this week.

EU Moves to Launch Red Sea Defense Mission in February

warship protecting merchant vessel — EUNAVFOR's current mission focuses on Somalia and piracy (EUNAVFOR file photo)

European Union defense ministers were meeting in Belgium on Wednesday to finalize plans for a defensive mission in the Red Sea which they hope to authorize by mid-February with Belgium and Germany saying that they would likely provide warships. The move comes as the U.S. failed to build the broader coalition and after last week’s successful attack by the Houthi which caused a fire on a British-managed product tanker.

Ministers from the EU, Germany, and Belgium each spoke with reporters at the start of the meeting providing insights into the plan. They said the purpose of the meeting was to define the mission and agree to details including which country would lead the effort, the base of the operations, and other operational details. AP reports that France, Greece, and Italy are each proposing to take the lead with a total of seven countries expected to participate in a new operation to be called Aspides (meaning protector).

The EU’s Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell Fontelles of Spain, spoke with reporters announcing the mission saying it would be purely defensive and was in response to requests from “many European firms” that said the attacks were increasing costs and endangering business and trade. Borrell said the EU would only be intercepting and blocking attacks against commercial shipping. The operations he said would only be on sea, inferring that the EU would not follow the U.S. and UK in striking Houthi targets in Yemen.

Critics have said the EU was slow to respond to the Houthi attacks and security threat to shipping with reported internal divisions. Borrell indirectly addresses these issues saying that none of the member states would move to block the effort, but that not all member states would be participating.

The U.S. effort failed to win participation from the Europeans in part it is believed over disputes about the approach and an unwillingness from some member states to have the U.S. in the lead. It is believed members did not want to participate in the land strikes. Germany had delayed sending a vessel while France reportedly withdrew from the U.S.-led mission and has its warships operating independently in the Red Sea providing protection to CMA CGM vessels and others. A French warship responded to Friday’s attack on the product tanker Marlin Luanda.

Borrell said the goal was to have the plan adopted by February 17 and that they would work off the existing EU efforts in the region and in coordination with the U.S. The EUNAVFOR has a standing operation Atalanta focused on Somalia and piracy. France and Italy have vessels in the area as part of the EUNAVFOR operations. Denmark earlier this week dispatched a frigate to the Mediterranean in advance of an authorizing vote by its parliament.

Germany’s defense minister Siemtje Moller told reporters the goal was to have the plan approved by the Bundestag after a February 19 approval by the EU Council. She said Germany’s navy was preparing for possible participation. At the same time, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Debonder announced their frigate Louise-Marie, already in the Red Sea region, would likely be part of the mission.

The EU may be responding to pressure from the energy industry which is joining the container carriers in diverting vessels. Bloomberg is citing a report today from Oil Brokerage showing a 45 percent increase in tanker diversions since last week’s attack. They report that the number of vessels being sent around Africa rose from 69 to 100. Reuters is reporting that even carriers with Russian oil products have begun to avoid the Red Sea due to the increased dangers.

For the First Time, US Navy Shoots Down Iranian Drones Over Gulf of Aden

[Breaking] On Wednesday night, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Carney shot down one Houthi ballistic missile and "three Iranian UAVs" at a position off Yemen, according to U.S. Central Command. It is the first time that the U.S. military has announced an action against an explicitly Iranian asset since the beginning of the Houthis' campaign in November.

At about 2030 hours, Houthi militants launched an anti-ship ballistic missile towards the Gulf of Aden, the latest in a long string of Houthi attacks on the sea lanes to and from the Suez Canal. Carney shot down the ballistic missile.

At about 2110, Carney's crew took the additional step of engaging and shooting down three Iranian UAVs. Central Command did not provide further information.

Yemen's Houthi rebels control the northwestern corner of the country, and for years they have received support from Iran for their fight against Yemen's internationally-recognized government and its Saudi and Emirati backers. The nation's civil war is currently at an ebb, but Iranian arms have fueled the Houthis' new mandate to attack Western shipping and naval assets.

Western analysts and government officials have concluded that Iranian forces are deeply involved in supporting the Houthi strikes, providing intelligence, guidance and technology (and possibly making decisions on the ground). Up-to-date intelligence is required to operate an anti-ship ballistic missile with sufficient accuracy to reach its ever-moving target. Iran maintains a covert surveillance vessel off Yemen, and it is a prolific builder and operator of unmanned aerial vehicles, both for attack and for surveillance roles.

The USS Carney's decision to engage Iranian drones marks a rare kinetic action against Iranian forces themselves, rather than their foreign proxies. Carney's action may be the most substantial published encounter between American and Iranian military units since 2020, when the U.S. assassinated Iranian covert operations commander Qassem Suleimani.

Tensions between Iran and the U.S. military have been building since November. The U.S. Navy has bombarded Houthi positions multiple times in an attempt to suppress attacks on shipping; two U.S. Navy SEALs were killed in a boarding accident while attempting to intercept a covert shipment of Iranian weapons earlier this month; and Iranian-backed proxies killed three U.S. Army servicemembers in Jordan in a drone attack on Sunday.

U.S. retaliation for Sunday's fatal attack is expected, a U.S. government official told AP late Wednesday, and will likely take the form of a rolling multiday campaign of airstrikes. It is unclear whether those strikes will include Iranian targets, or will hit Iran's foreign proxy groups only.

Report: Houthi Missile Got Within a Mile of a U.S. Navy Destroyer

USS Gravely tests her CIWS system, 2022 (USN)

U.S. officials say that a Houthi cruise missile got so close to a U.S. Navy warship that it had to be shot down with the ship's Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), according to CBS and CNN. The high-speed gun system is used to knock down threats that make it past the vessel's air-defense missiles.

On Tuesday, U.S. Central Command confirmed that the destroyer USS Gravely shot down a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile in the Red Sea. The command did not specify whether Gravely had been targeted herself, but on Wednesday, four officials told CNN that the missile got to within one nautical mile of the destroyer before it was shot down. The ship's CIWS cannon eliminated the threat, and there were no injuries or damage reported.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed the attempted attack on the Gravely in a statement Tuesday. "All American and British warships in the Red and Arab Seas . . . are within the target bank of our forces," he said.

It represents the second time that Houthi forces have targeted an American warship, following an attempted attack on USS Carney last week. It is also the second time that a Houthi munition has gotten close enough to a coalition warship to be targeted with the ship's guns.

On January 9, in responding to a large-scale Houthi attack, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Diamond took down seven drones in a day, including one with her 30mm gun. (It was the Royal Navy's first confirmed aerial kill with antiaircraft guns since the Korean War.)

Houthi rebels have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for months, and the U.S. Navy has attempted to tamp down the threat with air-defense escorts and a series of counterstrikes. The latest counterattack occurred Wednesday afternoon: Central Command authorized a strike on a Houthi air defense missile that was prepared for launch against an American aircraft in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

Yemen's Houthi Rebels Claim "Direct Hit" on an "American" Ship

But early assessments suggest that the vessel was neither hit, nor American

Houthi missiles on parade — File image courtesy Houthi Military Media

Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed an attack on another "American merchant ship" and asserted that the munitions "directly hit the vessel." The group made the claim after U.S. Central Command reported shooting down a Houthi antiship missile over the Red Sea.

According to Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree, the group targeted a vessel named Koi. There are several vessels of that name in international databases; only one of them, a Liberian-flagged container ship, is currently located near Yemen.

Saree's claim could not be immediately confirmed, and Houthi forces have made inaccurate assertions about their success rate in the past. One shipping intelligence source told TME that the claim does not appear to be true.

The vessel does not have any clear ties to the United States, though she is connected to the UK by virtue of her commercial manager, London-based Oceonix Services. Oceonix is also the manager of the Marlin Luanda, the product tanker that was hit by a Houthi missile and caught fire last week.

Western analysts and governments believe that Iran is closely involved in Houthi attacks, from target selection to the supply of missile components. While the Houthis' approach may be scattershot, Iranian operatives understand how to discern a ship's underlying commercial ties, according to Dr. Ian Ralby of IR Consilium.

"They've proven themselves over the years to be very competent in identifying a specific entity attached to a vessel and targeting that entity," said Ralby in congressional testimony earlier this week.

CBP Lets Foreign-Flag Ships Move U.S. Natural Gas to Puerto Rico

U.S. gas is a foreign cargo if processed and liquefied in Mexico first, CBP rules

The Fast LNG 1 liquefaction plant off Altamira, Mexico, will be fed by U.S.-origin gas (New Fortress Energy file image)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will allow foreign-flag LNG carriers to move U.S. gas to U.S. markets, without violating the Jones Act, according to New York-based New Fortress Energy. The company has secured a CBP ruling for the operations of its Mexico-based LNG plant, which will process, liquefy and ship U.S.-origin natural gas to Puerto Rico.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this ruling for our FLNG facility since it not only supports one of the company’s largest projects but also supports the people of Puerto Rico,” said Wes Edens, Chairman and CEO of New Fortress Energy.

Fast LNG 1 represents a new model of liquefaction terminal development. The plant was constructed aboard three jackup rigs at a shipyard, then moved out to a permanent location off Mexico and installed. It received its first gas from Texas via a pipeline late last year.

The natural gas feedstock for Fast LNG 1 comes from the largest U.S.-to-Mexico export pipeline, Valley Crossing / Sur de Texas. The line was built in the late 2010s to connect "reliable, plentiful Texas supply with growing Mexican demand," according to midstream company Enbridge. The gas enters the pipeline in the Agua Dulce area, a collection and distribution hub near Corpus Christi.

New Fortress' plant will receive this U.S. natural gas, treat and liquefy it, then load the product onto foreign-flag LNG carriers. The LNG carriers will deliver the product to Puerto Rico, the company says, where it will be regasified and used.

Because the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico are both U.S. points, U.S.-based LNG plants would have to use U.S. vessels qualified for coastwise transport to carry out this trade. Jones Act-qualified full size LNG carriers do not currently exist, so U.S.-based LNG plants sell all full size cargoes to foreign customers.

However, the Jones Act does not apply to LNG plants located in Mexico, according to CBP, even if the gas is the same. The agency has ruled that Fast LNG 1 can freely use foreign-flag, foreign-crewed LNG carriers to transport U.S. pipeline gas from Texas to Puerto Rico via liquefaction south of the border. The agency determined that when the gas is treated and liquefied at the plant in Mexico, it will become "different from the pipeline feed gas" that departed Texas; since it has been modified, it is no longer a U.S. cargo, by the agency's reasoning.

According to CBP, Fast LNG 1's facility will remove and burn the heavier fractions found in pipeline gas - ethane, propane and butane - before compressing and chilling the remaining 95 percent of the feedstock, methane. When the LNG is regasified in Puerto Rico for use, it will still meet the market definition of "natural gas" - but it will lack the condensate fractions removed in Mexico, and will have a slightly lower heat value. Because of this modification, it will be a "new and different product from the [U.S.] pipeline feed gas," not a U.S. cargo, and legally permissible to move on a foreign-flag ship, CBP determined.

New Fortress did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

U.S. maritime sources suggested that the industry as a whole is still digesting the ruling, but some expressed unease. "The Jones Act clearly precludes foreign vessels from engaging in 'any part of the transportation' between two U.S. points," one source commented.

New Fortress has deep ties to Puerto Rico's LNG supply chain, including a floating LNG terminal project that has been delayed by a permitting dispute with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The company also holds a contract with Puerto Rico's power authority to operate a fleet of 12 gas-fired powerplants fed by LNG; the power authority's union has sued to block the contract from taking effect.

Galveston LNG Bunker Port Sets Site for Proposed LNG Bunkering Facility

Provide Clean Fuel to the Maritime Industry in the Greater Galveston Bay Area

LNG IS NOT CLEAN NOR GREEN

Galveston LNG Bunker Port (GLBP) has announced its lease-agreement with the City of Texas City for 140 acres of land on Shoal Point in Galveston County, Texas, adjacent to the Texas City Ship Channel and in close proximity to the maritime centers of Texas City, Galveston, and Houston.

Galveston LNG Bunker Port is a Joint Venture between Seapath and Pilot LNG to develop, construct, and operate the US Gulf Coast’s first dedicated facility supporting the fueling of LNG-powered vessels and will be located on 140 acres of prime deep-water marine industrial real estate in Galveston County, Texas. GLBP was announced in September of 2023 as a joint-venture between Seapath Group (Seapath), a maritime subsidiary of Libra Group, and Pilot LNG, LLC (Pilot), a Houston-based clean energy solutions company. Pilot and Seapath anticipate announcing the Final Investment Decision (FID) details of the GLBP project on Shoal Point by the second half of 2024, with operations commencing in late 2026.

Texas City Mayor, Dedrick Johnson says: “Texas City is excited to be partnering with GLBP to develop Shoal Point. Shoal Point and Texas City are an integral part of the maritime economy both in the State of Texas and throughout the U.S. We are very happy to have GLBP in our City and look forward to the jobs and economic opportunities that the project will bring to Texas City.”

Jonathan Cook, CEO of Pilot LNG stated: “GLBP is fortunate to have a collaborative partner in Texas City, and we believe this is the best possible site in the entire Galveston Bay region for our clean energy facility. Its strategic location and proximity to the key ports of Texas City, Galveston, and Houston is critical in ensuring the successful delivery of this LNG marine fuels project. We look forward to more announcements in the coming weeks and months as additional milestones are achieved towards the successful delivery of the project.”

Since the project was announced in September, GLBP has assembled a top team of advisors and continues its ongoing front-end engineering and design development for the project. The project as designed is for a two train and two tank facility producing 600,000 gallons per day. The first phase of the GLBP project is expected to produce 300,000 gallons per day of LNG for sale into the marine bunker fuel market in the Galveston Bay, and Western Gulf of Mexico region. GLBP estimates it will file applications with the necessary federal and state agencies to permit, construct, and operate the small-scale LNG terminal for marine fuel in early 2024.

This article is sponsored by Seapath. For more information on the LNG project visit www.galvestonlng.com

Wonder Woman may be a Zionist but the new Supergirl’s got Palestine’s back

Milly Alcock, the new Supergirl, previously signed a letter to the Australian premier urging him to support a ceasefire.

Images Staff
30 Jan, 2024

House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock has landed the role of Supergirl in the new DC Universe movie led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. It is especially notable that Alcock has been vocal in her support for Palestinian liberation.

She, along with thousands of other Australian actors, signed a letter in December 2023, urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and leading arts institutions to support a ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from Palestinian territories, Aussie Theatre stated. The letter, which included the phrase “from the river to the sea,” gained support from notable figures in the Australian arts scene.

The irony is not lost on us — Supergirl supports Palestine, while Gal Gadot, the actor playing Wonder Woman, is a staunch Zionist who has been incredibly vocal in her support for Israel. Gadot also served in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as a combat fitness instructor as part of her mandatory two years of military service.

We’re glad to see that the bigwigs at DC did not have any issues hiring a pro-Palestinian actor, especially since they did not bat an eye hiring someone who supports the occupation of another people’s land — especially when actors such as Susan Sarandon and Melissa Barrera are facing negative repercussions for their stances in favour of Palestine.

Alcock, who gained recognition for playing a young Rhaenyra Targaryen in the first season of HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon, will star in the upcoming film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Variety reported. The film is based on the DC comic of the same name by Tom King and Bilquis Evely.

The project, however, does not have a director so far. Ana Nogueira was hired to write the screenplay in November 2023.

Gunn confirmed the news on his Instagram, stating: “Milly is a fantastically talented young actor, and I’m incredibly excited about her being a part of the DCU. Yes, I first became aware of her in House of the Dragon but I was blown away by her varied auditions and screen tests for Supergirl”.

He did not, however, disclose when Alcock will make her superhero debut.

It’s probably not going to happen but we would love to watch a fight scene between Supergirl and Wonder Woman and see who emerges victorious — our money’s on Supergirl.

PAKISTAN

TTP backed by Al Qaeda, Afghan Taliban: UN

Baqir Sajjad Syed

February 1, 2024

ISLAMABAD: The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been receiving “significant backing” from Al Qaeda and other militant factions for executing attacks in Pakistan in addition to support from the Afghan Taliban.

This was disclosed in the 33rd report submitted to the United Nations Security Council Committee by ISIL (aka Daesh) and Al Qaeda/Taliban Monitoring Team. The collaboration includes not just the provision of arms and equipment but also active on-ground support for the banned TTP’s operations against Pakistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly expressed its frustration over the Afghan Taliban’s inaction against the outlawed TTP, which has been responsible for numerous terrorist attacks within Pakistan.

Afghan Taliban’s failure to curb TTP’s activities has led to strained relations between the two countries. Pakistan views Kabul’s reluctance to tackle the TTP as a direct threat to its national security.

The report noted that despite the Afghan Taliban’s official stance discouraging TTP’s activities outside Afghanistan, many TTP fighters have engaged in cross-border attacks in Pakistan without facing any substantial repercussions. Citing reports, it said that some Taliban members, driven by a perceived religious duty, have joined TTP’s ranks, bolstering their operations.

Moreover, TTP members and their families are said to receive regular aid packages from the Afghan Taliban, signifying a deeper level of support.

The Afghan Taliban’s temporary imprisonment of between 70 and 200 TTP members and their strategy of moving personnel northward, away from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border regions, is perceived as an effort to alleviate Pakistani pressure to tackle the banned TTP activities.

In mid-2023, it recalled that the banned TTP established a new base in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a large number of individuals were trained as suicide bombers. Additionally, Al Qaeda core and Al Qaeda in the subcontinent have been instrumental in providing training, ideological guidance, and support to the outlawed TTP, illustrating the intertwined nature of these militant networks.

Reported orders from Al Qaeda to allocate resources to the banned TTP indicated a deep-rooted collaboration aimed at destabilising the region.

Furthermore, the formation of TJP (Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan) as a front to provide the outlawed TTP with plausible deniability, and the involvement of other groups like ETIM/TIP (East Turkestan Islamic Movement/Turkestan Islamic Party) and Majeed Brigade in joint operations with TTP, underscore the multifaceted and transnational threat posed by these militant alliances.

The report pointed out that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement/Turkestan Islamic Party (ETIM/TIP) has shifted its base from Badakhshan Province to Baghlan Province, expanding its operational reach across various regions.

The group, it said, is intensively engaged in training the youth for its reserve forces and is notably enhancing the recruitment and training of women.

Concerns, it said, were mounting among regional countries due to ETIM/TIP’s active collaboration in recruitment, training, and strategic planning with other extremist groups, particularly the banned TTP, posing a significant security threat to the area.

Reports from an unnamed member state highlighted that Al Qaida’s core faction was significantly contributing to ETIM/TIP by offering both training and ideological mentorship.

Meanwhile, the Majeed Brigade, engaged in insurgency in Balochistan, is reported to have a strength of around 60 to 80 combatants, with a strategic focus on “recruiting female suicide bombers”.

It’s known for its collaboration with the outlawed TTP and ISIL-K in various domains, including training, arms procurement, intelligence exchange, and coordinated operations, although more details are being sought by some member states.

The Brigade has claimed responsibility for multiple attacks targeting law enforcement and Chinese personnel in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2024

PAKISTAN
Manchurian candidates

Aqdas Afzal

DAWN

Published January 29, 2024

THE Manchurian Candidate (1962) starring Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh and Angela Lansbury — of Murder She Wrote fame — was one of the most iconic films of the Cold War era.

Building on anti-communist paranoia, the story centres on Captain Shaw, a scion of a prominent political family, who is captured and brainwashed by communists during the Korean War. Shaw’s mother, the real puppet master, plans to use Shaw to carry out the assassination of the leading candidate in the elections so that communists can get their candidate — Manchurian candidate — to the White House with “…powers that will make martial law seem like anarchy”.

Though there was a remake of the film in 2004, its main message was buried by the sands of time. But, as more than half of the world’s population votes this year, the film’s themes centred on the fraught nature of democracy — political conspiracies, special interest and violence — remain as relevant today as during the height of the Cold War

2024 is truly the ‘year of democracy’ as more than four billion people — including from Brazil, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the US and UK comprising eight out of the 10 most populous nations — in over 70 countries will vote in elections. But, where this milestone should be celebrated, democracy appears to be in serious trouble.

For starters, the quality of democracy is plummeting almost everywhere. Most democracies are now suffering from democratic backsliding or a ‘democratic regression’, a term coined by Larry Diamond, a Stanford University professor.

Most democracies are now suffering from a ‘democratic regression’.

According to the latest Democracy Report by the V-dem Institute, advances made in democracy over the last 35 years have been wiped out and the level of democracy enjoyed by the average global citizen is down to 1986 levels. Specifically, drastic negative changes are taking place in freedom of expression, government censorship of media, government repression of civil society and in the quality of elections — many of which will have no meaningful policy impact.

In order to understand how we got here we are going to have to take a historical detour. Charles Tilly, an American academic, explained that the need to pay for pre-modern war forced state formation; a mechanism largely for extraction — conscription and taxation.

In societies where capitalism was already entrenched, capitalists and merchants entered into a marriage of convenience with the state by enshrining democracy. They did so to protect their economic gains from state predation as democracy offered the best protection by allowing the people a say in the formation of extractive policies.

In unequal societies, however, the marriage of convenience between capitalism and democracy was not a marriage of equals; it remained tilted in favour of capitalism. Thomas Piketty pointed out how in the case of Sweden, money could literally buy political influence, albeit with some restrictions.

But, once capitalism was no longer in the ring against another economic system in the post-Soviet era, capitalist elites, apparently, activated populists — or modern-day Manchurian candidates—for capturing democracy, the very system that had earlier generated protection for them, so as to close the door on redistributive taxation, forever.

At least in the case of the US, the best example of capitalism’s encirclement of democracy is evident in ‘Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission’ (2010), a controversial decision from the US supreme court that reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions enabling corporations and other groups to spend unlimited funds on elections.

Where government policies are increasingly being influenced by special interests impacting democracy’s quality, the global economic growth engine is also stalling. According to the World Bank, the global economy is poised for its weakest half-decade growth in 30 years. But, instead of placing capitalism on the chopping block, populists have turned the heat on democracy by claiming that it provides a disproportionate share of the economic pie to immigrants and minorities.

This cat-and-mouse game between capitalism and democracy will be played out in many countries this year. However, none of these elections have the potential to subvert democracy like in the US, where Donald Trump will likely be pitted against President Joe Biden, an unpopular and ageing candidate.

Once back in the White House, analysts argue, Donald Trump may weaponise the US Justice Department to go against political opponents. Civil rights, religious freedom as well as freedom of speech could all come under strain as Trump’s legal supporters are already developing procedural rationales like the unitary executive theory that may assist in bypassing various checks and balances in the US political system.

Given Trump’s protectionist ideas, Trump’s second term could prove disastrous for economic growth, especially if he decides to slap import tariffs on China and Europe. Additionally, if Trump’s foreign policy pronouncements are to be believed, the US could withdraw from Nato, leaving the field open for other hegemons. Indeed, some have likened Trump to a modern-day Manchurian candidate given his apparent paranoia of US intelligence agencies, while exhibiting trust in foreign governments.

In India, where the BJP’s win in the 2024 elections is “almost an inevitability”, Narendra Modi, another populist, has been capitalising on economic insecurities in the run-up to elections. Despite a high economic growth, the Indian economy has failed to create enough jobs — the unemployment rate has exceeded 10 per cent for the first time since the pandemic. Ramachandra Guha, an Indian historian, believes that if left unchallenged, the Modi regime “may come to be remembered … for its dismantling of Indian democracy”.

Democracy is increasingly appearing weak in the age of unbridled capitalism and populism. Will capitalism finally win by delivering a coup de grâce?

The short answer is that all is not lost, at least not yet. Where the relationship between capitalism and democracy has evolved, with the former coming to dominate the latter, capitalism, too, will also face evolutionary pressure to settle on a new equilibrium with people power.

Of course, this idea is based on a hope and a prayer that the voting publics will identify the populists for the Manchurian candidates that they really are.

The writer completed his doctorate in economics on a Fulbright scholarship.

aqdas.afzal@gmail.com
X: @AqdasAfzal
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2024

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