Thursday, September 26, 2024

Fortescue electrifies iron ore trucks in $2.8 billion deal

Bloomberg News | September 24, 2024

Image courtesy of Liebherr.

Fortescue Ltd., the world’s fourth-biggest iron ore miner, will pay $2.8 billion to replace two-thirds of its fleet of haulage trucks and equipment in Western Australia with electric versions, as it seeks to cut diesel consumption and meet ambitious emissions-reduction targets.

The miner will buy 475 emissions-free machines, including 360 autonomous battery-electric trucks, from Germany’s Liebherr Group, it said in a statement Wednesday. The fleet, which was developed using Fortescue’s battery technology, will service its sprawling iron ore operations in the remote Pilbara region and is aimed at reducing costs in the longer term.

Perth-based Fortescue, led by executive chairman and billionaire Andrew Forrest, has plans to decarbonize its entire iron ore mining operations by 2030. Reducing industrial pollution from mining is a significant challenge, with Fortescue consuming 631 million liters of diesel last financial year alone.

“You will watch the breath sucked out from CEOs’ chests when they realize this is a $2.8 billion order,” Forrest said in a phone interview after the announcement. “This is the future of heavy industry. And it’s zero emissions.”

Fortescue shares surged as much as 6.4% in Sydney after the announcement, and closed 4.7% higher to A$18.85 apiece. Since reaching a record high early this year, they have tumbled about 37%, as falling demand in China for iron ore has pressured prices of the steelmaking material.

The deal with Liebherr also includes purchasing 55 electric excavators and 60 battery-powered dozers, the company said in its statement, adding that the technology “will be available to the rest of the mining industry in the near future.”

Emissions from “stationary energy”, which includes emissions from direct combustion of fuels in mining, accounts for more than 20% of Australia’s air pollution, according to the government. Pollution from the global industry sector is continuing to increase faster than any other segment, according to researcher Systems Change Lab.

Earlier this month, fellow iron ore major Rio Tinto Group announced it would develop seed farms in Australia to test biofuel as a replacement to diesel.

(By Paul-Alain Hunt)

BHP to test Caterpillar’s new energy transfer system on its mining trucks

Reuters | September 25, 2024 |

Cat Dynamic Energy Transfer system prototype under development at Caterpillar Tucson Proving Ground. Credit: Caterpillar

BHP Group said on Thursday it plans to test US-based equipment manufacturer Caterpillar’s new technology, which transfers energy to diesel-electric and battery-electric large mining trucks while they are working on a mine site.

Caterpillar launched its Cat Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET) system earlier this month, saying that the use of this technology would lead to lower operating costs for miners and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

The DET system can also charge the batteries of electric trucks while they are under operation, providing extra speed and upgraded efficiency.

Mining giant BHP would become the first to try this new system, starting planned trials at its iron ore and copper businesses, including at its Escondida operations in Chile.

BHP, in 2021, had announced a collaboration with Caterpillar to work towards zero-emission mining truck deployment at its sites to cut back on its emissions of operational greenhouse gas.

(By Rajasik Mukherjee; Editing by Alan Barona)

Australia clears coal mine expansions in hit to green goals

Bloomberg News | September 24, 2024 | 1

Narrabri coal mine. Credit: Whitehaven Coal

Australia approved the expansion of three coal mines, sparking criticism of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s administration and its efforts to keep emissions in check.

The government cleared an extension of operations at Whitehaven Coal Ltd.’s Narrabri, MACH Energy Australia Pty’s Mount Pleasant and Ashton Coal Operations Pty’s Ravensworth thermal coal mines in New South Wales. The Narrabri underground mine was granted permission to operate until 2044 and Mount Pleasant to 2048.

Australia, one of the world’s biggest exporters of fossil fuels, has been criticized for continuing to support massive coal and natural gas projects while pursuing more ambitious cuts to domestic emissions. Miners argue that their fuel is cleaner than supplies from other nations and that delays to approvals risk jobs and Australia’s reputation as a reliable partner.

“Whitehaven’s high quality thermal coal has an important role to play in supporting global energy security during the multi-decade energy transition, particularly in Asia where there continues to be strong demand for its use in high-efficiency, low-emissions, coal-fired power stations,” the Sydney-listed company said Wednesday.

The three mines will emit about 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide over their lifetime, according to the Australia Institute, about three times national annual emissions. They take the total number of coal projects approved by Albanese’s government to seven.

“These are not new projects,” but extensions of existing operations, said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. “The emissions from these projects will be considered by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy under the government’s strong climate laws.”

Australia’s thermal coal exports are set to fall to about A$28 billion ($19 billion) in the year through June 2026, from A$37 billion in the 2023-2024 period, according to government forecasts. Volumes are likely to be stable.

(By Stephen Stapczynski)

US backs Australian lithium, rare earths projects for up to $786 million

Reuters | September 23, 2024 |

Anson Resources’ first vial of lithium hydroxide product from its Paradox project in Utah. (Image courtesy of Anson Resources.)

The United States has backed an Australian lithium and a rare earths project with up to $786 million in debt funding as Western countries seek to build supply chains for critical minerals.

Australia’s American Rare Earths said on Tuesday it had received a letter of interest for a debt funding package of up to $456 million from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to support construction of the Cowboy State Mine area at its Halleck Creek project in Wyoming.

“We are hopeful that it will serve as an anchor to help attract private funding into the project,” said Melissa Sanderson, a member of the company’s board of directors.

The bank has also offered $330 million to finance the construction of Anson Resources’ lithium production plant in the Paradox Basin, Utah, the Australian company said on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, the bank backed two Australia-listed listed rare earths projects by Australian Strategic Materials and Meteoric Resources with up to $850 million of funding.

The United States and Australia established a critical minerals taskforce last year as Australia seeks to attract investment in minerals processing from allied countries, aiming to reduce reliance on China, which currently controls more than 80% of the global supply.

(By Roshan Thomas; Editing by Mohammed Safi Shamsi and Subhranshu Sahu

Wallenius Wilhelmsen Upsizes Car Carriers to Be World’s Largest

Reflecting strong demand across the sector along with the need to improve operating and environmental performance, the car carrier sector is moving to a new generation of larger and more efficient vessels. The major carriers have been “leapfrogging” their competition and today Wallenius Wilhelmsen which takes credit for developing the sector reports it will build the world’s largest capacity pure car and truck carriers.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen will “upsize” four of the 12 vessels currently on order with the Jinling Shipyard in China which is due for delivery starting in 2026. The company revealed in the spring the order for the 12 ships highlighting the increased efficiency and lower environmental impact with a capacity of 9,300 units. Dimensions were not reported but the company said the last four vessels of the class will increase capacity by 25 percent handling approximately 11,700 vehicles, making them the largest PCTCs ever to sail.

The sector’s recent focus had reached a maximum capacity of approximately 8,500 units before the orders for the next generation. In August, Höegh Autoliners celebrated the naming of what it highlighted was the largest car carrier, Höegh Aurora with a capacity of 9,100 units, and the start of its new class which will include an ammonia-ready vessel. CSSC late in 2023 highlighted its new design with a capacity of 10,800 units and Seaspan ordered six of the vessels with an option for four more. They will go under charter to Hyundai Glovis. At the same time, China Merchants received Approval in Principle for an 11,000-unit design.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen reports it will take delivery on the first of the upsized 11,700 unit vessels in late 2027. They highlight that the increased size will reduce costs and contribute to the company’s net-zero ambition.

“Specifically designed for our needs and trading patterns, prepared for net-zero from day one, and purpose built with significant economies of scale, we believe the new upsized Shaper vessels are a class apart,” said Xavier Leroi, EVP & COO Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen. “Providing significant savings on fuel and emissions in comparison to the current fleet and with both unparalleled capacity and the highest ramp strength in the order book, these vessels are truly fit for the future.”

When the class was first announced in the spring, the company highlighted designs for alternative fuels, including being equipped for methanol and ammonia ready. They will be outfitted for shore power and a battery system will optimize power generation and reduce energy during maneuvering. The vessel will also have solar panels and air lubrication for the hulls.

The hull form has been optimized both for cargo handling and energy efficiency. Two of the four movable decks will be electrically hoistable. Fire safety will also be enhanced including introducing two fire zones as opposed to the single zone required by regulation.

The lines are working to introduce new capabilities and advantages as competition continues to grow in the sector. Majors including CMA CGM and MSC Mediterranean Shipping have both entered the sector this year while due to capacity constraints, Chinese car manufacturers launched their first dedicated vessels. Vehicle transport is currently one of the fastest-growing segments in the shipping industry.

Pirates Hijack Tug and Barge in Indonesia Robbing Crew, Stealing Cargo

The crew working a tugboat and barge were overpowered and robbed by a group being called pirates by the local police. The crewmembers are safe in the custody of the police after telling a harrowing tale of piracy.

According to the police report, five men wearing face masks and armed with knives and firearms overpowered the crew of 14 working the tug named Royal TB 17 which was moving a barge. The vessel had departed Bagendang Port on the island of Kalimantan (Borneo) in the western part of Indonesia bound for Stagen at the southern tip of the island. As they were sailing near the southern part of the island near Tanjung Malatayur they were attacked by the pirates in a small boat.

The pirates took the 14 crewmembers hostage and began to rob the individuals and the tug and barge. According to the police the pirates took over $1,000 in cash as well as 21 mobile phones, nine communications radios from the crew as well as a rope-throwing device, a radar unit, binoculars, and the GPS from the tug and barge. They also stole the cargo of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester).

The vessel had departed on September 19 and the crew was hijacked the following day. It is unclear when or how they were released.

The police reported that they were interviewing the crew and seeking additional details about the incident. The crew is also receiving medical attention after their ordeal. The police said they are committed to tracking down the pirates and arresting the perpetrators who attacked the Royal 17. Indonesian authorities reported success in stopping previous groups of pirates operating in areas around the islands.

Regional authorities have warned of continuing incidents of piracy but most of the occurrences have been in and around the Singapore Strait. Typically it is pretty crime where the boarders seek to steal supplies or equipment and flee when they are discovered. They are rarely armed or at most have knives. In most cases, there is little interaction between the crew and perpetrators.

Report: Russia May Give Houthis a Supersonic Antiship Missile

Bastion coastal defense battery launches an Oniks missile (Russian Ministry of Defense)

Iran is helping Yemen's Houthi rebels to negotiate with Russia on the possiblity of acquiring high-end supersonic antiship missiles, multiple sources told Reuters. Houthi officials likely met with Russian representatives in Tehran twice this year, and talks are ongoing.

Iran is the primary sponsor and weapons supplier for the Houthi movement. U.S. forces have repeatedly intercepted Iranian antiship missile components aboard dhows bound for Houthi recipients in Yemen, and extensive open-source footage of the Houthi missile and drone inventory shows clear Iranian characteristics, even if Houthi forces claim that these weapons are indigenous.

Houthi forces have hit dozens of ships in the Red Sea, sinking two and damaging countless others in varying degrees. The risk is high enough to raise insurance rates and drive shipowners out of the Red Sea, but the majority of Houthi attacks fail to hit the target. Russian missile technology could change the equation, and Iran - which is a major weapons supplier for Russia's invasion of Ukraine - is well-placed to broker a deal.

According to Reuters, the Houthis would like to acquire the P-800 Oniks antiship missile. The Oniks (Onyx, Yakhont) was designed during the late years of the Cold War to engage NATO warships. It is a ramjet-powered missile capable of Mach 2 speeds, with a sea-skimming flight profile during terminal approach. It is in service with Russian coastal-defense batteries and on the Nakat-class missile ships, and has been used against ground targets in Ukraine with varying degrees of success. It is a comparatively modern design, and is the basis for the joint Russian-Indian BrahMos missile system.

Moscow has previously supplied Oniks antiship missiles to the Iranian-backed regime in Syria. Analysts have long believed that some of this Syrian missile inventory was transferred to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah - another Iranian proxy and a longtime opponent of Israel and the United States.

Multiple sources told Reuters that it appears that Russia has not yet decided whether to export the Oniks to Houthi forces as well, though talks continue. If delivered, and paired with appropriate targeting, the system would give the Houthis a modern active-homing antiship missile that could reach anywhere in the southern Red Sea within as little as 90 seconds.

Bangladesh Suspends Scrapper and Orders Compensation After Fatal Incident

Bangladesh remains one of the most active areas for ship recycling (file photo)

The Ministry of Industries is imposing a series of stiff penalties on a shipbreaker in Chattogram, Bangladesh after a fatal incident while workers were cutting the tanks on a retired tanker. The move comes as Bangladesh is attempting to improve its safety record as the IMO’s new regulations are set to take effect and scrutiny remains high on the industry.

An explosion and fire happened on September 7 as a team was said to be cutting into the engine spaces aboard a former tanker that had been mostly dismantled. Some reports said they were attempting to open one of the fuel tanks while others said the explosion occurred in a pump room.

A total of 12 workers were injured with most of them suffering severe burns. One succumbed to his injuries that day as he was being transferred to a specialized hospital. Reports indicate the death toll has risen to six with the other six workers remaining in hospitals.

The authorities immediately suspended the license of the SM Corporation and issued a show cause order giving the company three days to give a reason why it should not be permanently closed. Work on the tanker, the Swarajya (32,900 dwt) was also ordered suspended.

The Ministry of Industries reports it completed an investigation into the incident citing the company with numerous violations. They included safety violations, failing to ensure safe working conditions, and operational misconduct. The breaker is being fined approximately $29,000 and its operating license was suspended for three months.

In addition, the shipbreaker has been ordered to compensate each of the families of the deceased providing approximately $5,900 per family. The company was also ordered to pay all the medical expenses of the six individuals still in the hospital. Each person will also receive one year’s wages.

Bangladesh in 2023 ratified the Hong Kong Convention with the IMO that seeks to set new safety and environmental standards when it goes into force in 2025. Despite an overall downsizing in the industry, the country remains one of the most active recycling operations for retired ships.

Bangladesh established standards for the industry in 2011 and after this latest incident conducted a review of the practices. The ministry included a 20-point recommendation in its report designed to improve safety. They called for prohibiting simultaneous hot and cold work, ensuring proper ventilation when cutting into tanks, engine rooms, and pump rooms, and ensuring that gases are evacuated before issuing a hot work permit. They also called for the hiring of trained and experienced workers and providing personal protective equipment.

The ministry is urging the companies to strictly follow the Ship Cutting Plan and ensure proper firefighting and rescue arrangements are in place when working in high-risk areas.

Critics however say that there is lax enforcement of the regulations. They also contend the yards use outside contractors to avoid some of the regulations. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform frequently cites Bangladesh for its lax safety records and high injury rates.

Citing data from the Labour Resource and Support Center, the Dhaka Tribune said that 124 people have died of accidents in the past nine years at the scrapyards. The newspaper reported that in the first six months of 2024, there have been 12 accidents at the yards resulting in 12 injuries and one death, before this most recent incident.

Hanwha Ocean Discontinues Efforts to Acquire Austal

Austal patrol boats — Austal cities a growing orderbook for government and naval work (Austal)

South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean is discontinuing its pursuit of Austal after reports of repeated financial offers to take the Australia-based shipbuilder private. Austal had publicly rejected the offer repeatedly saying it doubted the combination could win regulatory approval in Australia and possibly the United States due to the national security nature of the business.

In a statement attributed to Shin Yong-in, Chief Financial Officer of Hanwha Ocean, the company said, “We have decided to discontinue discussions with Austal's management and board of directors regarding the acquisition of Austal (Australian shipbuilding/defense company) as of September 25, 2024, and have notified the other party of this.”

Hanwha Ocean labeled the stock exchange filing a response to market rumors citing reports dating to April of an offer to pay US$673.6 million to acquire Austal. Media reports said the offer was increased several times and stood at just over US$700 million.

The Australian Financial Review is reporting that it saw a letter from Hanwha Ocean’s CEO to the board of Austal saying the decision to not pursue the offer was due to a “wholly unreasonable condition of due diligence access.” AFR reports that Austal’s board insisted on a US$5 million termination fee that the board could invoke at any time if it determined regulatory approval would not be obtained.

Hanwha Ocean, according to AFR, contends Austal’s board had been willing to proceed with the due diligence providing access to the operations but canceled two days before it was scheduled to begin. They contend it was done without notice or explanation but the sticking point was the termination fee.

This comes as both companies have been moving to expand their naval work, especially with the United States, and as Austal is poised to compete in the AUKUS program as tenders are expected for the submarine contraction. Austal just highlighted its expansion of its submarine component work in the U.S. reporting a program to expand capacity at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama while it is also participating with a private equity investor to buy the neighboring facility of the Alabama Shipyard.

Hanwha Ocean had dismissed the concerns over regulatory issues with the acquisition citing its current work with military projects for Australia and its expanding relationship with the U.S. Navy. Hanwha Ocean was recently certified and received a U.S. Navy support ship for an extended repair project at its yard in South Korea. The company has also agreed to acquire Philly Shipyard in the United States citing the opportunities to expand into more work with the U.S. Navy and Maritime Administration.

The Australian Financial Review cites Austal’s growth while also noting that the company will require capital to overhaul its shipyard as part of the effort to participate in AUKUS. Last month, Austal reported a strong financial turnaround for FY 2024. While revenues were down as expected by approximately seven percent, the company posted a strong turnaround and profit. Management cited an orderbook valued at A$12.7 billion (US$8.7 billion). They predicted the yards would be busier in FY 2025 noting the company is now undertaking 14 different vessel programs, providing the company with diversity and a long runway of work and revenue.

Private Equity Fund Buys Alabama Shipyard for Austal USA's Sub Program

Alabama Shipyard is a busy repair facility with a large book of business for Military Sealift Command (Alabama Shipyard)

The U.S. Navy has helped finance a major shipyard acquisition agreement on the Gulf Coast, expanding its submarine construction capacity by brokering a de-facto merger of two private shipyard facilities in Mobile, Alabama.

Working with private equity firm CapZone, submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat, Navy-focused shipyard Austal USA and ship-repair contractor Alabama Shipyard, the Navy has sponsored an agreement to expand Austal's submarine module construction business onto the 355-acre site of Alabama Shipyard, which is adjacent to Austal's existing facility in Mobile.

The deal has several layers. Prime contractor General Dynamics Electric Boat awarded Austal a $450 million contract to expand submarine module production capacity; the Navy provided a $152 million contract directly to Austal as part of the National Sea-Based Deterrent fund; Austal invested in a CapZone-administered federal opportunity zone fund (the USA Fund), alongside other private investors; and the Fund purchased Alabama Shipyard's facility and related assets, with plans to develop 75 percent of the site to support submarine production and workforce training. The site will be renamed the Mobile Naval Yard, and the CapZone fund will hold ownership and responsibility for development and management.

The agreement includes "contractual mechanisms that support Navy oversight and authorities to safeguard Navy and national security interests," the Navy said. The service has previously addressed concerns about past contract accounting issues at Austal.

"This Navy initiative is a model for how public-private partnerships can address critical infrastructure needs in the defense and national security sectors," said CapZone CEO Al Puchala. "We developed this platform to activate institutional and private American capital to support government priorities. Our model not only drives financial investments to support the Navy's operational requirements, which are under extreme pressure to meet global threats, but also to spur economic growth and job creation in the region."

The sub indusrial base initiative is one of the Navy's top priorities, and the service is putting billions of dollars into workforce recruitment, financial support and shipyard expansion. To meet the combined needs of the Columbia-class and Virginia-class programs, the Navy says that submarine production has to double, requiring an extra 3.5 to 4.5 million man-hours of submarine module production and outfitting every year.

No Talks Set with One Week Before U.S. East/Gulf Coast Dock Strike

ILA dockworkers — ILA members from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico are set to go on strike on October 1 (ILA file photo)

The deadlock continues between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance as the first coastwide dock strike since 1977 appears likely and ports, shippers, and carriers make a last-minute scramble. Terminal operators represented by the USMX continue to make overtures while union leaders released a statement saying “We are about to engage in one of the toughest battles our union has faced in decades.”

Negotiations for the master contract that would cover all the ports have been stalled since the anticipated start in June. The ILA initially cited disputes at the local level. While both sides filed notices with the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, the USMX notes that mediation could only proceed if both sides agree.

“This is no indication that the ILA is interested in negotiating at this time,” USMX said in a statement on Monday, September 23, just seven days before the September 30 contract expiration. “Our goal remains the same – we want to bargain and avoid a strike, but time is running out if the ILA is unwilling to return to the table.”

Dennis Daggett, president of the ILA released a statement on Friday, September 20, saying the union “will be on the right side of history.” He cites dockworkers’ role in keeping the supply chains moving during the pandemic while saying they want a “fair and just contract.” The new message says they “deserve fair compensation,” rumored to be a 70 percent increase over six years. He also emphatically states “We will not accept automation replacing,” jobs. He also added a reference to ending members being “benched” for sixty or ninety days “over minor infractions,” as another change in the new contract.

USMX says it has received “outreach” from the Department of Labor as well as the mediation council and other federal agencies and that it is keeping them updated. Last week, Reuters however reported the Biden administration was not intervening to impose a cooling-off period, but last year Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su was acknowledged as having played a critical role in resolving the West Coast dockworkers contract.

“A potential ILA strike will have impacts on supply chains, leading to delays in cargo movement, increased costs, and logistical challenges for businesses relying on U.S. East Coast and Gulf ports. Longer strike durations may exacerbate disruptions, affecting import and export activities, container availability, and overall operational efficiency,” Maersk warned customers in an advisory dated September 21.

Maersk reported it was still accepting export booking while encouraging shippers to expedite movements. They noted that ports are offering extended gate hours recommending that importers retrieve cargo promptly.

There have been some reports that freight forwarders are already experiencing interruptions for inland shipments as some carriers and ports begin to take steps toward an orderly shutdown. Maersk said it is “expediting earlier bookings and prioritizing import container movements,” while warning that terminals will not be able to monitor reefer boxes once the strike begins.

Maersk says it expects to anchor vessels temporarily with a daily review of the situation to determine port calls and adjustments. Its teams are “exploring alternative cargo acceptance/routing for extended strikes.”

USMX reported that it remains unable to schedule a meeting to continue negotiations on a master contract. Unless the Biden administration invokes a cooling-off period, the ILA has said there will be no extension and it has been planning for a year for a strike that begins on October 1 from Maine to Gulf of Mexico. It will impact roughly half of the containers and a large portion of the Ro-Ro volume in the United States.

Environmentalists Block Port of Marseille Protesting Impact of Cruises

cruise protest — Stop Crisieres blocked the port of Marseille for morethan two hours (Stop Croisieres)

A group of environmentalists formed a human chain using small boats to block the port of Marseille, France’s large cruise and ferry port on the Mediterranean. The demonstration was designed to call attention to the environmental impact of cruise ships which the group links to global warming.

Approximately 20 individuals from an environmental group calling itself Stop Croisières along with the French arm of Extinction Rebellion used a string of canoes to block the entrance to the Marseille harbor shortly after sunrise on Saturday, September 21. They were holding signs and held media interviews to draw attention to their cause.

The German cruise ship AIDAstella (71,300 GT) from Carnival Corporation’s AIDA Cruises was inbound and forced to divert to avoid the protestors. Two other cruise ships, Costa’s Costa Smeralda (185,000 GT) and MSC’s MSC World Europa (215,800 GT) were following the AIDA ship into port and were forced to hold offshore. A Corsica Linea ferry was also attempting to enter the port while a Hapag-Lloyd containership was among the vessels in port.

The group cites the dramatic growth of the cruise industry and specifically in Marseille. According to their data, the port received 2.5 million cruise passengers in 2023 up by 1 million from 2022. They also highlighted that cruises surpassed ferries which carried 1.5 million passengers in the port in 2023. They are unhappy that cruise tourism has outnumbered the ferries and are calling for more investment in ferry operations.

Cruise ships forced to wait offshore during the protest (Stop Croisières)

The group cited increased air and water temperatures this past summer in the Mediterranean which set new records. They are calling for the end of the cruise industry demanding that the money spent to electrify the port instead be directed to ferries. They also want the port to abandon the development of a new cruise terminal.

The police responded to Saturday’s demonstration which had begun around 0700 and arrested about 20 protestors. The port was reported after about 2 to 3 hours with port officials saying by 0930 traffic was again moving.

Police arrested the protestors and reopened the port (Stop Croisières)

Newspapers quoted local political leaders denouncing the protest noting that the cruise ship was forced to make an emergency maneuver endangering thousands of passengers. They said that the port is “not a lawless zone.”

The Cruise Line International Association also called it an “illegal and dangerous” demonstration to Agence France-Presse.

It was the latest in a series of efforts across Europe this summer in a loose-knit collective of groups known as ECAN. They reported conducting actions in 20 port cities to call attention to their demands. The Dutch arm of Extinction Rebellion during the summer repeatedly blocked one of the lock gates leading into Amsterdam. It interrupted the arrival of several cruise ships also at least one tanker. Port officials initially let the protest proceed but later called the Dutch police after the group repeatedly blocked the gates over a series of days and weeks.

Container with Lithium-Ion Batteries Catches Fire at Port of Montreal

container fire — Smoke from the battery fire caused warnings in Montreal (CBC News screen shot)

A container transporting lithium-ion batteries caught fire Monday, September 23, on the dock at the Port of Montreal causing evacuations and warnings for residents to stay indoors for several hours. There were widespread images of smoking blanketing parts of the city and even today people are complaining of a strong chemical smell in the air.

Fire officials said it was a difficult fire due to the nature of the batteries and fears that it would turn into a chemical runaway situation. Reports indicate more than 100 firefighters responded to the two-alarm blaze. CBC said they had to borrow a special drill from fire teams at the city’s airport to access the container.

The first reports of the fire were received around 2:20 p.m. local time in Montreal and shortly thereafter the city issued an alert for residents around the port to remain indoors. They were instructed to close doors and windows and shut off ventilation systems. Between 50 and 100 residents were also evacuated from their homes as a precaution. Electrical power was also turned off in the area.

The container was on the dock and firefighters said it held around 15,000 kg of lithium. One report said the container was coming from Poland and bound for Windsor, Canada raising speculation it was for the auto industry. It is unclear when the container arrived, but the Montreal Gazette reports that Vistula Maersk was on the dock near the scene of the fire.

Because of the nature of the fire, a special hazardous materials intervention team was brought in. They chose to water the container and not attempt to enter. One firefighter suffered a minor injury to his knee during the effort.

By about 7:30 p.m. the shelter order was lifted after the fire was contained, but it continued to burn overnight. The fire was extinguished Tuesday, September 24 by 7:00 a.m.

The Port of Montreal’s team is investigating the fire. A special team was coming in to handle the removal of the material.

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