European leaders commit to more wind energy production
April 24, 2023 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — A group of Western European nations led by Germany and France on Monday committed to massively ramp up the production of clean energy from wind turbines in the North Sea, to both meet climate targets and reduce their strategic energy dependence on Russia.
Report criticizes Dutch authorities over risky emissions
April 13, 2023 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Businesses and local governments in the Netherlands must do more to protect residents who live near large industrial plants against the damaging effects of emissions, an independent report concluded Thursday.
Trains and ferries canceled as storm hits northern Europe
February 17, 2023 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A powerful storm over the North Sea hit northern Europe and led to dozens of train and ferry cancellations Friday in northern Denmark and southern Norway as the Danish Meteorological Institute forecast hurricane-force wind gusts.
First floating LNG terminal arrives at German port
November 23, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — The first of several ships that will serve as floating terminals to receive liquefied natural gas imports in Germany arrived Wednesday off the Baltic Sea port of Mukran.
Germany’s 1st LNG terminal takes shape at North Sea port
November 15, 2022 GMTWILHELMSHAVEN, Germany (AP) — Germany on Tuesday marked the completion of port facilities for the first of five planned liquefied natural gas terminals it is scrambling to put in place as it replaces the Russian pipeline gas that once accounted for more than half its supplies.
Fears over Russian threat to Norway’s energy infrastructure
October 23, 2022 GMTSTAVANGER, Norway (AP) — Norwegian oil and gas workers normally don’t see anything more threatening than North Sea waves crashing against the steel legs of their offshore platforms. But lately they have noticed a more troubling sight: unidentified drones buzzing in the skies overhead.
UK offers new North Sea oil, gas licenses despite opposition
October 7, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — The British government opened a new licensing round for North Sea oil and gas exploration Friday despite criticism from environmentalists and scientists who say the move undermines the country’s commitment to fighting climate change.
UK says Royal Navy ship in North Sea for pipeline protection
October 3, 2022 GMTBIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Britain has sent a Royal Navy ship to patrol the North Sea, as Western allies try to increase protection for undersea pipelines and cables after blasts ruptured two natural gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, the defense ministry said Monday.
North Sea nations plan huge expansion of wind power by 2050
September 12, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Nine nations bordering the North Sea announced plans Monday to massively increase offshore wind power in the coming decades as part of an effort to combat climate change and become independent of fossil fuel imports, particularly from Russia.
Dutch coaster sinks off Denmark, no reports of injuries
September 9, 2022 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A Dutch coaster sank in the North Sea off western Denmark after colliding with another vessel early Friday. The Danish Navy said that seven crewmembers from the Helge who had jumped into the sea, were rescued by helicopter and there are no reports of injuries.
British sewage overflows stink up relations across Channel
August 25, 2022 GMTPARIS (AP) — EU lawmakers have a new, post-Brexit reason to be annoyed with the U.K.: British sewage overflows seeping into the English Channel and the North Sea.
Heavy rainfall after weeks of dry weather overwhelmed parts of Britain's sewage system last week, causing untreated wastewater to be discharged into rivers and seas.
Dock workers’ strike hits cargo handling at German ports
July 15, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Dock workers at Germany's North Sea ports went on strike Friday in the latest of several walkouts that have added pressures on shipping as their union demands a hefty pay rise to counter high inflation.
Tringale off to record start with 61 to lead Scottish Open
July 8, 2022 GMTNORTH BERWICK, Scotland (AP) — Cameron Tringale has played 331 times on the PGA Tour without winning. His career-best round of 9-under 61 might help him change that at a tournament run by the European tour.
Europe wilts under early heat wave from Med to North Sea
June 17, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — A blanket of hot air stretching from the Mediterranean to the North Sea is bringing much of Western Europe its first heat wave of the summer, with temperatures Friday exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) from London to Paris.
Hunt continues for 2 missing after Rotterdam plane crash
June 7, 2022 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Emergency services used a sonar-equipped boat Tuesday in the hunt for the wreckage of a small airplane that crashed over the weekend in a waterway that is part of the busy port of Rotterdam and two people on board, as police in Norway said the two people missing were Norwegians.
Britain, Netherlands approve new North Sea gas projects
June 1, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — British regulators gave final approval Wednesday to develop a new North Sea gas field, while the Dutch government announced that it has issued permits for a joint gas exploration project with Germany.
4 EU nations to harness North Sea wind for green transition
May 18, 2022 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Four European Union countries plan to speed up the continent’s green transition and help wean it off Russian energy imports through a large new project to build wind farms in the North Sea, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday.
P&O Ferries mass firings of UK crew members outrage unions
March 18, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Unions protested at British ports Friday, demanding the government step in to save jobs and protect key trade routes after major ferry operator P&O Ferries fired 800 U.K. crew members to replace them with cheaper contract staff.
Container ship towed free after running aground off Germany
February 4, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — A container ship that ran aground off a German North Sea island has been towed free a day after it got stuck, authorities said Friday.
The 400-meter (1,310-foot) -long Mumbai Maersk ran aground Wednesday night near the island of Wangerooge, on the approach to the port of Bremerhaven.
Container ship runs aground off German North Sea island
February 3, 2022 GMTBERLIN (AP) — A container ship has run aground off a German North Sea island, and an initial attempt to free it was unsuccessful, authorities said Thursday.
Shipping company Maersk said on Twitter that the 400-meter (1,310-foot) -long Mumbai Maersk ran aground on a “shallow patch” on Wednesday night.
Prosecutors to investigate Tata Steel plant in Dutch village
February 2, 2022 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch prosecutors announced Wednesday they are launching a criminal investigation into Tata Steel Ijmuiden over alleged pollution from its huge steel works near the Dutch North Sea coast.
Europe storms: Ships collide off Dutch coast; crew evacuated
January 31, 2022 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Rescue helicopters evacuated all 18 crew members from a ship that was left drifting rudderless in a wind turbine park off the Dutch North Sea coast Monday after it collided with another ship and began taking on water during a powerful storm, emergency services said.
Channel rescuers accused of manslaughter in migrant deaths
December 20, 2021 GMTPARIS (AP) — The Paris prosecutor’s office said it has received a manslaughter lawsuit for failure to help in the tragic capsizing last month of a boat in the English Channel that cost the lives of at least 27 people trying to reach Britain.
German ship with burning timber cargo towed to Swedish port
December 11, 2021 GMTHELSINKI (AP) — A fire-ravaged German-owned cargo vessel was towed to port in the western Swedish city of Goteborg on Saturday after a week-long blaze that broke out on the North Sea when the ship's timber cargo caught fire,
24 migrants rescued from North Sea off Belgian coast
October 27, 2021 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — A small boat transporting 24 migrants was rescued Wednesday from the North Sea by emergency services off the coast of Zeebrugge, according to the governor of Belgium's West Flanders province.
Oil-rich Norway goes to polls with climate on the agenda
September 12, 2021 GMTSTAVANGER, Norway (AP) — North Sea oil and gas has helped make Norway one of the wealthiest countries in the world. But as Norwegians head to the polls on Monday, fears about climate change have put the future of the industry at the top of the campaign agenda.
German government, industry back North Sea spaceport plan
September 6, 2021 GMTBERLIN (AP) — The German government said Monday it supports plans for a North Sea spaceport that would be used to launch small satellites into space from Europe.
Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the government would act as an “anchor customer” for the floating launch site off the German coast.
Study: Dust near Dutch steel plant ‘undesirable’ for youths
September 2, 2021 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The future of steel production at a sprawling plant west of Amsterdam was called into question Thursday after an investigation found elevated levels of lead and other deposits in dust falling in nearby residential areas.
Skeletons of related Viking-era men to reunite for exhibit
June 9, 2021 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The skeletons of two related Viking-era men, one who died in central Denmark and the other who was killed in England during a massacre ordered by a king, are set to be reunited for an exhibition opening in Copenhagen this month.
Denmark to build North Sea island to serve as wind power hub
February 4, 2021 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark has agreed to build an island in the North Sea that would gather and distribute electricity from wind energy farms...
Swedish nurse wins a week of isolation, films amid pandemic
January 31, 2021 GMTGOTEBORG, Sweden (AP) — Cinema in lockdown: Scandinavia’s largest film festival is exploring the social isolation resulting from COVID-19 by setting up a temporary cinema-for-one on a desolated island in the North Sea with the only companionship the events’ entire movie selection and enough food to last the week...
Denmark to end oil, gas extraction in North Sea
December 4, 2020 GMTCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark has decided to end all oil and gas activities in the North Sea by 2050 and has cancelled its latest licensing round, saying the country is "now putting an end to the fossil fuel era...
Plans for LNG terminal at German port being reconsidered
November 6, 2020 GMTBERLIN (AP) — A German company said Friday it is re-evaluating plans for a liquefied natural gas terminal in the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven after failing to receive sufficient commitments from potential customers...
Scientists return from Arctic with wealth of climate data
October 12, 2020 GMTBERLIN (AP) — An icebreaker carrying scientists on a year-long international effort to study the high Arctic has returned to its home port in Germany carrying a wealth of data that will help researchers better predict climate change in the decades to come...
German cruise ship sets sail, hopes short trip thwarts virus
July 25, 2020 GMTBERLIN (AP) — A German cruise ship is gingerly testing the water amid the coronavirus pandemic, setting sail for the first time since the industry was shut down months ago and using strict precautions to keep passengers and crew as safe as possible.
Pilot of US Air Force jet that crashed in North Sea is dead
June 15, 2020 GMTLONDON (AP) — The pilot of a fighter jet that crashed into the North Sea, off the coast of northern England, has been found dead, the U...
EU claims better fishing rules; environmentalists disagree
December 18, 2019 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — European Union nations say the fish catch quotas they agreed upon for next year means they have made more headway in securing sustainable fishing in their waters — but environmentalists are strongly disputing that claim.
Trump’s Scottish golf clubs extend run of yearly losses
October 8, 2019 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's two golf resorts in Scotland posted another year of multimillion-dollar losses as his properties contend with a struggling local economy and a backlash against his divisive rhetoric.
Pure as snow? Scientists say air carrying plastics to Arctic
August 14, 2019 GMTBERLIN (AP) — Scientists say they've found an abundance of tiny plastic particles in Arctic snow, indicating that so-called microplastics are being sucked into the atmosphere and carried long distances to some of the remotest corners of the planet...
Dutch farmers to tourists: Don’t trample our tulips
March 27, 2019 GMTTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch farmers have a message for tourists: Please don't trample upon our tulips...
Dead fin whale pulled ashore on Belgian beach, cause probed
October 25, 2018 GMTBRUSSELS (AP) — A dead fin whale has been pulled ashore on Belgium's North Sea coast, drawing onlookers undaunted by the putrid smell...
In the rough: Losses mount at Trump’s Scottish resorts
October 9, 2017 GMTBALMEDIE, Scotland (AP) — David Milne loves the view of the North Sea from his home high above the roiling surf, but he finds his eye often falling onto the golf course next door and, when it does, on the tiny figures below...