The Maritime and Coastguard Agency hire the tugs from shipping company JP Knight.

BBC: Three-month extension' for Scotland's coastguard tugs

The next step is for Miri to be put in a special environment-controlled shipping box, so it can travel to the US space agency's Goddard centre.

BBC: Science & Environment

It "aimed to echo the message of peace and friendship to the neighboring states and guarantee security of the seafaring and shipping lines vis-a-vis sea piracy, " the news agency said.

CNN: Report: Iranian warships dock in Sudan in show of support

Domestic security agency Shin Bet recommended heightened security for Israeli airline El Al, Israeli shipping, and synagogues around the world, the radio reported.

BBC: New security measures could remain in place for months

Unable to bring in cement to repair its schools, UNRWA, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency which educates half of Gaza's children, arranged to teach children in shipping containers, before Israel banned those too.

ECONOMIST: Israel and Gaza

The mail agency has seen other structural problems in declining mail volume, but has seen growth in it shipping services, up 9% in 2012.

BBC: US Postal Service in $16bn loss