Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 11/03/2015
1. Greek Owners Emerge into Spotlight
More than a thousand delegates from the shipping industry gathered last month at the Hilton Athens for the Greek Shipping Forum, a day of speeches and panel discussions on private equity, ship recycling and financing. The packed reception hall was a testament to how the nation’s ship owners still dominate the industry with the Hellenic fleet valued at $106 billion, according to VesselsValue.com, accounting for 19 percent of the world’s tankers.
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2. British Government Looking for Shipping Boost
Before the general election, The Rt Hon John Hayes MP of the Department for Transport and Maritime Coastguard Agency has taken the an opportunity to take stock, looking at the progress we have made over the past 5 years and setting out a blueprint for the future. He identified the need a vision, to spread the word that Britain is open for maritime business and scouting relentlessly for new business around the globe.
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3. Ghanaians Caught Helping Nigerian Pirates
Two Ghanaians have been arrested in connection with the hijacking of the Nigerian-flagged commercial oil tanker in the territorial waters of Ghana. The two are a freight forwarder, and a shipping agent. The police have mounted a search for three Nigerian accomplices who are currently at large. The two Ghanaians were implicated in the case after police investigations showed that they connived with the eight Nigerian pirates to hijack the oil tanker
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4. Local Owners Applaud Nigerian Navy
Ship owners in Lagos have reportedly applauded the Nigerian Navy (NN) for its fleet recapitalisation with the aim to further take full control of the country’s waters against illegalities. Capt. Jim Adu, a ship owner, said the recapitalisation was a sign of improvement on the part of the navy. He said "it is important that we have a strong navy that can perform; besides, we are all aware of the current oil theft that is ongoing on our waters".
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5. Bangladesh in Ticket Fall Out
Bangladesh’s department of shipping (DoS) has been asked to clarify two crew deals signed with Iran. The government believes the shipping and foreign ministries did not give consent for the memoranda of understanding (MoU) agreed with tanker owner NITC and the Iranian Port and Maritime Organisation in December. The agreements related to mutual recognition of certificates for seafarers awarded by both Bangladeshi and Iranian marine institutions.
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6. Manager Looks to Sustainable Future
After joining IMPA ACT, a responsible supply chain management programme for the shipping industry, third-party ship management services provider Univan explains why it’s shifting its future business focus towards sustainability. Univan is currently involved in a range of initiatives aimed at modernising and improving their efficiency and transparency as an organisation, and with a focus on CSR policies and activities t
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7. Collisions Need New Safeguards
Collisions at sea have always been a major risk for seafarers and while the exact numbers of incidents that take place across the globe each year is hard to quantify, the number is significant. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) reports on average six collisions between merchant vessels in British waters every year and for every collision reported to the appropriate authorities there will be many more near-misses that go unreported.
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8. New Images of Stricken Maersk Ship Emerge
Some new photos released Monday night by the U.S. Coast Guard show damage to the chemical tanker Carla Maersk and Conti Peridot bulk carrier after colliding Monday in the Houston Ship Channel near Morgans Point, Texas. The Carla Maersk was carrying about 216,000 barrels of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) when the collision occurred in dense fog, causing an unknown quantity of the product to spill into the Channel.
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9. Bunker Collapse Gives Rise to New Fears
Last November’s collapse of OW Bunker has given rise to numerous competing claims for outstanding bunker bills with ships at risk of multiple arrests, while owners are left unsure of who to pay. "Numerous competing payment demands from ship owners, financiers, banks, suppliers and traders on OW Bunker Middle East has made them hesitant to pay out, due to jurisdictional issues and legal interpretations," wrote lawyers for Fichte & Co
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10. Ships Fitted with Anti-Piracy Doors
A number of ships are being fitted with Citadel Access Protection doors. TNKC fleet of bulk carriers which operate in high risk areas is now fitted with this innovative system which delivers protection against maritime piracy. Dimitar Dimitrov, Technical Superintendent, TNKC (UK) Ltd commented, “With minimal financial commitment, we have been able to achieve a safe haven for our crews – our most valuable asset. The system has been simple to install.
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com
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S Jones
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