Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 30/07/2015
1. New Chinese Giants Ordered
Shanghai-listed China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) has placed an USD 934.4 million order with Shanghai Jiangnan Changxing Shipbuilding for eight 13,500 TEU container ships. The order was placed through CSCL’s Hong Kong-based subsidiary China Shipping Container Lines (HK) Limited, and the boxships are due for delivery between April and December 2018. Each vessel is valued at approximately USD 116.8 million, and will fly the flag of Hong Kong.
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2. Lookouts Not Looking Out
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has reported on the collision between the container ship Kota Wajar and the yacht July last year, stating that neither vessel was maintaining a proper lookout at the time. The ATSB found that no one on board either Kota Wajar or Blazing Keel saw or otherwise detected the other vessel before the collision. Neither vessel had maintained a proper lookout in accordance with COLREGS. The vessels SMS was not being followed.
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3. Navies Eying Exit?
At the 18th Plenary Session of Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia at the UN headquarters on July 8, 2015, the European Union reiterated its "two zeros" goal for this year – zero ships and zero seafarers in the hands of Somali pirates. This raises two questions: Can the international navies operating in the western Indian Ocean withdraw now? Could the lessons learned be applied to the Gulf of Guinea and Southeast Asia where piracy is on the rise?
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4. Cruise Crew Lifeboat Injuries
Officials say two crewmembers of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America were seriously injured while working aboard the ship when it was docked in the port of Hilo. Hawaii County Fire Department Battalion Chief Warren Sumida said the two men were being lowered over the side of the ship when something gave way and they fell into the water. The cruise line says the crewmembers were performing a routine check of the ship’s rescue boat.
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5. US Visa Rules Slammed
Seafarers who fail to obtain shore leave in the US are generally stuck on their ships by visa issues, according to a new survey. The issue was highlighted by the 14th annual Shore Leave Survey, released on 28 July by the Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) Center for Seafarers’ Rights. The US’s requirement for non-nationals to obtain crewmember visas for shore leave conflicts with the FAL Convention.
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6. Shipbuilders Take Massive Hit
World’s three biggest shipbuilders posted a combined $4.1 billion in operating losses in the second quarter, paying the price for a failed foray into deep-sea oil rigs. Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries South Korea’s Big Three shipbuilders — all reported losses on Wednesday that were far worse than analysts had estimated.
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7. Deadly Cocktail of Alcohol and Fatigue
Alcohol played a role in two fatal accidents involving a UK-flagged workboat that occurred less than five months apart in Spain, the UK MAIB has determined. MAIB has published its investigation report into the two fatalities connected with the operation of the workboat "GPS Battler" occurring August 13, 2014 and January 6, 2015. The report notes the alcohol consumption levels of the deceased were in both cases above the legal limit.
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8. Huge Job Cuts Continue
Saipem SpA, Italy’s biggest oil and gas contractor, will cut jobs and exit businesses as writedowns led to an unexpected loss and an earnings target reduction. The company, controlled by Italian oil producer Eni SpA, posted a second-quarter net loss of 997 million euros ($1.1 billion), after total writedowns of assets for 929 million euros. Analysts were expecting a 39.1 million-euro profit. The further steep fall in the oil price has resulted in a major disruption.
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9. Climate and Sea Level Security
The U.S. Congress has been given a report on the national security implications of climate change and sea level rise. A Senate committee requested the report on the most serious and likely climate-related security risks for each combatant command. The committee is seeking confirmation on risk planning. The report reinforces the fact that global climate change will have wide-ranging implications for U.S. national security interests.
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10. Side Suez Opens Port Access
A new side channel is about to be built near the Suez Canal to allow smaller vessels in the Mediterranean a twenty-four hour access to East Port Said instead of current eight-hour access, Reuters reports, citing Klaus Holm Laursen, managing director of Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT). The USD 60 million-worth canal is aimed at allowing vessels to enter and exit East Port Said, without hindering the Suez Canal convoys.
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com
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