Top Ten Maritime News Stories 15/12/2015

Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 15/12/2015

 

1. Shipping Divided Over Climate

Shipping groups remain divided over how to reduce carbon emissions after being left out of the climate-change pact reached over the weekend in Paris.  The landmark agreement between more than 190 nations sets targets to curb the release of greenhouse gases and sets a target global temperature. But adherence to the voluntary pact will be measured within each country’s borders, leaving out the ships and aircraft that carry goods around the world. The IMO says carriers will contribute to global carbon-reduction but stopped short of committing to formal targets. International shipping accounts for 2.2% of man-made CO2 emissions, according to the IMO.

http://goo.gl/s7QiQc

———————————————————————————

 

2. Box Giant Makes US History

The biggest ship to ever call at a North American port is scheduled to arrive later this month at the Port of Los Angeles. The CMA CGM "Benjamin Franklin", which is expected to call at the Port of Los Angeles on Dec. 26, is one-third bigger than the largest ships now operating at the San Pedro Bay’s twin ports complex. Port Executive Director Gene Seroka said the ship’s anticipated arrival “signals a new chapter in Pacific Rim trade flow and supply chain optimization", as “ultra large container vessels” use the port. Mayor Eric Garcetti said the Port of Los Angeles is capable of handling the bigger loads, and is “prepared to continue growing and adapting to the demands". http://goo.gl/td1wIC

———————————————————————————

3. Getting Social Delivers for Shipping

The international world of shipping is an unlikely place to find a Facebook campaign whose popularity and success is based in part on its open sharing of both positive and negative news  – where striking and killing a whale at sea turns into an opportunity. But, on doing so, Maersk took its time to join the social media world and be open about the incident and engage. As a result, the strategy made the company one of the most widely read among international companies, even topping Disney, General Electric and the Ford Motor Company. The Maersk Line effectively used Facebook to engage with followers in a timely and conversational manner – and that has felt good.

http://goo.gl/8PRTLw

———————————————————————————

 

4. Pensioner Lost From Saga Cruise

Saga Cruises has sent Cruise Hive an updated statement which states that the woman who went overboard is 70 years old. The captain of the Saga Sapphire and maritime authorities have decided that the search should be concluded due to the length of time the woman has now been in the ocean. “During the morning of Sunday 13th December, whilst the Saga Sapphire was crossing the Atlantic, a 70 year-old passenger was reported missing by her travelling companion. Following a comprehensive search of the ship, she could not be found. Working in conjunction with maritime authorities the Saga Sapphire re-traced her path and conducted a search.

http://goo.gl/FC3Opl

 

———————————————————————————

5. Houston Channel Gas Ship Fire

The Houston Ship Channel is fully reopened after a portion was closed Monday morning because of a fire aboard a liquid gas tanker ship. The fire broke out about 9:45 a.m. on a ship docked at the Targa Dock 1 facility in the upper reaches of waterway in Galena Park, said Petty Officer Ryan Cantu of the Coast Guard. The channel was reopened shortly after 12:30 p.m., according to Petty Officer Andy Kendrick. About two miles of the ship channel were closed near the scene while the fire was investigated. No injuries were reported. The fire is still under investigation and a cause has not yet been determined. Fire broke out as the "Navigator Europa" was being loaded.

http://goo.gl/3zkD5Y

 

———————————————————————————

 

6. QM2 Engine Room Flames

The cruise ship Queen Mary 2 caught fire in engine room, which caused pod malfunction and loss of propulsion power off Lisbon, Portugal. The crew succeeded to extinguish the fire fast without putting in danger the passengers. However, due to the fire the ship got malfunction in the pod and lost propulsion power, which caused small delay in cruise schedule of Queen Mary 2 and later arriving to Vigo, Spain. During the accident there were no injured people and no water pollution. The ship was not detained for inspection in Lisbon and survey was made after arriving in Vigo, which estimated that there is no problem for seaworthiness and engineering of the vessel. http://goo.gl/H6uLM3

 

———————————————————————————

7. German Fleet is Shrinking

The German merchant fleet experienced its third consecutive year of contraction, amounting to a 17% decrease since its peak in 2012, the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR) reports. The German-flagged fleet now amounts to 3,122 vessels, representing a fall, as well, of 12% in transport capacity. In total the fleet declined by 117 ships were in 2015, taking into account newbuildings and purchases. Only 13 of these were scrapped. “The decline in the size of our merchant fleet is a disturbing development,” said Alfred Hartmann, VDR president. “Half of German shipping companies have fewer than five ships under their management" he added.

http://goo.gl/bnXImU

———————————————————————————

 

8. Time for Owner Action

According to a reminder from the Danish flag, the time has come for most shipowners to apply for renewal of Bunker, CLC, Athens and Wreck Removal Certificates from the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA). Certificates must be renewed when the underlying insurance expires. Ships subject to a requirement for a certificate are not allowed to operate without the certificate. All Bunker, CLC, Athens and Wreck Removal Certificates based on P&I insurance typically expire on 20 February 2016. We invite shipowners to apply for renewed certificates from the DMA in due time.

http://goo.gl/WSHO7t

———————————————————————————

 

9. Come Back to What you Know

Norwegian shipowners say they want to reflag home some of their ships as the government softens rules for its secondary ship register. From 1 January 2016 ships in the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) will be allowed to go between Norwegian ports as part of a European route. “Finally we are allowed to have Haugesund on the stern of the boat,” said Knut Wendelboe Aanensen, CEO of Hagland to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK on Friday. Hagland will flag home five vessels which are currently with the Malta and Bahamas flags. Arriva Shipping will also reflag six ships, writes the financial daily E24 on its site.

http://goo.gl/4o1fPz

 

———————————————————————————

 

10. Shell Set to Lose More People

Royal Dutch Shell will let go of another 2,800 jobs if its planned takeover of BG Group goes through. Shell received a crucial green light from China today in its ongoing pursuit of taking over the British gas giant – a deal first announced in April. China’s Ministry of Commerce cleared the deal, Shell said on Monday, after earlier approvals from Australia, Brazil and the European Union. Redundancies in global offshore industries are nearing 300,000 in the past 12 months on the back of the weak price of oil. Shell canned more than 7,000 jobs earlier this year.

http://goo.gl/OcAc2h

 

———————————————————————————

Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions  www.seacurus.com