Seacurus Bulletin: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 07/06/2016
1. Posidonia Opens with Promise
Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras has opened this year’s Posidonia event in Athens by promising to develop his country’s ports, shipyards and seafarers and make them forces to be reckoned with in the international market.
The prime minister praised shipping’s “significant” contribution to Greece’s economy, which is estimated at 7% of its annual GDP. “The crisis has helped us realise we can turn the page, grow,” he said.
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2. Massive New Alliance Forged
An alliance forged by six of the world’s largest multi-services shipping companies is expected to revolutionize the maritime industry in the next five years and beyond. The new partnership, dubbed as “The Alliance,” is an expanded alliance of G6 and CKYHE. The new alliance was announced simultaneously is composed of industry leaders Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Hanjin, Hapag-Lloyd, K-Line, Mitsui O.S.K Lines, and Yang Ming Transport Corp.
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3. Vessels Failing Sulphur Checks
One in ten of ships checked in Shanghai by authorities since new emission control area (ECA) rules came in this April have been found to be using high sulfur, incorrect fuel. The Shanghai Daily reports that 10 out of 100 ships checked in the last two months have been fined for carrying the wrong fuel. Ship emissions account for about 10% of Shanghai’s PM2.5 pollution and the city is desperate to cut pollution.
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4. So Few Female Seafarers
As the recent BIMCO/ICS Manpower report 2015 revealed that just 1 per cent of the global seagoing deck and engine officers and ratings workforce are women, a timely new book celebrates the achievements of those women who have pursued successful careers at sea. It calls for the industry to make greater efforts to encourage and assist women to go to sea. It is said shipping companies need to make it easier to combine seafaring with motherhood.
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5. Restricting Cover for Fishing
Restricting insurance to vessels that engage in illegal fishing can help cut down the practice, says a study published Monday that suggests legally pressuring insurers to avoid insuring these vessels. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities undermine fishers and industry stakeholders’ efforts to “sustainability and equitably manage ocean resources,” says the paper, “Cutting a Lifeline to Maritime Crime: Marine Insurance and IUU Fishing.”
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6. Cutting Indian Piracy Premium
Ships entering or leaving Indian ports are not required to pay a piracy-related additional insurance premium now, a move which will help thousands of the vessels. The development has come after seas close to the country’s western coast were removed from the list of the High Risk Areas (HRA) for piracy. About 22,000 ships, that called on Indian ports between 2010 and 2015, paid an estimated additional war risk premium (AWRP) of about Rs 8,500 crore.
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7. New Piracy Guidance Issued
Maritime charity ISWAN has released an updated version of its Good Practice Guide for Shipping Companies and Manning Agents. Seafarers continue to be the targets of pirates and armed robbers, with around 100 held captive ashore by various groups in different parts of the world at the moment, says the charity. Interviews with seafarers released after an attack and hostage situation suggest that those briefed in advance cope better than those who are not.
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8. Contact Group to Continue
The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) is here to stay, and Seychelles retains the chairmanship for 2017. That was the outcome of the 19th plenary session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) at the end of last week in the Seychelles’ capital Victoria. Although pirate attacks in the region have subsided considerably, members of the group have agreed to preserve the work and the brand name.
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9. Slight Baltic Tumble
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell slightly on Monday on weaker demand for panamax vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was down three points, or 0.49 percent, at 607 points. The capesize index gained nine points, or 0.99 percent, at 922 points.
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10. Seafarers Role in Saving Lives
As the treacherous Mediterranean Sea claimed more than 1,000 lives over the past few weeks, Mission to Seafarers has praised seafarers in their efforts in helping save the lives of many, but more must be done to support seafarers in the deepening crisis, they warn. During its seminar during Posidonia, The Mission will address industry concerns, including how refugees and seafarers are regarded and treated under international law.
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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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