Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 09/09/2016
1. Hanjin on the Move
BigOceanData has allowed a peek at its proprietary system allowing the press to see where all Hanjin Shipping vessels are around the world. The access shows that most previously stranded ships in international waters are now moving again, with many heading towards South Korea. “Vessels that are within the region without fear of being arrested – such as Korea, the US, Japan and the UK, cargoes are to be discharged at ports,” a source at Hanjin Shipping has said. While it has been revealed that Hanjin Shipping’s China network has come to a complete halt.
http://goo.gl/6n2xlb
http://goo.gl/6n2xlb
———————————————————————————
2. Mini Emergency Alliance
Hyundai Merchant Marine will form a vessel-sharing alliance with local midsized container carriers to fill in for Hanjin Shipping that is under court receivership, the shipper said on Sept. 8. South Korea’s second largest container carrier will join the new partnership, named Mini Alliance, with three other carriers Korea Marine Transport, Sinokor Merchant Marine and Heung-A Shipping. The alliance plans to deploy 15 vessels on four Southeast Asian routes – covering Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand from South Korean port cities — starting from end-September to reduce damage caused by Hanjin’s collapse.
———————————————————————————
3. China Sends Message
China has sent a coded warning to the United States to stay out of the South China Sea dispute after Beijing was again accused of building permanent structures on islands in the area. Speaking after talks with rival countries at a regional summit in Laos, premier Li Keqiang said China wanted to work with other countries to “dispel interference” in the contested maritime zone. But US president Barack Obama responded by warning that Beijing must abide by an international tribunal ruling that China’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea had no legal basis.
———————————————————————————
4. Snaffling Up Business
Maersk Line and MSC, who make up the 2M network, have moved to "snaffle up business" that was previously controlled by defunct Hanjin Shipping. Maersk Line is introducing a new service between Asia and the United States West Coast. The first sailing is scheduled for 15 September. “We are responding to increased demand in the transpacific. With supply chains disrupted, many customers are approaching us for transport solutions for their cargo. The TP1 service is a stable, long term solution to meet our customers’ needs,” said Klaus Rud Sejling, head of Maersk Line’s east-west network.
———————————————————————————
5. Ballast Water Panic
Speaking on the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson said: “We must ensure that shipowners can have absolute confidence that the expensive equipment they will soon have to install will be effective in treating ballast water conditions normally encountered during worldwide operations and be regarded as fully compliant during Port State Control inspections. Mr Poulsson said, “Unfortunately, the entry into force of the new IMO regime will not resolve the extreme difficulties that still exist in the United States.” ICS says there is still great uncertainty with respect to the more stringent US view.
———————————————————————————
6. P&O Set for New Giant
Just 18 months after P&O Cruises’ biggest-ever ship, Britannia, was named by the Queen, the line has announced it is to launch a larger vessel for the UK market, in 2020. The new 180,000-ton vessel will be powered by Liquefied Natural Gas, a clean-burning fossil fuel that meets new maritime rules on harmful emissions. She will hold 5,200 passengers – 1,553 more than Britannia. Just three cruise ships currently in service hold more passengers: Harmony of the Seas, the world’s biggest cruise ship, launched in May, and Allure of the Seas and Oasis of The Seas. All are operated by Royal Caribbean International.
———————————————————————————
7. Bulk Buys in Offing
Holidays in Geneva did little to curb sentiment today as the cape futures rose in early trading and continued to rise throughout the day. Buyers of the nearby contracts had an appetite not seen for a long while. The physical market played its part with the indices marked higher. The deferred contracts were largely unchanged and while it appears that the physical is taking a breather this afternoon, to say the music has stopped is somewhat premature. With Capes up and some improved USG business doing the rounds there are set to be more gains.
———————————————————————————
8. Somali Coastguard Beckons
"The first thing they ask you is if you have an AK-47 – and if you can swim," says Abdirizak Ahmed. That is what pirate networks want of their new recruits. Mr Ahmed is head of counter-piracy for the semi-autonomous northern state of Puntland, which has 1,400km (870 miles) of Somalia’s coastline – and is home to most of its pirates. Maritime piracy cost the world economy more than $700m (ÂŁ528m) last year, according to Oceans Beyond Piracy, a non-profit organisation attempting to develop a globally co-ordinated response to the problem. There has been progress against piracy but people can still swim and have guns.
———————————————————————————
9. Ice Dreams Still Way Off
For centuries,ice-choked seas dashed dreams of a Northwest Passage between Asia and Europe. Now, thanks to climate change and reduced ice cover, the Crystal Serenity, carried a record thousand-plus passengers and crew through the passage. Next year, it’ll do the same. Does this mean that the age-old vision of a time-saving, money-making Arctic passage for the world’s shippers is finally coming true? Don’t bet on it. In theory, it’s a terrific idea. Traveling from Shanghai to Rotterdam via the Northwest Passage is about 2,200 miles shorter for now, at least, the Northwest Passage remains frozen to everyone but the tourists.
———————————————————————————
10. El Faro Reports Emerging
The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation has completed its review of the transcripts for the first public hearing session into the loss of the "El Faro" held in February. The first session focused on the pre-accident historical events relating to the loss, the regulatory compliance record of the El Faro, crewmember duties and qualifications, past operations of the vessel and the Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue operations. A second session, held in May, covered shipboard operations, cargo loading, lashing and stowage operations for the accident voyage. The Coast Guard has released the transcripts, to the public.
———————————————————————————
Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com
Best regards,
S Jones
Seacurus Ltd
Registered in England No. 5201529
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
A Barbican Group company
Telephone: +44 191 4690859
Facsimile: +44 191 4067577
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.seacurus.com
Registered Office: Suite 3, Level 3,
Baltic Place West, Baltic Place,
South Shore Road,
Gateshead,
NE8 3BA,
United Kingdom
This message, and any associated files, are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it was addresses and may contain information that is confidential, subject to copyright or constitutes a trade secret. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or distribution of this message, or files associated with this message, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately.
