Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 03/03/2017
1. Call for Bulk Scrap
Dry bulk owners could do well from learning a scrapping lesson from their container cousins, analysts at Alphabulk have posited in their latest weekly report. Alphabulk joins a range of analysts calling for far more urgent and greater volumes of bulkers to be sent for recycling now if the supply/demand balance is to return to the beleaguered sector. However, Alphabulk warned demolition alone will not be enough to restore the equilibrium. Torching bulkers of 19 years and over would see between 6% and 19% of the fleet disappear, depending on the segment, Alphabulk suggested
———————————————————————————
2. Too Many Ships
In January 2010, the container ship Hammonia Grenada was delivered from a Chinese yard to its new owners, reportedly priced at about $60m (about £37m at that time). Just seven years later – at the start of this year – it was sold for scrap. The price: an estimated $5.5m (£4.4m today). It’s not the only vessel to suffer this fate. Last year container ships were sold at rock-bottom prices for scrap in record numbers. The simple reason is that there are too many ships for too little cargo. The container shipping industry, and Hanjin in particular, has been spectacularly wrong about the financial crisis – twice.
———————————————————————————
3. The Drunken Sailor
A sea captain has been convicted of being drunk in charge of a merchant ship in Belfast Lough. Eugenijus Tulauskas, from Lithuania, was up to four times over the maritime limit when arrested in September last year. A pilot had to take control of the container ship to ensure its safe passage into harbour. The 44-year-old seaman, of no fixed abode was fined ÂŁ1,500 at Belfast Magistrates’ Court. Tulauskas had contested a charge of having excess alcohol while on duty as professional master of a ship. His lawyers argued that he was not on duty at the time of the offence.
———————————————————————————
4. Creating Sustainable Industry
InterManager, the third party and in-house ship managers trade association, has called on the maritime professionals to create an industry that works for everyone in order to maintain sustainability. Speaking at its round table event during the second European Shipping Week on Monday, Capt Kuba Szymanski, Secretary-General of InterManager, urged ship managers, technology companies, regulators and training institutions to be fully committed to a sustainable initiative. “The maritime industry is used to strong winds and high seas but we must not neglect the whole chain" Capt Szymanski told participants.
———————————————————————————
5. US Checks Out Nigeria
Officials of the United States Coast Guard have arrived Nigeria to assess the nation’s port security facilities. Although Vanguard was not on the tour of the facilities by the visiting coast guard officials, sources close to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, being the designated Authority for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility and Security (ISPS) Code, said the visit would be restricted to Lagos Maritime security zone.
———————————————————————————
6. Cutting Chinese Port Costs
Eleven shipping companies will cut terminal handling costs in China, saving 3.5 billion yuan (US$509 million) a year for domestic trading companies, the National Development and Reform Commission said yesterday. Global shipping giants such as Cosco Group, Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co have written to the NDRC seeking a reduction in costs after the commission “probed on the extra payments shipping companies charge cargo owners,” China’s top economic planner said. Cosco has promised to cut the charge and Maersk will follow suit.
———————————————————————————
7. Time for Fairer Regulations
Trade union Nautilus International is arguing for fairer regulation to safeguard more skilled and less precarious jobs for European seafarers. Speaking during a European Shipping Week seminar on how to make the European shipping industry a generator of wealth and employment – hosted by the European Transport Workers’ Federation – Nautilus’ General Secretary Mark Dickinson warned: “We need to see adequate regulation for the shipping industry, to stamp out the downwards spiral in the quality of seafarers’ working lives, provide support for the maritime cluster and ensure the overall resilience of European shipping.”
———————————————————————————
8. Security Namechange
On March 1st EUCAP Nestor, the European Union Maritime Capacity Building Mission to Somalia, will be renamed “EUCAP Somalia”, the EU Capacity Building Mission in Somalia. A Council decision published on December 12th2016 on the Official Journal of the European Union, states in article 1, EUCAP Somalia has been established as a Capacity Building Mission in Somalia. The operational “switch-over” to the new Mission’s name is now taking place. For the occasion, a redesign of the Mission’s Website has been launched under www.eucapsom.eu.
———————————————————————————
9. Eagle Buying Spree
Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. says it has reached a definitive agreement to purchase a minimum of six, and up to nine, Crown-63 Ultramax dry bulk sister vessels for an aggregate price of $153 million for all nine. The vessels, which range in age from 2 – 5 years, will be acquired from Greenship Bulk Trust, a company registered on the Norwegian OTC list. The agreement includes the outright acquisition of six vessels, with acquisition of an additional three vessels being contingent upon final approval from Greenship’s unit holders.
———————————————————————————
10. Berthed Bow Collision
The Turkish freighter "Erdogan Senkaya" collided with berthed Italian general cargo vessel "Luca S" at Porto Nogaro, Italy. The Turkish vessel was maneuvering in the port, when her bulbous bow stuck into the forecastle starboard area of Luca S, which was docked in the port and preparing to offload cargo of silicon. The Italian general cargo ship suffered breaches and water ingress, following which developed starboard list and fore tilt. The crew ballasted the vessel and started pumping out the water from the forepeak, improving the condition of the ship. There were no reported leaks and water pollution.
———————————————————————————
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.
