Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 07/07/2017
1. Coalition for Zero Emissions
A coalition of Pacific Island ministers yesterday launched their strongest joint call yet for the global shipping industry to radically cut greenhouse gas emissions. Ministers from the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati were joined by envoys from Fiji, Vanuatu and Palau urging member states to align the sector’s emissions with a global goal to try and limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. That would mean the sector meeting a zero net emissions target by 2035.
———————————————————————————
2. Arrested, Sold, Scrapped
Malaysian owner PDZ has sold 1993-built 700 teu container vessel PDZ Mewah for scrap. The vessel was arrested in January over unpaid bunker bills and released by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in June. According to cash buyer GMS, the vessel was sold for $325 per ldt. Following the disposal, PDZ’s fleet will be left with only one vessel, the 1997-built PDZ Maju.
———————————————————————————
3. Pressure on Myopic Trade
The International Monetary Fund has urged leaders of the Group of 20 major economies to avoid “myopic” nationalistic policies and to work together in agreed forums to resolve their trade and economic differences. In a pointed message before U.S. President Donald Trump’s first G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany later this week, the IMF said in an economic briefing note to the leaders that a rules-based and open trading system was vital for world prosperity.
———————————————————————————
4. Rights of Seafarers Defended
International backing has been given to a new initiative from London-based Seafarers Rights’ International (SRI), which aims to harness the support of governments worldwide in implementing locally-binding legislation on the fair treatment of seafarers following a maritime casualty. Representatives from more than 50 countries attended a specially convened workshop on the subject organised by SRI, and addressed by Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the IMO.
———————————————————————————
5. Baltic Continues Slide
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, slipped for the fifth straight session on Wednesday, hurt by lower rates for larger vessels and supramax. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels, was down 24 points, or 2.76 percent, at 847 points. The capesize index lost 96 points, or 9.63 percent, at 901 points.
———————————————————————————
6. Joining Forces Against Pirates
The Nigeria Navy and the Police in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, have resolved to join forces in order to tackle the nefarious activities of sea pirates operating along the Calabar channels. Addressing officers of the Nigeria Navy, Police, Army and other para-military officers Rear Admiral Victor Adedipe, stressed the need for security agencies to close ranks in order to effectively tackle the menace of sea robbery in her territorial waters.
———————————————————————————
7. Urged to Talk on Wellness
Just one month remains for working seafarers to have their say on the future of wellness at sea by completing Sailors’ Society’s anonymous survey. The survey, which closes Aug. 2, explores seafarer wellness and the root causes of illness and injury. More than 800 seafarers have participated in the survey to date. The results of the survey, which is being conducted by Yale University in the US, will be used to inform Sailors’ Society’s work supporting good health.
———————————————————————————
8. Rush for Battery Power
Fuel cells, advanced battery packs and the world’s biggest hybrid ferry, zero-emission technologies are becoming an emerging force in the maritime world. The shipping industry is facing an increasingly tight regulatory environment, especially when it comes to emissions. And with the recent decision to implement the global sulfur cap in 2020 and to add the North and Baltic Seas to the list of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission control areas, pressure is on.
———————————————————————————
9. Columbia Searching for Treasure
Colombia is making progress towards salvaging a Spanish galleon carrying jewels and coins that sank more than 300 years ago, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Wednesday after receiving a proposal from an investor to bring it to the surface. The ship named San Jose, thought by historians to be carrying one of the largest unsalvaged maritime treasures, sank in 1708 near the historical Caribbean port of Cartagena, and its wreckage was located in 2015.
———————————————————————————
10. Government Surprised Response
When representatives of the Marshall Islands government turned up to the IMO, they were seemingly (rather naively) surprised to find that the company they allowed to run their marine administration was calling the shots. Now the Marshall Islands government, feels the current system “puts a disproportionate influence in the hands of the shipping industry…we are only now taking the issue of climate change seriously at IMO”.
———————————————————————————
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.
