Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 12/07/2017
1. Mass GPS Spoofing
An apparent mass and blatant, GPS spoofing attack involving over 20 vessels in the Black Sea last month has navigation experts and maritime executives scratching their heads. The event first came to public notice via a relatively innocuous safety alert from the U.S. Maritime Administration: A maritime incident has been reported in the Black Sea in the vicinity of position 44-15.7N, 037-32.9E on June 22, 2017 at 0710 GMT. This incident has not been confirmed. The nature of the incident is reported as GPS interference. Exercise caution when transiting this area.
———————————————————————————
2. Lack of Ship Choice
Shippers are getting concerned by the dramatic drop in choice of carriers in the wake of the unprecedented consolidation seen in the container shipping space. Moreover, as the container shipping sector digests the news of Cosco Shipping’s $6.3bn bid for Orient Overseas (International) Limited, the parent of OOCL, the dynamics of individual tradelanes are set for a significant shake-up. Olaf Merk, the ports and shipping expert of the International Transport Forum at the OECD, noted on Twitter that with the Cosco takeover the market share of the top four carriers would stand at 53.8%.
goo.gl/uS4jNe
Shippers are getting concerned by the dramatic drop in choice of carriers in the wake of the unprecedented consolidation seen in the container shipping space. Moreover, as the container shipping sector digests the news of Cosco Shipping’s $6.3bn bid for Orient Overseas (International) Limited, the parent of OOCL, the dynamics of individual tradelanes are set for a significant shake-up. Olaf Merk, the ports and shipping expert of the International Transport Forum at the OECD, noted on Twitter that with the Cosco takeover the market share of the top four carriers would stand at 53.8%.
goo.gl/uS4jNe
———————————————————————————
3. Lost Boxes Dropped
The World Shipping Council (WSC) published its 2017 survey findings, concerning the number of containers lost at sea per year. The updated survey reveals that the average number of containers lost each year has dropped since 2014 by 48 percent. Based on the most recent survey results, WSC estimates that for the combined nine year period from 2008 to 2016, on average, there were 568 containers lost at sea each year, not counting catastrophic events, and 1,582 containers lost at sea each year including catastrophic events. On average, 64% of containers lost during this period were attributed to a catastrophic event.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) published its 2017 survey findings, concerning the number of containers lost at sea per year. The updated survey reveals that the average number of containers lost each year has dropped since 2014 by 48 percent. Based on the most recent survey results, WSC estimates that for the combined nine year period from 2008 to 2016, on average, there were 568 containers lost at sea each year, not counting catastrophic events, and 1,582 containers lost at sea each year including catastrophic events. On average, 64% of containers lost during this period were attributed to a catastrophic event.
———————————————————————————
4. Readying for ECDIS
Almost three-quarters of cargo ships over 20,000 gross tonnage are already compliant with the SOLAS-mandated Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) deadline of 1st July 2017, according to the latest figures published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). The amendment to SOLAS Chapter V regulation 19.2 requires ships engaged on international voyage to be fitted with an ECDIS, no later than the first survey on or after a date based on the type of ship and its size in gross tonnage.
goo.gl/1Sp7Aa
goo.gl/1Sp7Aa
———————————————————————————
5. COSCO Buying up Boxes
Hong Kong-listed Cosco Shipping Development subsidiary Florens Container Investment has entered into a contract with CLC II to acquire containers for $200.38m. Cosco didn’t disclose the ultimate owner of CLC II but said the sellers are third parties independent of the company. The acquisition will be funded by both internal resources and external debt financing. The acquisition would increase the proportion of self-owned containers of the group and ensure that the group’s demand for containers is satisfied,” the company said in a release.
goo.gl/jZBmvi
Hong Kong-listed Cosco Shipping Development subsidiary Florens Container Investment has entered into a contract with CLC II to acquire containers for $200.38m. Cosco didn’t disclose the ultimate owner of CLC II but said the sellers are third parties independent of the company. The acquisition will be funded by both internal resources and external debt financing. The acquisition would increase the proportion of self-owned containers of the group and ensure that the group’s demand for containers is satisfied,” the company said in a release.
goo.gl/jZBmvi
———————————————————————————
6. Shipping Exec in Presidential Race
Farid Khan Kaim Khan, chairman of Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific, is hoping to be elected as Singapore’s next president. The 62-year-old announced his candidacy on Tuesday saying that he is very concerned with the growing threat of radicalism. "If elected, I will work closely with the government and various organizations to resolve the issue," he said, adding that he would like to strengthen trust among Singaporeans regardless of race or religion. "Let us enhance our efforts in helping the needy, including troubled youths, to strengthen our social fabric," he said.
Farid Khan Kaim Khan, chairman of Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific, is hoping to be elected as Singapore’s next president. The 62-year-old announced his candidacy on Tuesday saying that he is very concerned with the growing threat of radicalism. "If elected, I will work closely with the government and various organizations to resolve the issue," he said, adding that he would like to strengthen trust among Singaporeans regardless of race or religion. "Let us enhance our efforts in helping the needy, including troubled youths, to strengthen our social fabric," he said.
———————————————————————————
7. Talking About Safety
ISWAN and CHIRP have entered into a MoU to cooperate in improving seafarers’ safety and welfare. By working together, ISWAN through its SeafarersHelp will assist seafarers to complete the initial report to CHIRP highlighting unsafe working practices. This will be particularly helpful for seafarers whose first language is not English. ISWAN regularly hears from seafarers about unsafe working practices and in future will assist seafarers to complete the initial report to CHIRP highlighting lessons learned. By working together in this way, CHIRP and ISWAN will help to ensure that seafarers’ safety and welfare are given a high priority.
ISWAN and CHIRP have entered into a MoU to cooperate in improving seafarers’ safety and welfare. By working together, ISWAN through its SeafarersHelp will assist seafarers to complete the initial report to CHIRP highlighting unsafe working practices. This will be particularly helpful for seafarers whose first language is not English. ISWAN regularly hears from seafarers about unsafe working practices and in future will assist seafarers to complete the initial report to CHIRP highlighting lessons learned. By working together in this way, CHIRP and ISWAN will help to ensure that seafarers’ safety and welfare are given a high priority.
———————————————————————————
8. Wife Wants Captain Released
The wife of the Ukrainian captain is calling on Greek authorities to release her husband and his crew after six weeks of captivity. Captain Sergii Nevecheria, 61, master of the Maltese-registered container ship Mekong Spirit is being held in a prison in Athens, and his 16-man crew are being held on board the ship at Souda Bay Naval Base, Crete, reports the Times of Malta. The vessel was detained on May 23 as it voyaged from Izmir, Turkey, into Greek waters. Greek authorities allege that the ship was carrying mining explosives and hunting/sport rifle cartridges destined for Port Sudan in violation of U.N. and E.U. sanctions.
———————————————————————————
9. Canal Open to Qatar
The Suez Canal Authority is committed to ban entry of all Qatari vessels in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, as part of maintaining national security, according to an official statement by chairman Mohab Mamish. However, international law, as defined in Constantinople 1869 agreement, sees as illegal the ban of ships -coming from any country- from passing through the main canal, Mr Mamish noted. In addition to this, he explained that the Qatari ships passing through the Suez Canal cannot be banned, as they are loaded with gas.
goo.gl/DixUuz
goo.gl/DixUuz
———————————————————————————
10. Hapag-Lloyd Divested
Europe’s largest tourism group TUI Group said on Monday it had sold its stake in container shipper Hapag-Lloyd, bringing to a close plans for the sale of non-core businesses in order to focus on its tourism operations. TUI Group has been investing in more of its own hotels and cruise ships since it was formed from the merger of TUI AG and TUI Travel in 2014. “The proceeds will be reinvested in the transformation of TUI as the world’s leading integrated tourism business, focused on own hotel and cruise brands, and to further strengthen TUI’s balance sheet,” TUI said.
———————————————————————————
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.
