Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 28/07/2017
1. DP World See Growth
Global terminal operator DP World has announced it handled 34 million TEU across its portfolio in the first half of the year, an increase of about eight percent over the same period last year. In the second quarter, growth rates accelerated to more than ten percent year-on-year â well ahead of industry-wide estimates of four percent for 2017. The terminals under DP Worldâs direct control handled 18 million TEU during the first half of 2017, a 22 percent improvement in performance (inclusive of newly added facilities). DP World credited much of the increase to rising global trade.
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2. Climate Goals Accelerating
The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has announced that its World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI) will be broadened from climate action alone to include a wider range of sustainability challenges. The new IAPH initiative, rebranded as the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP), will be officially launched at a conference in Antwerp next March. IAPH said that the new program would address the UNâs 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covering biosphere, society and economy.
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3. Dry Bulk Market Shake-up
Things are shaking up in the dry bulk market. Shipbroker Intermodal said that âafter an admittedly challenging 2016, the Dry Bulk market kicked off this year on a much more positive note, with all indices steadily increasing until the end of March market peak. During the second quarter and until the beginning of this month, the freight market witnessed pressure, which was more evident in Capesizes, with the BDI nonetheless resisting to break below 800 points. During the past couple of weeks, we have seen rates across the board steading and the Dry Bulk Index once again moving towards 1,000 points.
goo.gl/pJWc3x
Things are shaking up in the dry bulk market. Shipbroker Intermodal said that âafter an admittedly challenging 2016, the Dry Bulk market kicked off this year on a much more positive note, with all indices steadily increasing until the end of March market peak. During the second quarter and until the beginning of this month, the freight market witnessed pressure, which was more evident in Capesizes, with the BDI nonetheless resisting to break below 800 points. During the past couple of weeks, we have seen rates across the board steading and the Dry Bulk Index once again moving towards 1,000 points.
goo.gl/pJWc3x
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4. Automation By Next Year
The worldâs first automated container ship is currently being developed by shipping company Yara in partnership with Kongsberg, and their ship âYara Birkelandâ is set to launch in 2018 with a capacity exceeding 100 containers. Although the project is scheduled to be completed in 2018, a phased period of a partially crew-operated service will continue until 2019. By 2020, the ship will be entirely automated and the bridge will be brought on land. Once the vessel enters this phase, it is expected that it will save 90% in costs through salary savings. It also has the potential to deliver substantial environmental costs.
The worldâs first automated container ship is currently being developed by shipping company Yara in partnership with Kongsberg, and their ship âYara Birkelandâ is set to launch in 2018 with a capacity exceeding 100 containers. Although the project is scheduled to be completed in 2018, a phased period of a partially crew-operated service will continue until 2019. By 2020, the ship will be entirely automated and the bridge will be brought on land. Once the vessel enters this phase, it is expected that it will save 90% in costs through salary savings. It also has the potential to deliver substantial environmental costs.
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5. Seafarer Trust Chief Steps Down
Kimberly Karlshoej, head of the ITFâs (International Transport Workersâ Federation) charity arm, the ITF Seafarers Trust, is to step down from her post and take on a consultancy role there. ITF general secretary Steve Cotton commented: âKimberly came to the Trust at the end of 2014, after having worked for a number of years as director and programme officer of the TK Foundation and as a consultant to maritime charities. According to the Trust, her presentations have challenged and inspired many industry players to work towards improving the lives of seafarers wherever they are in the world.
goo.gl/9F7VgH
Kimberly Karlshoej, head of the ITFâs (International Transport Workersâ Federation) charity arm, the ITF Seafarers Trust, is to step down from her post and take on a consultancy role there. ITF general secretary Steve Cotton commented: âKimberly came to the Trust at the end of 2014, after having worked for a number of years as director and programme officer of the TK Foundation and as a consultant to maritime charities. According to the Trust, her presentations have challenged and inspired many industry players to work towards improving the lives of seafarers wherever they are in the world.
goo.gl/9F7VgH
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6. New Directive on Crew Welfare
The European Commission (EC) has adopted a proposal for a Directive which aims at improving the working conditions of seafarers on board EU-flagged vessels. The proposal transposes an agreement between social partners in the maritime transport sector into EU law. This agreement in turn takes account of changes to the Maritime Labour Convention. Seafarers will in the future be better protected against abandonment by shipowners. The new rules strengthen the right to compensation in the event of death or long-term disability due to an occupational injury, illness or hazard.
The European Commission (EC) has adopted a proposal for a Directive which aims at improving the working conditions of seafarers on board EU-flagged vessels. The proposal transposes an agreement between social partners in the maritime transport sector into EU law. This agreement in turn takes account of changes to the Maritime Labour Convention. Seafarers will in the future be better protected against abandonment by shipowners. The new rules strengthen the right to compensation in the event of death or long-term disability due to an occupational injury, illness or hazard.
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7. Freight and Digitalisation
Nearly every top forwarder has someone managing digitisation, but in a time of change what awaits us in the future of freight? The answer is that everything will be integrated. As the world grows more connected, freight does too. The first stop, according to many of the experts, is truly global sales, with technology bridging language and legal obstacles. It also means better connectivity, with the "Internet of Things" driving âseamless real-time network integration across the ecosystem players. Connectivity also drives visibility and a fully digital customer experience will quickly become a major differentiator.
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8. Migrant Ship in Trafficking Drama
A ship chartered by far-Right activists intending to highlight the threat of people-smuggling in the Mediterranean was detained in northern Cyprus on Thursday amid allegations that some of its Sri Lankan crew had paid smugglers to help them escape to Europe. The allegations, which were strongly denied by the Defend Europe group which chartered the C-Star vessel, were the subject of a court hearing after five of the Sri Lankan crew claimed political asylum on the island. The row, saw the C-starâs captain arrested and detained on suspicion of forging documents after it was alleged the crew were travelling on false papers.
A ship chartered by far-Right activists intending to highlight the threat of people-smuggling in the Mediterranean was detained in northern Cyprus on Thursday amid allegations that some of its Sri Lankan crew had paid smugglers to help them escape to Europe. The allegations, which were strongly denied by the Defend Europe group which chartered the C-Star vessel, were the subject of a court hearing after five of the Sri Lankan crew claimed political asylum on the island. The row, saw the C-starâs captain arrested and detained on suspicion of forging documents after it was alleged the crew were travelling on false papers.
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9. Brilliant Illustration of Complexity
The events of July 6, 2011, and the bizarre "piracy" case of the "Brillante Virtuoso" set in motion a tangle of lawsuits and criminal investigations that are still nowhere near conclusion. Six years after it was abandoned, the case is an epithet among shipping veterans, one that reveals their industryâs capacity for lawlessness, financial complexity, and violence. This account is based on court evidence, private and government records, and more than 60 interviews with people involved, citing the sensitivities of nine-figure litigation and, in some cases, concern for their own safety.
goo.gl/qV39PW
The events of July 6, 2011, and the bizarre "piracy" case of the "Brillante Virtuoso" set in motion a tangle of lawsuits and criminal investigations that are still nowhere near conclusion. Six years after it was abandoned, the case is an epithet among shipping veterans, one that reveals their industryâs capacity for lawlessness, financial complexity, and violence. This account is based on court evidence, private and government records, and more than 60 interviews with people involved, citing the sensitivities of nine-figure litigation and, in some cases, concern for their own safety.
goo.gl/qV39PW
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10. Indian Government Tackles Piracy
The Indian Government has taken steps as part of various preventive/mitigating security measures to deal with sea-piracy. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMGO) has been set up to deal with the hostage situation arising out of hijacking at sea of merchant vessels with Indian crew. In addition the following initiatives have also been taken, including new guidelines for anti-piracy measures on Indian Ships, a ban on vessels in waters south or west of the line joining Salalah and Male, a new Advisory and plans for Naval escorts, as well as renewed mandates for dealing with the IMO and other agencies.
The Indian Government has taken steps as part of various preventive/mitigating security measures to deal with sea-piracy. An Inter-Ministerial Group (IMGO) has been set up to deal with the hostage situation arising out of hijacking at sea of merchant vessels with Indian crew. In addition the following initiatives have also been taken, including new guidelines for anti-piracy measures on Indian Ships, a ban on vessels in waters south or west of the line joining Salalah and Male, a new Advisory and plans for Naval escorts, as well as renewed mandates for dealing with the IMO and other agencies.
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd â providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com
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S Jones
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