Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 21/09/2017
1. Collision and Grounding
Bulk carrier "Usolie" and tanker "Seatrout" collided yesterday on Western Scheldt off Bath, Netherlands while departing Antwerp. The two vessels collided while both sailing in the same direction. Usolie was enroute from Antwerp to Klaipeda in Lithuania while Seatrout was sailing to Ust-Luga in Russia.
Both vessels suffered minor damage following the collision. Seatrout ran aground but managed to refloat during high tide later in the day. The vessel is currently docked at a port near Ouddorp of The Netherlands according to AIS tracking. Usolie continued sailing and was brought to anchor at Vlissingen.
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2. Management Boss Resigns
The head of one of the world’s largest shipmanagers has resigned following what is understood to be a boardroom bust-up over chasing cruiseship business. Captain Norbert Aschmann, the CEO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), will work through to the end of this year, while the company seeks his replacement. Aschmann had been in charge at BSM since the start of 2015, having been deputy CEO for 15 months prior to that. He previously held senior management positions at Hanseatic Shipping and ER Schiffahrt.
The head of one of the world’s largest shipmanagers has resigned following what is understood to be a boardroom bust-up over chasing cruiseship business. Captain Norbert Aschmann, the CEO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM), will work through to the end of this year, while the company seeks his replacement. Aschmann had been in charge at BSM since the start of 2015, having been deputy CEO for 15 months prior to that. He previously held senior management positions at Hanseatic Shipping and ER Schiffahrt.
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3. Dual Fuel Pioneer
Wessels Reederei has taken back its vessel, the Wes Amelie, which has become the first boxship to convert to dual-fuel operations. Gerd Wessels, the boss of the German line, said: “This pioneering project marks a milestone in the European container feeder market, and MAN has impressively proven that existing engines can be converted to LNG operation with a tremendous effect on exhaust emissions and the environment.” The project involved the retrofitting of the 1,036 teu feeder container ship’s MAN 8L48/60B main engine to a multi-fuel, four-stroke MAN 51/60DF unit that enables dual-fuel operation.
Wessels Reederei has taken back its vessel, the Wes Amelie, which has become the first boxship to convert to dual-fuel operations. Gerd Wessels, the boss of the German line, said: “This pioneering project marks a milestone in the European container feeder market, and MAN has impressively proven that existing engines can be converted to LNG operation with a tremendous effect on exhaust emissions and the environment.” The project involved the retrofitting of the 1,036 teu feeder container ship’s MAN 8L48/60B main engine to a multi-fuel, four-stroke MAN 51/60DF unit that enables dual-fuel operation.
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4. Navy Switches AIS On
Following scrutiny over two deadly collisions earlier this year, the U.S. Navy will increase manning levels on certain vessels and will require its warships to transmit AIS signals when transiting congested waters. AIS tracking data collected at the time of the USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald collisions suggest that neither vessel was transmitting, consistent with the Navy’s general practice. "We had, I think, a distorted perception of operational security that we kept that system [turned off] on our warships,” said Chief of Naval Operatons John Richardson in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday.
Following scrutiny over two deadly collisions earlier this year, the U.S. Navy will increase manning levels on certain vessels and will require its warships to transmit AIS signals when transiting congested waters. AIS tracking data collected at the time of the USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald collisions suggest that neither vessel was transmitting, consistent with the Navy’s general practice. "We had, I think, a distorted perception of operational security that we kept that system [turned off] on our warships,” said Chief of Naval Operatons John Richardson in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday.
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5. Maersk Tankers Finally Sold
Maersk Group has agreed to sell Maersk Tankers to its largest shareholder, the foundation controlled by Maersk’s founding family, for $1.1 billion in cash. “Maersk Tankers has served A.P. Moller-Maersk well for almost a century," said Søren Skou, CEO of A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk Group). "As former CEO of Maersk Tankers for more than 10 years, I recognise the importance of having an owner with a long-term market view in this industry, and this is why I am pleased that Maersk Tankers can continue to build on its strong name and position."
Maersk Group has agreed to sell Maersk Tankers to its largest shareholder, the foundation controlled by Maersk’s founding family, for $1.1 billion in cash. “Maersk Tankers has served A.P. Moller-Maersk well for almost a century," said Søren Skou, CEO of A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk Group). "As former CEO of Maersk Tankers for more than 10 years, I recognise the importance of having an owner with a long-term market view in this industry, and this is why I am pleased that Maersk Tankers can continue to build on its strong name and position."
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6. Calls for Investigation Code
Speaking at the IUMI 2017 conference in Tokyo, international marine and engineering consultancy and survey company LOC Group called for greater clarity from the IMO to better manage maritime casualties. Captain Jonathan Walker, a consultant from LOC’s Singapore office, said "We would like to see IMO develop a Marine Investigation Code to govern shipping accidents. It should be completely transparent and consistent across national borders. Importantly, governments should commit to it and not interpret its guidance to suit national agendas."
Speaking at the IUMI 2017 conference in Tokyo, international marine and engineering consultancy and survey company LOC Group called for greater clarity from the IMO to better manage maritime casualties. Captain Jonathan Walker, a consultant from LOC’s Singapore office, said "We would like to see IMO develop a Marine Investigation Code to govern shipping accidents. It should be completely transparent and consistent across national borders. Importantly, governments should commit to it and not interpret its guidance to suit national agendas."
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7. Tanker Rates Rebound
Freight rates for oil product tankers in Asia hit a multi-month high this week on reduced availability as vessels were diverted to ship fuel to the United States and Mexico in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Some bigger tankers are also being used as temporary storage for gasoil as traders hold fuel on expectations of tighter supply and improved demand in the fourth quarter. This has compounded the shortage of vessels. Oil trader Winson Oil, for instance, has been aggressively buying in Singapore, snapping up millions of gasoil barrels.
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goo.gl/cxZHaL
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8. Wireless Ferry Electric Bunkering
Wärtsilä has successfully tested its automatic wireless induction charging system on a hybrid powered coastal ferry. This is the first commercial ferry in the world operating with high power wireless charging capability for its batteries, and the successful project represents a notable breakthrough in the evolution of plug-in electrically operated vessels. The tests were carried out on the 85-meter long MF Folgefonn owned by Norled, one of Norway’s largest ferry operators. Wireless charging eliminates the cable connection between the vessel and shore, thereby securing and facilitating safe connections and disconnections.
Wärtsilä has successfully tested its automatic wireless induction charging system on a hybrid powered coastal ferry. This is the first commercial ferry in the world operating with high power wireless charging capability for its batteries, and the successful project represents a notable breakthrough in the evolution of plug-in electrically operated vessels. The tests were carried out on the 85-meter long MF Folgefonn owned by Norled, one of Norway’s largest ferry operators. Wireless charging eliminates the cable connection between the vessel and shore, thereby securing and facilitating safe connections and disconnections.
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9. Are You Worth More?
Faststream has been looking at maritime executive “Pay & Reward”. According to their findings, “The perception of executives is that they could get paid better in another industry” Given the pressures and complexities of leading a maritime business, you might assume that the pay of executives compares favourably to similar positions in other markets. However, the reality is that the majority of executives believe that their pay is not competitive. Only 12% of executives believed that they were paid better than their counterparts in another industry, whilst 49% thought they were paid the equivalent and 38% felt they were paid less.
goo.gl/3TQhZr
Faststream has been looking at maritime executive “Pay & Reward”. According to their findings, “The perception of executives is that they could get paid better in another industry” Given the pressures and complexities of leading a maritime business, you might assume that the pay of executives compares favourably to similar positions in other markets. However, the reality is that the majority of executives believe that their pay is not competitive. Only 12% of executives believed that they were paid better than their counterparts in another industry, whilst 49% thought they were paid the equivalent and 38% felt they were paid less.
goo.gl/3TQhZr
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10. ITF Wants Abandonment Action
Six crew members of the Zanzibari-flagged passenger vessel "MV Queen Binanga", who have been left to their own devices for two years after being abandoned by the ship’s owner, are faced with unacceptable living conditions. The vessel broke down and is anchored off the port of Tanjung Priok, in Indonesia, “practically abandoned, grossly undermanned and in what very much appears to be an unseaworthy condition”, according to the ITF. Furthermore, the authorities in Indonesia are said to be informed of the vessel’s status as it could pose a danger to shipping movements in the vicinity.
Six crew members of the Zanzibari-flagged passenger vessel "MV Queen Binanga", who have been left to their own devices for two years after being abandoned by the ship’s owner, are faced with unacceptable living conditions. The vessel broke down and is anchored off the port of Tanjung Priok, in Indonesia, “practically abandoned, grossly undermanned and in what very much appears to be an unseaworthy condition”, according to the ITF. Furthermore, the authorities in Indonesia are said to be informed of the vessel’s status as it could pose a danger to shipping movements in the vicinity.
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