Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 02/11/2017
1. New Japanese Box Behemoth
The container shipping market will soon received new capacity as the first Japanese-built 20,170 TEU, named "MOL Truth", is set to join the fleet. The 400-meter-long ultra large container vessel (ULCV) was christened on October 25 at Imabari Shipbuilding’s Saijo yard in Japan. It is the first of two vessel giants ordered by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) in early 2015. The duo was ordered as part of a deal for six 20,000 TEU containerships, with two of them assigned to Imabari and the remaining four to South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). Scheduled for delivery in 2017, all of the vessels will be deployed in the Asia-Europe service.
goo.gl/mtNceE
The container shipping market will soon received new capacity as the first Japanese-built 20,170 TEU, named "MOL Truth", is set to join the fleet. The 400-meter-long ultra large container vessel (ULCV) was christened on October 25 at Imabari Shipbuilding’s Saijo yard in Japan. It is the first of two vessel giants ordered by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) in early 2015. The duo was ordered as part of a deal for six 20,000 TEU containerships, with two of them assigned to Imabari and the remaining four to South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). Scheduled for delivery in 2017, all of the vessels will be deployed in the Asia-Europe service.
goo.gl/mtNceE
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2. False Flag Ban
The Federal Transport Authority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a circular banning all ships flagged by the Federated States of Micronesia. “All ships flying Micronesian flag are banned from entering UAE waters and ports as Federated States of Micronesia does not have international ship registry therefore all ships/seafarers certificates issued under FSM are fraud, and FTA will not recognize or endorse such certificates,” the transport body stated. In April this year Splash reported how around 300 ships had fallen for a scam, registering with a flag purporting to be Micronesia.
The Federal Transport Authority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a circular banning all ships flagged by the Federated States of Micronesia. “All ships flying Micronesian flag are banned from entering UAE waters and ports as Federated States of Micronesia does not have international ship registry therefore all ships/seafarers certificates issued under FSM are fraud, and FTA will not recognize or endorse such certificates,” the transport body stated. In April this year Splash reported how around 300 ships had fallen for a scam, registering with a flag purporting to be Micronesia.
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3. Bulker Runs Aground
Bulk carrier "Nautical Runa", operated by German owner Nautical Bulk Holdings, ran aground at Port of Brake in Germany yesterday and blocked the fairway at the port. According to local reports, the 63,500 dwt vessel, loaded with 52,000 tons of soybean, was docked at the port when the mooring line to the berth broke leading the vessel drifting and stranded on Weser River. The ship didn’t suffer any damage thanks to the smooth river bottom, however shipping traffic at the port was affected while the ship blocked the fairway. The port deployed four tugboats to tow the ship back to berth during high tide later last evening.
Bulk carrier "Nautical Runa", operated by German owner Nautical Bulk Holdings, ran aground at Port of Brake in Germany yesterday and blocked the fairway at the port. According to local reports, the 63,500 dwt vessel, loaded with 52,000 tons of soybean, was docked at the port when the mooring line to the berth broke leading the vessel drifting and stranded on Weser River. The ship didn’t suffer any damage thanks to the smooth river bottom, however shipping traffic at the port was affected while the ship blocked the fairway. The port deployed four tugboats to tow the ship back to berth during high tide later last evening.
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4. US Navy Slams Itself
The US Navy has issued a highly critical report into two multiple-fatality collisions involving its vessels with much larger merchant ships in east and southeast Asian waters earlier this year, saying the incidents were avoidable. In the first incident, the destroyer "USS Fitzgerald" hit Philippines-flagged container ship "ACX Crystal" off Japan, resulting in seven deaths of US sailors. Then, the "USS John McCain" hit Liberian-flagged oil tanker "Alnic MC" off Singapore, leaving 10 sailors dead. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) blamed the terrible outcomes on a string of crew mistakes and basic navigational errors.
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5. China Coal Traffic Jams
S&P Global Platts C-flow vessel tracking software showed 102 ships loaded with coal were stationary off the southern and eastern coasts of China Tuesday, up sharply from around 36 in mid-September. The sharp rise follows the introduction in late August of restrictions on coal imports at several of China’s major ports, including Guangzhou, Xiamen and Zhoushan, according to market sources. The stationary coal ships include 10 that are lying idle in the Zhoushan anchorage, three in the Shanghai regional shipping queue, and two waiting in the Lianyungang offshore queue, according to C-flow data.
goo.gl/TAJ7Su
S&P Global Platts C-flow vessel tracking software showed 102 ships loaded with coal were stationary off the southern and eastern coasts of China Tuesday, up sharply from around 36 in mid-September. The sharp rise follows the introduction in late August of restrictions on coal imports at several of China’s major ports, including Guangzhou, Xiamen and Zhoushan, according to market sources. The stationary coal ships include 10 that are lying idle in the Zhoushan anchorage, three in the Shanghai regional shipping queue, and two waiting in the Lianyungang offshore queue, according to C-flow data.
goo.gl/TAJ7Su
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6. Navy Ships Cannibalised for Parts
A shortage of spares for Royal Navy warships and submarines has forced the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to strip parts from the rest of the fleet, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found. An NAO investigation found equipment "cannibalisation" had increased by 49% over the past five years. The spending watchdog warned that the practice was costing the MoD millions of pounds and delayed construction. The MoD said components were only swapped when "absolutely necessary". HMS Artful, was delayed by 42 days because parts were taken during its construction – adding nearly ÂŁ5m to the overall cost.
goo.gl/a12Epd
A shortage of spares for Royal Navy warships and submarines has forced the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to strip parts from the rest of the fleet, the National Audit Office (NAO) has found. An NAO investigation found equipment "cannibalisation" had increased by 49% over the past five years. The spending watchdog warned that the practice was costing the MoD millions of pounds and delayed construction. The MoD said components were only swapped when "absolutely necessary". HMS Artful, was delayed by 42 days because parts were taken during its construction – adding nearly ÂŁ5m to the overall cost.
goo.gl/a12Epd
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7. Death Plunge Investigation
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its report into the death of man on the bulk carrier, "New Legend Pearl" in November 2016, citing both equipment and safety practice failings. The bulk carrier was heading between the New Zealand ports of Bluff and Marsden Point when the accident occurred. The crew were attempting to change a hoisting wire on one of the vessel’s cargo cranes. Part-way through the task the hoisting wire snagged on the crane jib that was resting in its cradle, about eight metres above the hatch cover.
The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its report into the death of man on the bulk carrier, "New Legend Pearl" in November 2016, citing both equipment and safety practice failings. The bulk carrier was heading between the New Zealand ports of Bluff and Marsden Point when the accident occurred. The crew were attempting to change a hoisting wire on one of the vessel’s cargo cranes. Part-way through the task the hoisting wire snagged on the crane jib that was resting in its cradle, about eight metres above the hatch cover.
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8. Burden of Illness Proof
The Philippines Supreme Court has held that Filipino seafarers must prove that an illness is work-related to claim under the POEA Contract, even though the illness is disputably presumed to be work-related. The first instance court heard a seafarer was diagnosed with a cyst whilst on board the vessel and was treated the next day at a shore medical facility with the cyst being removed. The illness causing the cyst was not included in the list of work-related occupational diseases under the POEA Contract. After treatment the seafarer returned to the vessel and continued his employment.
goo.gl/LkobcP
The Philippines Supreme Court has held that Filipino seafarers must prove that an illness is work-related to claim under the POEA Contract, even though the illness is disputably presumed to be work-related. The first instance court heard a seafarer was diagnosed with a cyst whilst on board the vessel and was treated the next day at a shore medical facility with the cyst being removed. The illness causing the cyst was not included in the list of work-related occupational diseases under the POEA Contract. After treatment the seafarer returned to the vessel and continued his employment.
goo.gl/LkobcP
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9. Grounded Amsterdam Refloated
Glory Amsterdam, a Panamax bulk carrier which ran aground in the German Bight, North Sea, on October 29, has finally been refloated, Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany (Havariekommando) informed. The ship was towed into deeper waters at around 7:00 A.M. on November 2, following several unsuccessful towing attempts.
Glory Amsterdam, a Panamax bulk carrier which ran aground in the German Bight, North Sea, on October 29, has finally been refloated, Central Command for Maritime Emergencies Germany (Havariekommando) informed. The ship was towed into deeper waters at around 7:00 A.M. on November 2, following several unsuccessful towing attempts.
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10. Ten Crew Missing at Sea
Ten seafarers have been reported missing after the Turkey-flagged general cargo ship "Bilal Bal" sank some seven nautical miles off the coast of Istanbul. A search and rescue operation for the missing crew members is currently underway, according to the Turkish Coast Guard. The 1974-built vessel sank shortly after it sent out a distress signal in the morning hours of November 1 while it was in the Black Sea. The cause of the sinking is still unknown. The coast guard deployed three vessels, one helicopter and a plane for the mission.
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com
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