Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 05/01/2018
1. Severe Bulker Congestion
Severe port congestion both to load and unload coal is affecting more than 500 dry bulk vessels, according to data from Thomson Reuters Eikon. Bottlenecks at import terminals across China and delays at loading ports in Indonesias rainswept Kalimantan
island are pushing the price of coal up in recent weeks. Spot cargo prices for Australian Newcastle coal have risen nearly 15% from lows in late November after China loosened import restrictions to help meet a winter fuel shortage. Around 100 bulkers are waiting
to load coal off the coast of Kalimantan and another 400 to 500 waiting to offload their coal cargoes off China.
island are pushing the price of coal up in recent weeks. Spot cargo prices for Australian Newcastle coal have risen nearly 15% from lows in late November after China loosened import restrictions to help meet a winter fuel shortage. Around 100 bulkers are waiting
to load coal off the coast of Kalimantan and another 400 to 500 waiting to offload their coal cargoes off China.
https://goo.gl/pbBR7h
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2. Investigating Crew Certification
Nautilus International has welcomed confirmation from shipping minister John Hayes that the government has agreed to the Unions calls for a review of the UKs system for issuing Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CECs). In a letter to the Union, the minister
said he had asked Sir Alan Massey, head of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), to undertake a review of the way in which CECs are given to foreign officers seeking work on UK-flagged ships. General secretary Mark Dickinson commented: We hope that we
can secure rapid progress on the review something that is increasingly important ahead of Brexit".
Nautilus International has welcomed confirmation from shipping minister John Hayes that the government has agreed to the Unions calls for a review of the UKs system for issuing Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CECs). In a letter to the Union, the minister
said he had asked Sir Alan Massey, head of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), to undertake a review of the way in which CECs are given to foreign officers seeking work on UK-flagged ships. General secretary Mark Dickinson commented: We hope that we
can secure rapid progress on the review something that is increasingly important ahead of Brexit".
https://goo.gl/sFFhdC
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3. Maritime London Evolves
Members of UK maritime trade promotional body Maritime London have unanimously approved a proposal to incorporate The International Maritime Industries Forum (IMIF) into the association. Established in 1975, IMIF runs a programme of highly informative
talks featuring high level speakers in London and organises a popular annual dinner. Maritime London will proceed to incorporate the activities of IMIF during 2018. Maritime London CEO, Jos Standerwick said: Given the overlap in objectives and members, Maritime
London was a natural partner when IMIF began to consider its future last year.
talks featuring high level speakers in London and organises a popular annual dinner. Maritime London will proceed to incorporate the activities of IMIF during 2018. Maritime London CEO, Jos Standerwick said: Given the overlap in objectives and members, Maritime
London was a natural partner when IMIF began to consider its future last year.
https://goo.gl/19yHvf
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4. Software Problems for Ships
According to maritime cyber security experts, Software piracy is common in smaller fleets. Downloading cheap charts and so on seems to save money, but the sources are less than legitimate, and installing software you cant trust is not a good idea. It
exposes the vessels to risk of viruses. It seems, "nasties" can lurk in an apparently innocent email attachment like a spreadsheet or on a memory stick. One analyst reported, The worst thing Ive so far seen has come from crew members spreading malware via
a USB stick. Very easy.
exposes the vessels to risk of viruses. It seems, "nasties" can lurk in an apparently innocent email attachment like a spreadsheet or on a memory stick. One analyst reported, The worst thing Ive so far seen has come from crew members spreading malware via
a USB stick. Very easy.
https://goo.gl/Gp5kBU
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5. Freezing Cargo Reversal
Freezing weather across the U.S East Coast has drawn a number of tankers carrying diesel and heating oil from Europe, reversing a traditional trade route. The Pacific Anna set sale this week from the Gibraltar straits to the storage hub of St Croix in
the Caribbean with a 90,000 tonne cargo of diesel it had loaded in Saudi Arabia in December, according to Reuters AIS ship tracking. Similarly, trading house Vitol chartered the 60,000 ton Amalia to deliver diesel from the Baltic port of Primorsk to St Croix,
where it is expected to discharge on Jan. 15, according to shipping data and tracking. The cold weather is drawing barrels.
the Caribbean with a 90,000 tonne cargo of diesel it had loaded in Saudi Arabia in December, according to Reuters AIS ship tracking. Similarly, trading house Vitol chartered the 60,000 ton Amalia to deliver diesel from the Baltic port of Primorsk to St Croix,
where it is expected to discharge on Jan. 15, according to shipping data and tracking. The cold weather is drawing barrels.
https://goo.gl/B18zQo
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6. HMS Ocean Sold
Brazil has bought the Royal Navys flagship HMS Ocean for £84 million, it has been reported. The UK Defence Journal claims it has received confirmation from a source in the Brazilian Defence community that the sale of the Devonport-based helicopter carrier
has been agreed. Its website reports that Brazilian journalist Roberto Lopes told the journal that the purchase has been confirmed by Brazilian Defence Minister Raul Jungmann within the last week.
has been agreed. Its website reports that Brazilian journalist Roberto Lopes told the journal that the purchase has been confirmed by Brazilian Defence Minister Raul Jungmann within the last week.
https://goo.gl/bHvmft
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7. Salvage Union New Chief
At the annual general meeting of the International Salvage Union (ISU) recently in Singapore, Ms Charo Coll was appointed president, taking over from Mr John Witte who continues as a member of ISUs executive committee. Ms Coll has already commenced her duties
addressing the annual ISU media lunch, lets reflect on her background, her thoughts about the future of the industry and similarly hear Mr Wittes thoughts following his period as president. Ms Coll is general manager of the Offshore and Salvage Division
of Boluda Corporación Maritima and has over 25 years experience in the industry.
At the annual general meeting of the International Salvage Union (ISU) recently in Singapore, Ms Charo Coll was appointed president, taking over from Mr John Witte who continues as a member of ISUs executive committee. Ms Coll has already commenced her duties
addressing the annual ISU media lunch, lets reflect on her background, her thoughts about the future of the industry and similarly hear Mr Wittes thoughts following his period as president. Ms Coll is general manager of the Offshore and Salvage Division
of Boluda Corporación Maritima and has over 25 years experience in the industry.
https://goo.gl/EcZEzb
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8. Passengers Hit Hard
Gastro has hit about 200 passengers on board a cruise ship docking in Brisbane on Thursday morning. The Sea Princess was returning from a two-week trip to New Zealand, which saw as much as seven per cent of those on board struck down with norovirus. Efforts
were made to contain the outbreak and passengers were confined to their cabins, with further cleaning expected once passengers departed the 260-metre cruise ship at Hamiltons Portside Wharf.
Gastro has hit about 200 passengers on board a cruise ship docking in Brisbane on Thursday morning. The Sea Princess was returning from a two-week trip to New Zealand, which saw as much as seven per cent of those on board struck down with norovirus. Efforts
were made to contain the outbreak and passengers were confined to their cabins, with further cleaning expected once passengers departed the 260-metre cruise ship at Hamiltons Portside Wharf.
https://goo.gl/WcqiCv
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9. Ramping Up Cruise Comms
Satellite and VSAT antenna technology is helping cruise ship operators to ramp up throughput to meet passenger and crew demands for onboard internet connectivity Developments in high throughput satellites and VSAT hardware are increasing broadband communications
capacity for passengers on cruise ships.
capacity for passengers on cruise ships.
Internet connectivity is delivered via wide beams of C-band and Ku-band on geostationary satellites or Ka-band from Inmarsats Global Xpress constellation, which was introduced in 2016. Two other high-throughput satellites will be launched and commissioned
this year, meaning ever more enhanced capability.
this year, meaning ever more enhanced capability.
https://goo.gl/fhUkQx
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10. Lost Plane Search Restarts
The Malaysian government has enlisted US seabed exploration company Ocean Infinity to spearhead the new operation to locate the wreckage of the Boeing 777 on a "no find, no fee" basis. The company’s chartered Norwegian ship "Seabed Constructor" is heading
for a search zone off the coast of Perth, Western Australia, after setting sail from Port Durban in South Africa last night. It us due to arrive on February 7. The high-tech vessel is carrying several autonomous submarines which can be launched from the boat
to scour the seabed for fragments of the jet.
for a search zone off the coast of Perth, Western Australia, after setting sail from Port Durban in South Africa last night. It us due to arrive on February 7. The high-tech vessel is carrying several autonomous submarines which can be launched from the boat
to scour the seabed for fragments of the jet.
https://goo.gl/tiQmGE
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd providers of MLC crew insurance solutions
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