Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 30/01/2018
1. Drug Smugglers Raid
Colombian authorities raided a German-flagged containership shortly after it departed the port of Cartagena, arresting suspected drug smugglers and confiscating a haul of contraband on board. A team of commandos, immigration officials and police on navy
and coast guard vessels intercepted and boarded the Hapag-Lloyd boxship "Rotterdam Express" after the shipÂ’s crew reported the presence of unknown persons on board while it was 12 nautical miles off Cartagena. The officials found and detained ten unauthorized
people. They also discovered and seized 185 kilos of cocaine in a search of the containers.
and coast guard vessels intercepted and boarded the Hapag-Lloyd boxship "Rotterdam Express" after the shipÂ’s crew reported the presence of unknown persons on board while it was 12 nautical miles off Cartagena. The officials found and detained ten unauthorized
people. They also discovered and seized 185 kilos of cocaine in a search of the containers.
https://goo.gl/idZydy
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2. Waste Crackdown Concerns
ChinaÂ’s crackdown on waste imports, which come into law from March 1, could hit container lines for as much as 5m teu of business, a new report from Drewry Maritime Advisors warns. China has provided liners with significant backhaul volumes in recent years
taking waste paper and textiles, a number of other recyclable materials as well as Vanadium slag from overseas. However, in January as part of BeijingÂ’s efforts to improve the environment it announced it would ban such imports effective from March 1. Drewry
estimates that the ban could take 4m to 5m teu of business away from the worldÂ’s containerlines. https://goo.gl/Rvm2qK
taking waste paper and textiles, a number of other recyclable materials as well as Vanadium slag from overseas. However, in January as part of BeijingÂ’s efforts to improve the environment it announced it would ban such imports effective from March 1. Drewry
estimates that the ban could take 4m to 5m teu of business away from the worldÂ’s containerlines. https://goo.gl/Rvm2qK
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3. Mystery Ship Arrest Death
The South African Maritime Safety Authority and the Port Elizabeth police are investigating the death of deputy sheriff Henry Kemp, who died while serving a warrant on the bulker Blue Marlin I. Kemp was a 20-year veteran of the police force. Kemp travelled
out to the bulker on a pilot boat to serve notice of the bulker’s arrest. Kemp transferred over to the vessel’s pilot ladder, and as he was nearing the top, "he paused for about two minutes before falling backwards" into the water. The South African Maritime
Safety Authority (SAMSA) estimated the distance of the fall to be at least 25 feet.
out to the bulker on a pilot boat to serve notice of the bulker’s arrest. Kemp transferred over to the vessel’s pilot ladder, and as he was nearing the top, "he paused for about two minutes before falling backwards" into the water. The South African Maritime
Safety Authority (SAMSA) estimated the distance of the fall to be at least 25 feet.
https://goo.gl/f3RdHY
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4. Sanchi Crew Identification
The bodies of three of the crew of the "Sanchi", the tanker involved in the worst oil ship disaster in decades off the coast of China, have been identified, the Iranian StudentsÂ’ News Agency (ISNA) reported Saturday. The three crew members identified are
Milad Aravi, Majid Naqian and Mohammad Kavousi, the agency reported. The semi-official Fars news agency said that the three were Iranian. The Iranian government is trying to get the bodies of the three crew members back to Iran, according to ISNA.
Milad Aravi, Majid Naqian and Mohammad Kavousi, the agency reported. The semi-official Fars news agency said that the three were Iranian. The Iranian government is trying to get the bodies of the three crew members back to Iran, according to ISNA.
https://goo.gl/nZ5nUr
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5. Strike About Roads
Nigeria’s longshore union is threatening to shut down the nation’s seaports if the government doesn’t remove abandoned trucks and fill in potholes on the road to Lagos’ Apapa and Tincan Ports. Longshore unions normally strike over working conditions, wages,
hours, work rules or plans for privatization; a strike over road conditions is relatively unusual. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) described its concerns as a matter of safety for its members. “People defecate, sleep, cook, wash clothes, bathe
and do whatever they like on the road.
hours, work rules or plans for privatization; a strike over road conditions is relatively unusual. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) described its concerns as a matter of safety for its members. “People defecate, sleep, cook, wash clothes, bathe
and do whatever they like on the road.
https://goo.gl/q46xVy
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6. Rhine Rise Recedes
Germany’s Rhine river was reopened to shipping on Monday after waters fell, following its closure for the past week as rain and melting snow raised water levels, authorities said. High water mostly peaked in north Germany over the weekend, but levels have
fallen substantially allowing vessel sailings on the entire stretch, the river flood monitoring agency said. Some vessel speed restrictions, however, remain in north Germany, it said. Rising water levels mean vessels do not have enough space to sail under
bridges.
fallen substantially allowing vessel sailings on the entire stretch, the river flood monitoring agency said. Some vessel speed restrictions, however, remain in north Germany, it said. Rising water levels mean vessels do not have enough space to sail under
bridges.
https://goo.gl/pdEV7o
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7. Winning Run Ends
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index inched lower on Monday, ending a five-day winning streak, as rates for panamax and smaller vessels eased. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize shipping vessels
that ferry dry bulk commodities, shed 5 points, or 0.41 percent, at 1,214 points. The panamax index was down 7 points, or 0.47 percent, at 1,485 points, after rising to over 5-week highs in the previous session.
that ferry dry bulk commodities, shed 5 points, or 0.41 percent, at 1,214 points. The panamax index was down 7 points, or 0.47 percent, at 1,485 points, after rising to over 5-week highs in the previous session.
https://goo.gl/NUvW25
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8. Blizzards Hit Trade
ChinaÂ’s worst blizzards this winter have snarled the countryÂ’s railroads and highways, cutting off critical supplies of thermal coal, and fuelling a rally in prices to record highs and raising concerns about potential heating and electricity shortages.
The chaos, with coal piling up at mines and ports after a week of heavy snowfall, comes two weeks before the week-long Spring Festival holiday, when hundreds of millions of people travel vast distances home to celebrate with their families. The severe weather
and congestion prompted four of ChinaÂ’s top utilities to warn last week of heating and electricity shortages.
The chaos, with coal piling up at mines and ports after a week of heavy snowfall, comes two weeks before the week-long Spring Festival holiday, when hundreds of millions of people travel vast distances home to celebrate with their families. The severe weather
and congestion prompted four of ChinaÂ’s top utilities to warn last week of heating and electricity shortages.
https://goo.gl/yGGgPV
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9. Crew Rescued from Sinking
Two crewmen have been rescued from a Mongolian cargo ship which sank of Wenzhou, China, on Sunday night. Another nine are missing. A Chinese naval vessel rescued the two men, one Chinese and one Indonesian. The Mongolian ship was transporting sugar from
Taichung in Taiwan to South Korea. Several floating life jackets have been spotted, and the search and rescue mission continues. Last year, a Mongolian cargo ship split in two in the Black Sea. The 11-man crew was rescued by Turkish authorities. Mongolia is
currently on the Tokyo MOU’s black list with 64 detentions out of 383 inspections between 2014 and 2016.
Taichung in Taiwan to South Korea. Several floating life jackets have been spotted, and the search and rescue mission continues. Last year, a Mongolian cargo ship split in two in the Black Sea. The 11-man crew was rescued by Turkish authorities. Mongolia is
currently on the Tokyo MOU’s black list with 64 detentions out of 383 inspections between 2014 and 2016.
https://goo.gl/XwZBh2
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10. Trade Deals Untapped
The full potential of European Union free trade agreements (FTAs) remains untapped to the tune of almost EUR 72 billion (USD 89 billion), UNCTAD and the National Board of Trade Sweden say in a new report. This is the amount that European exporters overpaid
because they did not take full advantage of the reduced tariffs offered by the FTAs that the EU as a bloc has signed with a variety of both developed and developing countries. “This report challenges some enduring myths on preference utilization in free trade
agreements,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said.
because they did not take full advantage of the reduced tariffs offered by the FTAs that the EU as a bloc has signed with a variety of both developed and developing countries. “This report challenges some enduring myths on preference utilization in free trade
agreements,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said.
https://goo.gl/4dMLx5
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions
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