InterManager Daily News 18.08.2019

 
1. Cargo ship taken on tow, English Channel UPDATE
General cargo ship TIONA suffered a breakdown late Mar 15 in English Channel east of Ramsgate, was taken on tow by French SAR ship ABEILLE LANGUEDOC in the afternoon Mar 16, port of destination unknown. The ship according to AIS, was en route from Rotterdam to Spain, but AIS track seems to be strange – the ship sailed to UK coast, and seemingly, was anchored from Mar 10 to Mar 15, possibly awaiting orders. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/17/cargo-ship-taken-on-tow-english-channel-update/?fbclid=IwAR12Xrx5F7Tinu9BDuU-Q7rFWcZMF2dHEL5hqSSs9XmF7vzl7jkCmsbQlQs
 
2. Offshore support ship attacked, 5 crew kidnapped in Mar 9 attack
t was know for quite a time, that an offshore ship was attacked in Gulf of Guinea in 03 57N, 006 39E, 32 miles southeast of Brass, in the morning Mar 9. According to IMB, the ship was approached by pirates armed with machine guns in two speed boats. The captain immediately notified the naval escort security vessel which manoeuvred to engage the pirates. One speed boat closed in from the port side of the vessel and crossed the bow, while the other speed boat exchanged fire with the security vessel. The alarm was raised, the crew proceeded to the engine room and all power was shut down. The pirates boarded the vessel with the aid of an elongated ladder. They broke into the accommodation, vandalized the cabins and took crew belongings and vessel properties. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/16/offshore-support-ship-attacked-5-crew-kidnapped-in-mar-9-attack/?fbclid=IwAR2YZvoZh7Ap0VcuD4JwchngZ0ZqLQzLkAmysoqRhlxkV4bZ8Nmk4Azl060
 
3. Laden tanker on rocks, Greece
Tanker AGIOS GEORGIOS I ran aground on rocks of western Andros island, Greece, Aegean sea, at night Mar 15, while approaching Gavrio port. The ship is loaded with some 850 tons of oil, no bloody leak reported so far. Tanker was to be surveyed by divers during Mar 16 daytime, prior to refloating attempts. As of 1400 UTC Mar 16, tanker was still aground, with tug nearby. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/16/laden-tanker-on-rocks-greece/?fbclid=IwAR39Ab8FwPRpDHs4V0Mryc6jBwC6HRV7DNFfiozuyKF5qHuTXmdKHvTLkGA
 
4. Indian research vessel fire, Arabian sea
Indian research vessel SAGAR SAMPADA, engaged in research works, caught fire at night Mar 15 off Mangalore, Western India, Arabian sea, with 36 crew and 16 scientists on board. Two ships of Indian Coast Guard , SUJAY and VIKRAM, were deployed, and reportedly, fire was extinguished. It was said, that vessel was to be towed to Mangalore, and crew and scientists were safe. As of 0400 UTC Mar 16, SAGAR SAMPADA was about in the same position, with SUJAY and VIKRAM at her side. Research vessel SAGAR SAMPADA, IMO 8300080, GT 2661, built 1984, flag India, owner SCI. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/16/indian-research-vessel-fire-arabian-sea/?fbclid=IwAR1IPufl2z3IKzRaVFm9Etk0L0sb8kRDzQ5rRHUiQQc0wZOGqCklUq_-eZA
 
5. 59 Iran-Linked Ships Stripped of Panamanian Flag, US DOS Confirms
Panama has revoked the registration of a number of Iranian vessels after the restoration of the US sanctions targeting transportation, oil and banking sectors. Specifically, the Maritime Authority of Panama (AMP) has removed 59 Iranian-linked ships from its registry, ShareAmerica, the US State Department-run platform said. The move came after Juan Carlos Varela, Panamanian president, issued a presidential decree last month, allowing the AMP to de-register these vessels. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/273282/59-iran-linked-ships-stripped-of-panamanian-flag-us-dos-confirms/
 
6. Texas LNG Export Plant Passes Environmental Test
March 15 (Reuters) – Texas LNG’s proposed Brownsville liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Texas took a step toward receiving federal approval for construction on Friday after staff at the federal energy regulator prepared a final environmental report. In the report, known as an environmental impact statement, staff at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concluded construction and operation of the project would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but those impacts “would not be significant” if the company follows recommendations in the report. https://gcaptain.com/texas-lng-export-plant-passes-environmental-test/
 
7. Wilhelmsen Launches Shore-to-Ship Drone Delivery Pilot Project in Singapore
Wilhelmsen Ships Service and global aeronautics company Airbus this week launched a pilot project trialing the world’s first shore-to-ship drone delivery in real-time port conditions at the port of Singapore. Lifting off from Singapore’s Marina South Pier, the maiden shore-to-ship delivery flight was made to the Swire Pacific Offshore’s ATHS vessel Pacific Centurion located 1.5km away at Eastern Working Anchorage.  he drone was carrying a 1.5 kg package of 3D printed consumables, which it delivered to the deck of the anchor handling tug without a hitch before returning to its base. The entire delivery, from take-off to landing back at base, took just ten minutes. https://gcaptain.com/wilhelmsen-launches-shore-to-ship-drone-delivery-pilot-project-in-singapore/
 
8. MSC set to become new owner of MCT Gioia Tauro
Following an ultimatum given by the Italian transport minister to solve the dispute between MSC and Contship Italia, the shareholders of Medcenter Container Terminal in Gioia Tauro, an end is now in sight after it was announced that Contship Italia has entered into negotiations with MSC for the sale of its 50% shares in CSM Italia Gate, the company that controls Medcenter Container Terminal.In order to speed up the deal, Contship is said to have “already appointed the law firm that will assist the process as well as an independent financial advisor, who has been given the task of expressing the correct value of the terminal activity and assets”. https://splash247.com/msc-set-to-become-new-owner-of-mct-gioia-tauro/
 
9. Fool on the Hill
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) this month introduced the “Open America’s Water Act of 2019” to repeal the Jones Act, the latest in a series of broadsides over the years aimed at destroying America’s maritime independence. The bill would allow all qualified (foreign) vessels to engage in U.S. domestic trade. It also aims to ensure that Alaskans, Hawaiians and Puerto Ricans pay less for the goods they buy and be allowed to get rapid emergency help in the wake of natural disasters. https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/fool-on-the-hill
 
10. An Analysis of MSC Zoe’s Container Loss
On the night of January 1, 2019, MSC Zoe lost approximately 290 containers in heavy weather on the journey from Portugal to Bremerhaven. The loss of so many containers is an exceptional event and is the second largest known container loss of a ship due to heavy weather. Only Svendborg Maersk lost more, 517, in 2014. This article is an attempt to analyze the cause but does not claim to be able to answer all the questions, because there are, of course, a number of unknown factors. https://www.maritime-executive.com/editorials/an-analysis-of-msc-zoe-s-container-loss