InterManager Daily News 20.03.2019

 
1. Container ship capsized, sank in Iranian port
General cargo ship SL STAR capsized and sank along berth at Rajaee Port, Bandar Abbas, Iran, Persian Gulf, in the morning Mar 19, while performing cargo operations. Reportedly discrepancies between dockers and crew led to stability loss, either cargo shifted or was wrongly loaded. The ship had 153 containers on board, some of them already surfacing and floating around. 14 crew, mainly Indians, are reported to be safe. General cargo ship with container capacity SL STAR, IMO 9432452, dwt 4210, built 2007, flag Comoros, manager SEA LINK SHIPPING LLC, UAE. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/19/container-ship-capsized-sank-in-iranian-port/?fbclid=IwAR1CKP_rSK-nTkAdaPc1Nw-NGhz3aQnV79z-TVIkUL-UGpKrpIYkAEULa7Q
 
2. SCF tanker explosion, fire, but reportedly, nothing serious happened
Product tanker NS POINT according to unconfirmed information suffered explosion in engine room, followed by fire, in Baltic sea in Latvian responsibility zone, early in the morning Mar 19. Latest AIS recorded some 13 hours ago, no AIS since around 0600 UTC, tanker at that time was halfway between Swedish and Polish coasts, sailing NE at some 13 knots, destination Vysotsk Russia, Gulf of Finland, ETA Mar 20. UPDATE 1215 UTC: Reportedly nothing serious happened. Product tanker NS POINT, IMO 9329655, dwt 40149, built 2008, flag Liberia, owner SCF Russia. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/19/scf-tanker-explosion-fire-but-reportedly-nothing-serious-happened/?fbclid=IwAR05C9yOSAtlczZF7eMxqk1yKf5EKn5ajtP1WiblI0VaZeKFaN5MXwGP-zE
 
3. Steven M. Cernak Dies, Age Sixty-Three
Port Everglades Chief Executive and Director Steven M. Cernak passed away over the weekend, following a long, valiant battle with cancer. He was the immediate past Chairman of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and immediate past Chairman of the Florida Ports Council. Upon learning of Cernak’s passing, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle said: “Today we mourn the loss of one of the greatest champions of the port industry, Steve Cernak, port director and CEO of Port Everglades. “Steve was a friend, a loyal colleague and a stalwart leader within the American Association of Port Authorities. He was always there to lend a hand to a port colleague, give of his time or share his knowledge and experience. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/steven-m-cernak-dies-age-sixty-three
 
 
4. Maersk-backed cleanup project at a standstill in Hawaii
The million-dollar project Ocean Cleanup, which is supposed to remove trash from the Pacific Ocean, is currently at a standstill in Hawaii. Maersk Supply Service will continue to support the project. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/Services/article11262874.ece
 
5. Liner companies: Block Exemption has ensured lower rates
The container carriers continue their fight for an extension of the unique consortia block exemption regulation, which allows competing shipping lines to cooperate. In a letter to the EU Commission, the association lists four arguments in favor of the regulation. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/carriers/Container/article11263168.ece
 
6. Kairos Bunkers Destination Gotland’s Ferry with LNG in Visby Port
The world’s largest LNG bunker supply vessel Kairos conducted the first supply operation for the newbuild ferry MS Visborg at the port of Visby on March 15, 2019. The bunker operation puts into practice the contract for the supply of LNG, which was signed by LNG supplier Nauticor and owner and operator of the new ferry Destination Gotland in December 2017. Under the deal, the ferry would run on the environmental-friendly fuel while connecting the Swedish mainland with the island of Gotland. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/273453/kairos-bunkers-destination-gotlands-ferry-with-lng-in-visby-port/
 
7. Canaveral Port, Carnival Break Ground on New Cruise Terminal
Canaveral Port Authority and its cruise partner Carnival Cruise Line ceremonially marked the start of construction of the new Cruise Terminal 3 complex as they broke ground for the facility on March 18. Dubbed the Launch Pad, the new terminal will be home to Mardi Gras, the cruise line’s newest ship. The USD 163 million terminal is scheduled for completion in May 2020 and will be ready for the arrival of Mardi Gras to Port Canaveral. The contract to build the facility and adjacent six-story parking garage was awarded to Merritt Island, Florida-based Ivey’s Construction. Construction of the cruise terminal’s marine facility got underway last year with a contract awarded to RUSH Marine to remove the existing pier structures at the site and build a new 1,309-foot-long berth for Mardi Gras. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/273428/canaveral-port-carnival-break-ground-on-new-cruise-terminal/
 
8. 330-Meter Boxship Sets New JAXPORT Record
Cape Sounio, a 330-meter-long 11,000-TEU vessel, became the largest container ship to ever arrive at the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) as it berthed in Florida on March 18. The vessel transited the Panama Canal from Asia before reaching the US East Coast and loading and offloading cargo at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. Cape Sounio is operated by ZIM on a service offered by the 2M alliance, comprised of Maersk, MSC, Hamburg Süd and strategic partners HMM and ZIM. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/273423/330-meter-boxship-cape-sounio-sets-new-jaxport-record/
 
9. BW buys Epic Gas
Andreas Sohmen-Pao’s BW Group is buying out fellow Singapore owner Epic Gas. BW has come to an agreement to acquire 54.7% of the shares of Epic, including the purchase of all of the shares held by certain affiliates of Jefferies Financial Group and DVB SIIM. Epic Gas was founded by Chris Buttery after he sold Hong Kong bulker concern Pacific Basin. It was incorporated in Singapore as Epic Shipping in 2005 and became Epic Gas in 2012 when it merged with Pantheon. Today Epic controls a fleet of 39 small pressurised LPG vessels. BW indicated that having acquired a majority 54.7% stake it was now pursuing an unconditional tender offer to acquire the remaining shares in Epic https://splash247.com/bw-buys-epic-gas/
 
10. World Shipping Council renews block exemption campaign
With liners feeling the pressure lobby group World Shipping Council yesterday submitted additional information to the European Commission which is deliberating whether to extend the consortia block exemption regulation (BER). The liner group engaged RBB Economics to evaluate the evolution of European liner services from 2013-2018, in which it claims carrier costs per teu decreased substantially and shipping rates decreased in similar proportions. “The close correlation between rates and costs shows that shippers benefit from reductions in operating costs in the form of lower overall freight rates (including surcharges),” the council stated in a release. https://splash247.com/world-shipping-council-renews-block-exemption-campaign/