1. Korean tanker fire, 2 dead
Fire started in superstructure of tanker, reportedly under the name of TAEHWA 1HO, at around 0540 LT (UTC +9) Mar 20 some 2 nm off Ohdong island, Yeosu waters, East China sea, South Korea. Fire started in cabin, spread around in superstructure, and engulfed the bridge. Of 6 crew on board, 2 died, 4 were rescued. According to latest news and to photo, fire didn’t spread to cargo area and was taken under control by firefighters.
Product tanker TAEHWA 1HO, MMSI 440116340, dwt 906, built 1992, flag South Korea, owner ? http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/20/korean-tanker-fire-2-dead/?fbclid=IwAR2WNPhlSLaQz2h-v-lyf2WZIo8L_TQZ52QWbJ7wLIGKVvcDWlFa9_5azjc
1. Container ship aground, SEA
Container ship ran aground in the morning Mar 19, while leaving port in South China sea. Was still aground as of 2030 LT, no tugs in sight.nAnnual subscription $750. For annual subscription, contact [email protected] Subscribe if you want to receive accidents news ASAP and in full. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/19/container-ship-aground-sea/?fbclid=IwAR1hqBfrUEk9Mik2c2cKpaHnuIwT9FRwxOCw7I9RZWJ1FaJEEekNmkC82Nk
1. Cargo ship disabled on her trip to breaking yard, towed to safety, Africa
Cargo ship was en route to a ship breaking yard either in India or Pakistan with 14 crew on board, auctioned for scrap by High Court ruling. The ship suffered engine breakdown off African coast early March. Was taken on tow and towed to nearest port. Reportedly she’s waiting for spare parts to fix engine, and resume her last trip. But maybe she’ll need towage, it’s yet unknown. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/20/cargo-ship-disabled-on-her-trip-to-breaking-yard-towed-to-safety-africa/?fbclid=IwAR0NJvDlxDdlFpQqE4bf1FLsxCV1HuIms_q-bCYMJn1aP1nqS-cAgG98oOk
1. Pakistan’s shipping sector to get $2 billion investment boost from Singapore-based firm
Singapore shipbuilding and marine service firm Global Radiance Group has announced plans to invest around $2 billion in the Pakistani shipbuilding industry, the group chairman and managing director Abdul Lateef Siddiqui said. The step is set to create about 4,000 jobs, according to the executive, as quoted by the News International, Pakistan’s largest English-language newspaper. Siddiqui said that the country is currently forced to pay up to $4 billion to foreign shipping companies. Pakistan’s state-owned National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) reportedly operates nine ships, three tankers and six bulk carriers with only 65,786 seafarers, 18,988 officers and 46,798 crews are currently being employed in the sector. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/pakistans-shipping-sector-to-get-2-billion-investment-boost-from-singapore-based-firm/
1. NCSP Group’s consolidated cargo turnover for the first month of 2019 exceeded 12 million tons
NCSP Group reports that its consolidated cargo turnover for January 2019 increased by 3.3% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 12,063 thousand tons. Growth in the ferrous metals and cast iron turnover (+34.7% or 322 thousand tons) due to an increase in deliveries to EU countries. Increase in the volume of oil products processed (+7.3%) due to the attraction of large-tonnage batches of gasoline to the port of Novorossiysk. A decrease of 14.3% in grain exports in comparison with the all time high in 2018. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/ncsp-groups-consolidated-cargo-turnover-for-the-first-month-of-2019-exceeded-12-million-tons/
1. Media: Clipper has sold its entire dry bulk fleet
Shipping company Clipper has sold its entire dry bulk fleet to instead focus on being an operator in the segment, reports media Søfart citing anonymous sources. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/carriers/Bulk/article11264412.ece
1. EU Commission casts critical eye on South Korean merger
Competition and customers – in this case, shipping companies – are the key points for the EU Commission’s assessment of the merger between two of South Korea’s yards. The German anti-trust authorities also react to the merger. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/suppliers/article11266115.ece
1. Sunken Con/Ro Was Carrying Top-End Porsche 911s
When the con/ro Grande America sank in the Bay of Biscay earlier this month, she was carrying about 2,200 tonnes of fuel oil, and the resulting spill has forced French authorities to launch a large response effort. She was also carrying 2,000 cars, including a shipment of the most powerful Porsche 911s ever made. According to Carscoops, Grande America’s vehicle decks contained four Porsche 911 GT2 RS sports cars, along with a range of more commonplace Porsche and Audi vehicles bound for Brazil. The GT2 RS is a heavily modified version of the 911 Turbo, with 700 horsepower, a stiffer suspension, rear wheel drive, a 2.7 second 0-60 time, and a base price of about $300,000 – if the would-be buyer can find one for sale. Porsche discontinued the model in February, and used units are trading for 30-50 percent more. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/sunken-con-ro-was-carrying-top-end-porsche-911s
1. Viking Launches Seven New River Ships
Viking welcomed seven additions to its river fleet on Tuesday during a celebration on the Rhine River in Basel, Switzerland. Of the seven ships, six are 443-foot, 190-passenger Viking Longships – Viking Einar, Viking Sigrun, Viking Sigyn, Viking Tir, Viking Ullur and Viking Vali – which will be deployed on Viking’s most popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. The seventh, smaller 263-foot ship – Viking Helgrim – was inspired by the Longships design and built specifically for the Douro River, bringing the company’s total number of sister ships in Portugal to four. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/viking-launches-seven-new-river-ships
1. Britain’s Peel Ports Expands Amid Brexit Trade Uncertainty
By Jonathan Saul LONDON, March 20 (Reuters) – Privately owned Peel Ports is expanding its workforce mostly in Liverpool and plans acquisitions this year, its chief executive said, as Britain prepares its ports to ease any trade disruption caused by Brexit. The British operator has been upgrading much of its network of seven ports, especially in northwest England, aiming to draw business away from ports further south. https://gcaptain.com/britains-peel-ports-expands-amid-brexit-trade-uncertainty/
