Intermanager Daily News

 
1. Container ship collided with berth in Colombo, both damaged
Container ship GANTA BHUM collided with pier at Jaya Container Terminal, Colombo, on Mar 16, while berthing, reported Felixstowe Dockers. Photos show damages sustained both by ship and by gantry crane on pier. All photos full-scale at https://felixstowedocker.blogspot.com/2019/03/we-understand-that-cv-ganta-bhum-see.html Container ship GANTA BHUM, IMO 9110937, dwt 18168, capacity 1128 TEU, built 1995, flag Singapore, manager RCL http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/18/container-ship-collided-with-berth-in-colombo-both-damaged/?fbclid=IwAR07Rmdx6bZ8k6o1aQFe_b-MTsAp_qDqRMOhHhzUQnT6zJ7-0g5BdzyJNbo
 
2. GRIMALDI’s conro ship in trouble in English Channel? UPDATE troubled
UPDATE 1430 UTC Mar 18: GRANDE ROMA is definitely troubled, disabled by yet unknown accident. The ship was taken on tow, as of 1430 UTC was approaching Isle of Wight, joined by tug LOMAX, destination Southampton, ETA Mar 18 1700 UTCRo-ro-cargo ship GRANDE ROMA seems to be in trouble in English Channel since early morning Mar 17 east of Isle of Wight, while en route from Antwerp to Southampton, ETA Mar 17. Character of trouble, if any, unknown, the ship went NUC, started to drift. According to AIS, was anchored at around 1100 UTC Mar 17. Tug MULTRATUG 17 (IMO 9481752) approached GRANDE ROMA at around 0600 UTC Mar 18. As of 0630 UTC Mar 18, GRANDE ROMA status and condition are unclear. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/03/18/grimaldis-conro-ship-in-trouble-in-english-channel/?fbclid=IwAR0Izq-jMKvz8fg-FVxecF_Nsc2fCoazjANvI629TeMNPKYVGA5N5PtYURA
 
3. Shippers far from agree on support for added sulfur charge
Several of the world’s largest shipping lines, such as Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, say that customers seem to accept the extra cost of low-sulfur fuel oil. ShippingWatch has spoken to one of the world’s largest shippers, which far from agrees. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/carriers/Container/article11259531.ece
 
4. Investment bank lowers forecast for dry bulk significantly
Despite a recent recovery for capesize, investment bank Cleaves Securities cuts its growth forecast in half for the Baltic Dry index in the coming months. For the biggest ships the investment bank now projects negative demand growth this year. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/carriers/Bulk/article11259978.ece
 
5. ExxonMobil’s 0.5% fuel will be on sale from Q3 this year
ExxonMobil has revealed its low sulphur bunker fuel will be available from the third quarter of this year, joining the likes of BP and Sinopec in making clear it will offer compliant fuel around the world ahead of next year’s sulphur cap. Luca Volta, marine fuels venture manager at ExxonMobil, told Forbes in an interview: “We will be ready with the products and point of sales by the third quarter of 2019. That’s when we expect marine customers will start to bunker as the deadline of January 1, 2020 approaches.” Volta said the compliant fuel would be offered in select locations to begin with, near key refineries, before being rolled out further. https://splash247.com/exxonmobils-0-5-fuel-will-be-on-sale-from-q3-this-year/
 
6. Brazilian authorities suspend Vale’s operations at Timbopeba
A Brazilian court has ordered mining giant Vale to suspend operations at its Timbopeba min, after a legal case was filed by the Public Prosecution Office of the State of Minas Gerais (MPEMG) against the company. The company has also been banned from using the Doutor dam as well as operating other structures of the Timbopeba mine and it could be fined 500,000 reais ($131,000) per day if it disobeys the order. Vale said the decision was based on a notification received by the MPEMG containing preliminary information on the Doutor dam. The suspension affects the operations of the Timbopeba mine with an impact of 12.8m tons of iron ore per year. https://splash247.com/brazilian-authorities-suspend-vales-operations-at-timbopeba/
 
7. New Silk Road: How the largest infrastructure project ever is changing the world
The Chinese plan to spend around $1 trillion on their “Belt and Road Initiative” in order to expand and control the transport routes for Chinese export goods. There is still a lot of potential for growth, particularly on overland routes. But it is meeting with some resistance. “Yi Dai, Yi Lu”is a phrase that everyone in China knows. The Belt and Road Initiative – or what others call the “New Silk Road” – is the largest infrastructure program of all time. With this geostrategic master plan, which has been marketed with perfect propaganda, China is radically altering the global economy. The plan has drawn criticism in the West, and particularly in the United States (as well as in China itself, by now). China is trying to communicate to everyone involved in these projects that the “new silk roads” will benefit everyone – but not everyone agrees. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/new-silk-road-how-the-largest-infrastructure-project-ever-is-changing-the-world/
 
8. Direct shipping route between Vietnam and Australia opened
Morotai, a container ship owned by CMA CGM Group Agencies (Australia) Pty Ltd., docked at the SP-ITC International Container Terminal in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, on March 15, following the route from the city to Australia and vice versa. Weighing 40,000 tonnes and measuring 222 metres long, Morotai is the vessel with the largest deadweight tonnage having anchored at the SP-ITC port thus far. Addressing the welcoming ceremony, Nguyen Xuan Sang, Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration (under the Ministry of Transport), said that the handling of the largest-ever container ship was a big success for the SP-ITC terminal, helping to reduce transportation and loading/unloading costs for businesses and increase Vietnam’s competitiveness. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/direct-shipping-route-between-vietnam-and-australia-opened/
 
9. Stena Bulk Invests USD 55 Million in Scrubbers
Swedish tanker shipping company Stena Bulk has made a USD 55 million investment in scrubbers that will encompass sixteen of the company’s vessels. As World Maritime News already reported, ten of the company’s IMOIIMAX vessels and five Suezmaxes will be equipped with the after-treatment systems. The order has now increased to sixteen ships and includes one additional MR tanker, President & CEO Erik Hånell confirmed to World Maritime News. This major investment includes equipment, installation and time out of service. Payback time of investment is between 1,5 and 2,5 years which has already been secured by hedging the fuel spread, according to the company. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/273366/stena-bulk-invests-usd-55-million-in-scrubbers/
 
10. Fire Along Houston Ship Channel Rages for Second Day
HOUSTON, March 18 (Reuters) – A fire at a fuels storage company along the Houston Ship Channel continued to burn on Monday, spreading to eight massive petrochemical storage tanks, shutting schools in two nearby communities. The fire, which sent a plume of black smoke across the city’s eastern half and was visible from 10 miles (16 km) away, began Sunday morning in a giant storage tank containing naphtha, a volatile component of gasoline. No evacuations or injuries were reported. https://gcaptain.com/fire-along-houston-ship-channel-rages-for-second-day/