InterManager Daily News 19.04.2019

 
1. Capesize bulk carrier explosion, 3 injured, medevaced, UK
Bulk carrier GREAT ASPIRATION suffered an explosion on board, which left three crew with serious burns, requiring medical assistance, in Celtic sea off Lizard, UK. Coastguard was alerted at 1515 UTC Apr 17, but explosion could occur some 2-3 hours earlier, when bulk carrier changed her course and speed. At around 2030 UTC bulk carrier turned to Mount’s Bay, Cornwall, interrupting her voyage from Baltimore USA to IJmuiden Netherlands. Three injured crew were airlifted by helicopter and transferred to hospital in Plymouth. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/04/18/capesize-bulk-carrier-explosion-3-injured-medevaced-uk/?fbclid=IwAR35OdSXOwWKl4P6zzhNhSVqu7Isj7ufano6pFyb0UWQkJfv1FotYgtA-9k
 
2. Shipping and The Army of The Dead
Maritime community is to be congratulated with new mandatory regulation on “wellness training”: Maritime charity Sailors’ Society is petitioning the International Labour Organization (ILO) to make wellness training for seafarers mandatory in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The petition is a key part of the charity’s Not On My Watch campaign to combat suicide and depression at sea. The campaign is also calling on maritime companies to donate to the charity’s work with seafarers struggling with depression and to run wellness training for their staff. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/04/18/shipping-and-the-army-of-the-dead/?fbclid=IwAR3OLFi8FKHL-1EDTRyn_bGowLC6DXPNmBJqWkqV0y07u3MQg0JNP1XEh8A
 
3. Arrested Swiss tanker attacked by pirates, Nigeria
Product tanker SAN PADRE PIO was attacked by 4 armed pirates in speedboat at 2020 UTC Apr 15 at Bonny River Inner Anchorage, Nigeria, in position 04 28.1N 007 10.1E, according to IMB report. 2 pirates managed to board the tanker and opened fire, aimed at superstructure. The onboard Nigerian naval guards returned fire, thwarting the attack. Pirates returned to boat and fled. Crew sheltered in citadel, all safe. Bonny Signal Station and Nigerian Navy were notified. One guard was injured during the shooting and later transferred to a security boat. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/04/18/arrested-swiss-tanker-attacked-by-pirates-nigeria/?fbclid=IwAR25g5zSsSp2gCXkhaNaIaF48tg-4bGp5wGrfIG9aB1SGNN1rJf-RCLOYjM
 
4. Dry docked cargo ship fire, Tuzla
General cargo ship SORMOVSKIY 118, dry docked at Astas Shipyard, Tuzla, Turkey, suffered fire in superstructure on Apr 17. Several fire engines responded, fire understood to be extinguished, no injures reported. No other information available at the moment, including exact location of the fire, its’ cause, and the extent of damages. Photo Deniz Haber. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/04/17/dry-docked-cargo-ship-fire-tuzla/?fbclid=IwAR0IfxaoyPoJjeS_Y_flYcJXkfTTKc4emlobNrGmrk90yacaIcEC7z4f7ic
 
5. Kenny Rogers walks away from Aurora Tankers
A well-known name in Singapore shipping circles has had a career change. Kenny Rogers, head of Aurora Tankers, part of the Tsao family-controlled IMC Group, stepped down today after eight years in the job. In a note to clients seen by Splash, Aurora executives noted: “Among [Rogers’] most notable achievements include successfully managing the first phase of our 55K MRs newbuilding program, as well as building an experienced and capable team to take the business into the future.” https://splash247.com/kenny-rogers-walks-away-from-aurora-tankers/
 
6. Damen Shipyards Reports First Loss in 15 Years
Dutch Damen Shipyards Group suffered a net loss of EUR 17 million (USD 19.1 million) in 2018 — the first time in fifteen years that the shipbuilder has posted losses. As explained, the full-year result was affected by a sustained period of difficulty in a number of maritime sectors and investments Damen has made. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/275305/damen-shipyards-reports-first-loss-in-15-years/
 
7. BIMCO: Capesize Ships in Pain as Chinese Iron Ore Imports Drop
Dry bulk shipping industry is feeling the impact of a continuing decrease in Chinese imports of iron ore as the country’s crude steel production keeps growing, according to BIMCO. Chinese steel production grew by a massive 12.6 million tonnes (+9.2%) in the first two months on 2019 as estimated by China Iron and Steel Association (CISA). During the same period, Chinese imports of the paramount steel production ingredient, iron ore, fell by 5.6%, or 10.3 million tonnes. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/275310/bimco-capesize-ships-in-pain-as-chinese-iron-ore-imports-drop/
 
8. ABS, CINS to Jointly Reduce Dangerous Goods Stowage Risks
Technology company ABS and Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) representatives will be working together to set out guidelines for practices that would help reduce risks posed by the stowage of dangerous goods on containerships. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/275303/abs-cins-to-jointly-reduce-dangerous-goods-stowage-risks/
 
9. Keppel Plans to Add 1,800 Staff at Offshore and Marine Unit
SINGAPORE, April 18 (Reuters) – Singapore conglomerate Keppel Corp is planning to 1,800 staff this year at its offshore and marine business, the first time the company is hiring for the division after cutting thousands of jobs since 2015. The slump in oil prices in 2014 and a global oversupply of drilling rigs had hit orders at the company’s O&M division, but demand is slowly returning. https://gcaptain.com/keppel-plans-to-add-1800-staff-at-offshore-and-marine-unit/
 
10. BIMCO: “It’s the steel production, stupid!”
China’s increased use of scrap metal for its production of crude steel is fundamentally critical to the dry bulk shipping industry. Mostly Capesize ships are impacted by this, way beyond the temporary iron ore export disruptions in Brazil and Australia. Chinese steel production grew by a massive 12.6 million tonnes (+9.2%) in the first two months on 2019 as estimated by China Iron and Steel Association (CISA). During the same period, Chinese imports of the paramount steel production ingredient, iron ore, fell by 5.6%, or 10.3 million tonnes. All numbers compared to the same period of 2018. https://www.shippingtribune.com/newsdetails.php?s_id=11645