1. Three ships abandoned, sinking in Gulf of Aden, Arabian sea
Two cargo vessels on Jun 20 were reported sinking in Gulf of Aden south of Al Mukalla, Yemen, in vicinity 13 30N 049 50E. Both vessels understood to be cargo dhows, both having 9 crew, both were abandoned. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/06/22/three-ships-abandoned-sinking-in-gulf-of-aden-arabian-sea/?fbclid=IwAR3PvQjt0kT5YNUm7OPVTjM-WEEHamfzBtEmscCFXvKk6_DFMqAfDdVklZw
2. If it doesn’t concern Greece, Greek CG doesn’t care?
The crew of container ship STADT DRESDEN found 9 stowaways hidden in a container, they’ve surreptitiously boarded the ship at Casablanca, Morocco, intending to get to Europe. STADT DRESDEN arrived at Piraeus Anchorage, Greece, on Jun 20, authorities were duly informed on presence of illegal persons on board. And here comes outrageous part of this, on the face of it, rather trivial story – Greek Coast Guard, according to local news outlets, interrogated “migrants” and was quite satisfied with their plan – stowaways weren’t after Greece, they plan to disembark in another European country. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/06/21/if-it-doesnt-concern-greece-greek-cg-doesnt-care/?fbclid=IwAR1CtYuDJFEjiNUPraQ3joRbslJRd1SbRaQK7dXYmgjxg3C6vjn6g8V3h48
3. Hapag-Lloyd considers ordering six new mega-vessels
Hapag-Lloyd and Evergreen are getting ready to place orders for ultra-large container ships. Combined, this could entail orders worth USD 2.2 billion, writes The Wall Street Journal. Market sources confirm Hapag-Lloyd’s interest in mega-ships to ShippingWatch. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/carriers/Container/article11457727.ece
4. MSC has customs certification suspended after large cocaine discovery on ship
Following a large discovery of cocaine, MSC has had a special customs partnership, in which customs authorities in the US are less inclined to inspect the liner company’s cargoes, temporarily suspended. Customers have been notified that this will create “minimal disruption.” https://shippingwatch.com/secure/carriers/Container/article11458366.ece
5. Norway’s government wants to halve shipping’s emissions already by 2030
With a new plan of action, the Norwegian government will work to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from the country’s shipping sector by 50 percent already in 2030 – two decades before the target set by the IMO comes into force. But the plan includes too few concrete initiatives, say critics according to Sysla. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/regulation/article11459026.ece
6. Trump Orders, Calls Off Retaliatory Strike on Iran
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered and then called off a strike on Iranian radar and missile sites in retaliation for the downing of a U.S. Navy surveillance drone near the Strait of Hormuz. “We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights [sic] when I asked, how many will die,” Trump said in a Twitter post Friday. “150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone.” https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/trump-orders-calls-off-retaliatory-strike-on-iran
7. Port of Los Angeles Argues Against New Tariffs on Chinese Goods
Additional U.S. tariffs on imports from China could have a number of unintended impacts, the Port of Los Angeles said in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The potential impacts of proposed tariffs include higher consumer prices, lower profitability for American firms, and uncertainty in the maritime supply chain, the port said. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/279069/port-of-los-angeles-argues-against-new-tariffs-on-chinese-goods/
8. BIMCO: Tanker Freight Rates Surge after Hormuz Attacks
Crude oil tanker freight rates from the Arabian Gulf to China have doubled on the back of the recent tanker attacks, according to shipping association BIMCO. VLCC spot freight rates between the Arabian Gulf and China rose 101% in the days between June 13 and 20, 2019, in the aftermath of attacks on two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/279059/bimco-tanker-freight-rates-surge-after-hormuz-attacks/
9. More arrests as US authorities take action against MSC
Investigators have found more cocaine than initially reported onboard the MSC Gayane with further arrests in one of the largest drugs busts in recent American history. Four more crew of the 9,962 teu ship have been arrested along with the initial pair as seafarers are grilled about how the illicit drug came onboard the huge ship that was raided on Monday morning when it docked at the Port of Philadelphia. https://splash247.com/more-arrests-as-us-authorities-take-action-against-msc/
10. The world’s largest shipping firm has altered its route through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions
A.P. Moller-Maersk has changed the route its ships sail through the world’s busiest transit lane for seaborne oil shipments, citing safety concerns amid a rapid series of escalations between the U.S. and Iran. A surface-to-air missile shot down a U.S. military drone in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official told NBC News Thursday morning. The reported drone downing has exacerbated fears that a major military confrontation could soon erupt between Washington and Tehran. https://www.shippingtribune.com/newsdetails.php?s_id=12245
