1. Ferries collided at Alcudia, Mallorca, one breached
Ferry JAUME III collided with berthed ferry ALCANTARA in the morning Jul 12 at Alcudia port, Mallorca, Spain. Both ferries didn’t have passengers or cargo on board. JAUME III was shifting berth to take on board passengers. ALCANTARA damages understood to be minor, ferry left Alcuida at around midday on scheduled trip, though with several hours delay. JAUME III sustained hull breach in stb bow area, her trip was cancelled. As of morning Jul 13, ferry was still at Alcudia. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/13/ferries-collided-at-alcudia-mallorca-one-breached/?fbclid=IwAR3VYS4-KWbVENdrdXszHoMOSKm3h2CVCX0K4pOLQZnf7TkGY6HRjHmOhrg
2. Fishing vessel in the Pacific reported mass crew medical emergency
Mexican fishing vessel MAZATUN on Jul 9 reported numerous crew in need of urgent medical assistance in the Pacific, some 1250 nm E of Manzanillo, Mexico. Later that day vessel headed for her home port Mazatlan, at 0600 UTC Jul 12 vessel was some 750 nm SW of Mazatlan. No information on what happened, and how many crew were affected. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/12/fishing-vessel-in-the-pacific-reported-mass-crew-medical-emergency/?fbclid=IwAR2BY8MQNiqZXrJQF_N3WLvgqBmVdUURlWYjmDGthxtIwFhm4PqZ0BFx6PY
3. Two officers died on board of LPG tanker, cause unknown
LPG tanker GAS AEGEAN had to interrupt her voyage from Lavera France to Cudallore, East India, and call Trincomalee port, Sri Lanka, after two of her crew died on board, on Jul 8 or earlier. Both are reported as being officers, one 34-year old Ukrainian, another one 39-year old Russian. Cause of their simultaneous deaths is unknown, although it may be presumed, that deaths weren’t the result of natural causes. The ship anchored at Trincomalee anchorage in the morning Jul 11, bodies of deceased seamen are to undergo autopsy, police started an investigation. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/11/two-officers-died-on-board-of-lpg-tanker-cause-unknown/?fbclid=IwAR1cE5NeXIEp3KT0UoEa_7RNy9yATsiaKQi0qcN-btGKiXY1ngIZhrh1LQ4
4. CMA CGM, Cosco, Hapag-Lloyd and leading ports set out to create the internet of logistics
A host of top carriers and port groups have signed up to a CargoSmart-led new association designed to come up with shared digital solutions for the shipping industry. The initial signatories to the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) are CMA CGM, Cosco, Hapag-Lloyd, Hutchison Ports, OOCL, Port of Qingdao, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group with CargoSmart – now owned by Cosco – serving as the facilitator, providing software solutions and services. https://splash247.com/cma-cgm-cosco-hapag-lloyd-and-leading-ports-set-out-to-create-the-internet-of-logistics/
5. Tanker rift between the UK and Iran escalates
The tanker rift between the UK and Iran is escalating. Police in Gibraltar have arrested the Indian captain and chief officer of the detained Iranian Grace 1 VLCC accused last week of violating EU sanctions on Syria. Documents and electronic devices were also seized from the vessel, while Iran has demanded the ship and its crew are freed immediately. The arrests come after Iranian boats tried to seize a BP Shipping tanker in the Gulf this week. https://splash247.com/tanker-rift-between-the-uk-and-iran-escalates/
6. Aker BP’s profit nearly halved
Oil company Aker BP exits the second quarter with a profit that is nearly half of what the company booked for the same period last year. Production is also down. https://shippingwatch.com/secure/Offshore/article11498054.ece
7. Watch: Flight Deck on Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy Complete
The installation of the final piece of the U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy’s (CVN 79) flight deck has been completed by Huntington Ingalls Industries. The addition of the upper bow section at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division is one of the last steel structural units, known as a superlift, to be placed on John F. Kennedy. Weighing 780 tons, the superlift took 18 months to build. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/watch-flight-deck-on-aircraft-carrier-john-f-kennedy-complete
8. Watch: China’s Belt and Road Initiative Explained
CNBC has prepared a film explaining China’s belt and road initiative. The initiative was unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. The Chinese government it “a bid to enhance regional connectivity and embrace a brighter future”. Some observers see it as a push for Chinese dominance in global affairs with a China-centered trading network. The project has a targeted completion date of 2049, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. CNBC has prepared a film explaining China’s belt and road initiative. https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/watch-china-s-belt-and-road-initiative-explained
9. Baltic index hits highest since 2014 on tight supply, higher demand
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index hit a five-and-a-half-year high on Friday, boosted by stronger demand and tight spot tonnage in the Atlantic region.
* The Baltic index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose 2.7%, or 49 points, to 1,865, its highest since January 2014. The index has tripled since February.
* The index rose 7.2% this week, to post its fourth straight week of gains, mainly driven by strong demand for vessels that ship iron ore from Brazil. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+hits+highest+since+2014+on+tight+supply%2C+higher+demand
10. UK will not escort all its ships near Iran, does not want to escalate tensions -source
Britain does not intend to escort every British-flagged merchant vessel through the Strait of Hormuz, a security source said on Thursday, after a Royal Navy warship had to stop three Iranian vessels from blocking the passage of a BP-operated tanker. The source said London would be resolute in defending its maritime interests in the Gulf but it does not want to escalate the situation with Iran. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/UK+will+not+escort+all+its+ships+near+Iran%2C+does+not+want+to+escalate+tensions+-source
