1. Two Chinese fishing vessels aground, Cape Verde
Two Chinese fishing vessels, RUITAIFEN 903 and LIAN RUN 35, drifted aground on a coast of Lazareto, Sao Vicente island, Cape Verde, in the afternoon Jul 23. One of vessels was anchored off coast, with another moored alongside. Both vessels reported to be owned by Dalian Lianrun Pelagic Fishing Co. Ltd, though LIAN RUN 35 is Guinea Conakry flagged. No data found on RUITAIFEN 903 and LIAN RUN 35 in available databases. Dalian Lianrun Pelagic Fishing Co. Ltd is known for its’ poaching practices in Western Africa waters. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/24/two-chinese-fishing-vessels-aground-cape-verde/?fbclid=IwAR1UMV7QNzNFpe6-RGDkLfX-GbS0NRWn4FzrvaOiWLJf2aPc0x0F6aTaQb8
2. Italian fishing vessel seized by Libyan Coast Guard
Italian fishing vessel, identified as FV TRAMONTANA, was seized by Libyan Coast Guard on Jul 22 in Gulf of Sidra, some 50 nm off Libyan coast, while reportedly, catching shrimp. Libya considers 50-mile zone as her exclusive economic zone, claim strongly opposed by Italy and other coastal States in the region. Seizure of TRAMONTANA seems to be one more incident in never ending fishing wars, having nothing to do with political mess in the region. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/24/italian-fishing-vessel-seized-by-libyan-coast-guard/?fbclid=IwAR210KqUThN9HAC85qTdYamDpnuEsdq5ZVMd6TSiRsQE6zZdazpYyEyBurI
3. Mega yacht hit and destroyed berthed sailing yacht, Italy
Mega yacht BLUE MAGIC went out of control while berthing at Santa Maria Di Leuca, Lecce, southern Italy, in the afternoon Jul 23. The results can be seen on video – mega yacht destroyed berthed sailing yacht, and suffered bow damages. BLUE MAGIC was with passengers on board. Electronics control system failure is believed to be the cause. No injures reported. The behaviour of BLUE MAGIC crew is rather peculiar – watch how crew member went to f’castle, pushed yacht’s broken mast off bulwark without even looking down at destroyed yacht, and returned back. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/24/mega-yacht-hit-and-destroyed-berthed-sailing-yacht-italy-video/?fbclid=IwAR0sRgDfrzB49eMTbBR1_qVgq-yGNjgO2kS8E60qse3juQK0ccT_ccrvDUQ
4. Russian fishing vessel seized by North Korea in international waters
Fishing vessel XIANG HAI LIN 8 was seized by North Korean Coast Guard early in the morning Jul 17 in Japan sea, at some 55 nm distance off North Korean coast, in international waters. Vessel with 17 crew, including 15 Russian and 2 South Korean nationals, was sailing from South Korea to fishing grounds in Japan sea. Coast Guard boarded vessel and switched off all communications, taking vessel to Wonsan port, North Korea. Owner can’t contact his crew, Russian diplomats were allowed to visit vessel on Jul 23. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/24/russian-fishing-vessel-seized-by-north-korea-in-international-waters/?fbclid=IwAR22LwufohETcIg5h-cm_wPeiTRGo3X_enpEFh063JSIWwCj3PXEUhX_YTs
5. Maersk Honam rechristened and ready to sail
Seventeen months after a fire ripped through it, Maersk is set to send the 15,282 teu boxship Maersk Honam back on active duty. According to Alphaliner, the ship, which caught fire on March 6 last year leading to the loss of five seafarer lives, has been renamed Maersk Halifax. The damaged ship’s bow was cut off at a yard in Dubai and the remainder of the ship was then moved by a semi-submersible ship to Ulsan in South Korea, where Hyundai Heavy Industries has since been fixing it. The redux vessel now features a reshaped, less flared bow and an SOx scrubber. https://splash247.com/maersk-honam-rechristened-and-ready-to-sail/
6. Europe welcomes UK’s Hormuz patrol proposal
A host of European nations are coming out in support of the UK’s call for a naval coalition to assist merchant shipping through the troubled Strait of Hormuz. France, Germany Italy, and Denmark have supported a UK plan to launch a European-led maritime mission in the waterway to boost the security of commercial navigation there after the seizure of the British flagged tanker Stena Impero by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran claims the tanker hit a local fishing vessel, something denied by owner Stena Bulk. https://splash247.com/europe-welcomes-uks-hormuz-patrol-proposal/
7. Worker Dies while Breaking Evergreen Marine Ship at Chittagong Yard
One worker lost his life in an incident at a shipbreaking yard in Chittagong, Bangladesh, while scrapping a vessel owned by Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen Marine, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform said. Local reports say that the man was cutting the containership Ever Union at Kabir Steel’s Khawja yard when he fell from a great height. Unfortunately, he died on the spot. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/280610/worker-dies-while-breaking-evergreen-marine-ship-at-chittagong-yard/
8. King Abdullah Port in Mega Crane Delivery
Saudi Arabia’s largest container terminal at the King Abdullah Port is getting a boost in capacity after receiving 28 new cranes. With the addition of 20 gantry cranes and 8 ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, the port’s yearly capacity will be raised to five million TEU. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/280615/king-abdullah-port-in-mega-crane-delivery/
9. Shipping Minister says govt aims to bring down logistic costs to 9% of GDP
In his address to stakeholders of the shipping industry, Minister of Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said the Centre plans to bring down logistics cost down from 14 percent of the GDP to 9 percent. The Minister was speaking at FICCI’s summit on Fueling the Maritime Sector: IMO 2020 and Beyond. He said that he would represent India and its interests at the next meet of International Maritime Organisation (IMO). https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Shipping+Minister+says+govt+aims+to+bring+down+logistic+costs+to+9%25+of+GDP
10. Baltic index snaps 10-day gaining streak as capesize rates ease
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index fell on Tuesday, breaking a 10-day winning streak as rates for capesize vessels eased, while the sentiment still remained positive on the outlook for higher iron ore shipments. The Baltic index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, fell 1.2%, or 26 points, to 2,165 points after hitting a peak since December 2013 in the previous session. The index has more than tripled since February, mainly driven by strong demand for vessels that ship iron ore from Brazil into China. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+snaps+10-day+gaining+streak+as+capesize+rates+ease
