1. Ukraine seized Russian tanker for allegedly, hostile activities. Retaliation?
Product tanker NIKA SPIRIT (ex-NEYMA) was detained by Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) on Jul 25, SBU is requesting arrest warrant in Ukrainian Court. Tanker arrived at Izmail Port, Ukraine, on Jul 24. According to Ukraine official statement, tanker was involved in hostile activities (blocking Kerch Strait) during November 2018 incident, when Russian Navy and Coast Guard tried to prevent Ukrainian Navy gun boats from Strait transit, and seized several Ukrainian Navy servicemen, in violation of all agreements and laws, regulating Strait passage. Russia was blamed for the incident, by the majority of international community. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/25/ukraine-seized-russian-tanker-for-allegedly-hostile-activities-retaliation/?fbclid=IwAR3JbzJ4sQftqI9dr1fkzAU_SfvdK9RUE_UMXdPKE9PUlJY05duQRxQra7g
2. Cargo ship collided with fishing vessel in Yellow sea, both damaged
General cargo ship collided with fishing vessel in the morning Jul 22 in Yellow sea, while en route from China to Korea. Fishing vessel sustained hull breach above waterline stb stern, cargo ship sustained bow damages. Both remained seaworthy, fishing vessel headed for base port, cargo ship continued her voyage. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/07/25/cargo-ship-collided-with-fishing-vessel-in-yellow-sea-both-damaged/?fbclid=IwAR0ozhMJR6ziCil8ytTjSsDkSl33cQJWCwROwlDbexmAUlyEqZu-tB2Mu4M
3. Iran’s Seizure of Tanker Prompts Shipping Industry to Mull Ditching UK-Flagged Vessels for China
Scores of tankers transit through the Strait of Hormuz each day, and shippers are looking for ways to safeguard the oil trade in the wake of tit-for-tat tanker detentions between Iran and the UK. China may emerge as an unexpected beneficiary of the mounting tensions in the Persian Gulf, after Iran detained a British-flagged oil tanker in a key waterway for oil transit. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/irans-seizure-of-tanker-prompts-shipping-industry-to-mull-ditching-uk-flagged-vessels-for-china/
4. Maritime UK: “Together, industry and government can turbocharge our coastal communities and strengthen the UK’s position as a world-leading maritime nation”
Maritime UK Chair, Harry Theochari, has written to the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. The letter stresses the importance of the sector to national prosperity, and identifies key priorities for the UK’s maritime industries. These include protecting freedom of navigation, coastal economic development, decarbonisation, enhancing the UK’s maritime competitiveness and developing our workforce. The letter also sets out immediate steps the sector wishes to see on Brexit. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/maritime-uk-together-industry-and-government-can-turbocharge-our-coastal-communities-and-strengthen-the-uks-position-as-a-world-leading-maritime-nation/
5. IMO/Chile agreement to expand capacity building in the Caribbean
IMO has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Chile, to extend Chile’s technical assistance to countries in the Caribbean region, in addition to Latin America. The MoU on Technical Cooperation, signed by the Directorate General of Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR) of the Republic of Chile, replaces earlier MoUs (signed in 2002 and 2005) and strengthens the collaboration between IMO and DIRECTEMAR for the provision of technical assistance in the Latin America and the Caribbean Region. This will particularly support the provision of experts (including Spanish-speaking experts) to deliver training in Latin America and the Caribbean. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/imo-chile-agreement-to-expand-capacity-building-in-the-caribbean-%e2%80%8b/
6. NYK develops crew pay platform
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has formed a joint venture with Philippines-based conglomerate Transnational Diversified Group to launch an electronic money platform for seafarers called MarCoPay, a new venture that also features Accenture and Citi. The Manila-based platform will be owned 50:50 between NYK and TDG. https://splash247.com/nyk-develops-crew-pay-platform/
7. Iranian president hints at tanker trade to deescalate Hormuz crisis
Iran’s president yesterday hinted he’d be up for a tanker trade with the UK in order to deescalate the tense situation around the Strait of Hormuz. “We do not seek the continuation of tension with some European countries,” Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday during a weekly cabinet meeting. “If Britain steps away from the wrong actions in Gibraltar, they will receive an appropriate response from Iran.” https://splash247.com/iranian-president-hints-at-tanker-trade-to-deescalate-hormuz-crisis/
8. US Sanctions Chinese Firm for Buying Iranian Crude Oil
The United States has imposed sanctions on a Chinese oil trading company and its chief executive for buying oil from Iran. According to a State Department announcement from July 22, Zhuhai Zhenrong Company Limited was sanctioned for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase or acquisition of crude oil from Iran. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/280698/us-sanctions-chinese-firm-for-buying-iranian-crude-oil/
9. Celebrity Releases #CrewUpWithWomen Video
Celebrity Cruises has released a video #CrewUpWithWomen as part of its efforts around gender equality. Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises, says gender equality has been an important initiative at Celebrity. “We have gone from three percent of women on the bridge in 2015 to 22 percent fleet-wide in 2019 and, Celebrity Edge launched with 30 percent women crew – more than 50 percent higher than any other ship in our fleet or the industry, and we are not finished.” https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/celebrity-releases-crewupwithwomen-video
10. Bunker market looks for extended credit lines as IMO 2020 nears
Shipowners and creditors are scrambling for additional credit lines to cover the anticipated rise in low sulfur fuel oil prices post IMO 2020, market participants said this week. About $4 billion/month of extra credit will be needed starting 2020 to cover the rise in demand for LSFO and shipowners are already demanding longer payment windows as the market dynamics shift, Adrian Tolson, Senior Partner at 2020 Marine Energy told S&P Global Platts. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Bunker+market+looks+for+extended+credit+lines+as+IMO+2020+nears
