1. Container ship and brand new cargo ship collided in Japanese waters
Panamax container ship collided with brand new general cargo ship early in the morning Aug 8 in Japanese waters, while approaching port of destination. Cargo ship was sailing in the same direction. Cargo ship reached port and was berthed after collision, while container ship was brought to anchor near collision site. As of 2330 Tokyo time, was still at anchor. No information on damages. It was said only, that there were no injures. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/08/08/container-ship-and-brand-new-cargo-ship-collided-in-japanese-waters/?fbclid=IwAR1n9mkSNvVqnO4VC5it9-EgGpXSQsXG5TsKJHtcCzojZEA53sVq8Wr-kRg
2. Turkish freighter aground, again
Unfortunate general cargo ship MEHMET BEY ran aground again, yet unable to reach her port of destination Iskenderun. On Aug 7 she ran aground again, this time in Fethiye Bay, Turkey. The ship loaded with wheat was troubled in Greek waters on Aug 2 and while fixing mechanical problem, ran aground. On Aug 7 she called Fethiye Bay after Greek waters mishap, to reportedly, change some crew and replenish provisions, and ran aground in the evening Aug 7, while approaching anchorage. Master said the ship ran aground while maneuvering to avoid collision with fishing vessel. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/08/08/turkish-freighter-aground-again/?fbclid=IwAR1yldo4vaemFzFfFJ4UZgwH9p2DipiimzIYJ0W45oAovhNwUlZJAaKrFt8
3. Four crew badly injured by wave hit, hospitalized
NSRI Port Elizabeth, South Africa, reported medevac of four crew of a bulk carrier, badly injured by a wave hit, when the ship was under way sailing off Port Edward, on Aug 6. Four injured Filipino seamen – 1 with critical injuries with fractures to the jaw, hip, clavicle and a suspected neck fracture, 1 with fractured Femur and hip, 1with fractured Tibia and 1 with injured head, were in need of immediate medical assistance. Bulk carrier turned to Port Elizabeth. Medevac attempt by NSRI boat on Port Elizabeth approaches in the morning Aug 7 failed, because of adverse weather, permission was granted to dock in Port Elizabeth. Injured seamen were taken to hospital, their condition serious but stable. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/08/08/four-crew-badly-injured-by-wave-hit-hospitalized/?fbclid=IwAR08S6cOzJjOerIrkCr2sWLAt0B0CiyLs_7_am9u0V9WcWv9Yx1U-3Qbpwg
4. Liners rally to impose fines on misdeclared cargoes
Other container lines are taking action similar to Hapag-Lloyd’s decision to impose fines on shippers who have failed to declare hazardous cargoes in their containers. As reported yesterday, Hapag-Lloyd will hit customers with a $15,000 per box fine for any misdeclared hazardous cargoes it finds. Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has also said it will start issuing penalties, without specifying how punitive they will be. https://splash247.com/liners-rally-to-impose-fines-on-misdeclared-cargoes/
5. US warns merchant shipping of Iranian GPS spoofing threat
The US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration issued a warning yesterday suggesting Iran is engaged in interfering with ships’ GPS systems as they transit near the Middle Eastern nation. The warning said merchant ships had reported “spoofed bridge-to-bridge communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be US or coalition warships.” https://splash247.com/us-warns-merchant-shipping-of-iranian-gps-spoofing-threat/
6. VLCCs ‘close to a perfect storm’: Fearnleys
Norwegian broker Fearnleys has described the VLCC chartering market as being “close to a perfect storm” in the past week. In its latest weekly report, Fearnleys cited very strong demand in all areas, falling bunker prices and looming typhoons in Asia for reasons for the sudden optimism in what has been a topsy-turvy world for VLCCs this year. https://splash247.com/vlccs-close-to-a-perfect-storm-fearnleys/
7. Stellar Daisy Network Demands New Search to Recover 2nd VDR
The International Stellar Daisy Network has called on the South Korean government to retrieve the second Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) from the sunken bulk carrier. The latest development comes on the back of the recently released result of the initially retrieved VDR, released on July 26, that revealed only partial voyage information. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/281404/stellar-daisy-network-demands-new-search-to-recover-2nd-vdr/
8. Germany Seizes Another 1.5 Tons of Cocaine on Boxship
Following the recent record seizure of cocaine shipment at the Port of Hamburg, local customs officers have discovered a further 1.5 tons of cocaine on board a containership. The cocaine was found during a search of an unnamed boxship last week, Oliver Bachmann, a spokesperson of German Customs Authority, said in a statement. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/281393/germany-seizes-another-1-5-tons-of-cocaine-on-boxship/
9. Battery-Powered Ships Next Up in Battle to Tackle Emissions
The electric battery boom has a new target: ships. Four Japanese companies have teamed up to build the world’s first zero-emission tanker by mid-2021 that will be powered by large-capacity batteries and will operate in Tokyo Bay, according to a statement on Tuesday. The new company e5 Lab Inc. is a venture between Asahi Tanker Co., Exeno Yamamizu Corp., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corp. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Battery-Powered+Ships+Next+Up+in+Battle+to+Tackle+Emissions
10. Shanghai tops ranking of world’s best-connected ports
The Shanghai port has topped UNCTAD’s 2019 ranking of the world’s best-connected ports, released on 7 August. The Chinese port garnered a connectivity score of 134 points, followed by the ports of Singapore (124.63 points), Pusan (114.45 points) in Korea and Ningbo (114.35 points), also in China. The index is set at 100 for the best-connected port in 2006, which was Hong Kong, China. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Shanghai+tops+ranking+of+world%E2%80%99s+best-connected+ports
