1. Two crew stabbed to death in mess hall of Aframax tanker
Two stabbed to death Filipino crew were found in a mess hall of Italian Aframax tanker RBD GINO FERRETTI on Sep 5, crime was reported to Oranjestad authorities, St.Eustatius Island, Caribbean, and to Italian authorities. Tanker was en route from Brazil to Oranjestad, arriving at port of destination on Sep 5. Suspect was arrested and taken into the custody of local police, said local newspaper The Daily Herald. Alleged murderer is also of Filipino nationality. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/09/07/two-crew-stabbed-to-death-in-mess-hall-of-aframax-tanker/?fbclid=IwAR0EySzlje1LzHvivVlccBjwKxBHe_zREGgv9DMdt0jh350uprKilOyrCwU
2. Cargo ship documents destroyed by fire
General cargo ship SABA NIAGA suffered fire in one of the crew’s cabins in the morning Sep 6, in Barito river, south Kalimantan, Indonesia, while proceeding downstream, en route to Balikpapan, western Kalimantan. Fire reportedly, was quickly extinguished by crew and didn’t spread around, but some ship’s and crew’s papers were burned, so probably fire erupted in Captain’s cabin. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/09/07/cargo-ship-documents-destroyed-by-fire/?fbclid=IwAR2G0xcYgd3-7pxJJL03FgVswQ2iqRj3NLQjGAnFqalAZ-6V0bRYfVaMQ3c
3. Fesco forms intermodal LNG shipping partnership with Chinese firms
Russian owner Fesco has entered into a partnership agreement with Chinese companies Best Ship Energy Management and Zhejiang Rui Neng Ocean Shipping to jointly develop intermodal transportation of LNG in tanker containers from Russia to China. https://splash247.com/fesco-forms-intermodal-lng-shipping-partnership-with-chinese-firms/
4. Sinokor bags $16m newcastlemax
Mizuho Sangyo has found a taker for one of its two newcastlemaxes it put in the shop window last week. Splash reported last week that the 203,000 dwt Azul Challenge and a sister ship, Azul Integra, were for sale, with the Azul Challenge inviting offers while the second ship is open for inspection soon. Now sources tell Splash that the $16m winning bid for the 15-year-old Azul Challenge has been approved and the ship will move to the fast growing Sinokor fleet. https://splash247.com/sinokor-bags-16m-newcastlemax/
5. Indonesia announces another nickel ore export ban
This week Indonesia announced a ban, to start in the new year, on the export of nickel ore. While it will disrupt supply chains and freight demand, it is not a unique event, with a similar ban put in place in 2014, something brokers Braemar ACM noted in a recent release which saw a short-lived but profitable spike in freight rates as producers boosted trade to beat the restriction. The surging nickel price at the moment would suggest another surge is likely before year-end. https://splash247.com/indonesia-announces-another-nickel-ore-export-ban/
6. MSC Says It Is Not Hiring Eastern Pacific ULCV Newbuilds
Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has denied reports saying the company is chartering six LNG-fueled container vessel newbuilds.
According to a recent DynaLiners report, MSC agreed to charter the 15,000 TEU LNG-powered ultra large container vessels (ULCVs) for a period of fifteen years from Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/282880/msc-says-it-is-not-hiring-eastern-pacific-ulcv-newbuilds/
7. Russia Eyes Annual Traffic of 80 Mn Tons via NSR by 2024
About 80 million tons of goods is planned to be shipped annually via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) by 2024, Rosatom director revealed. On September 4, the first working meeting of the NSR Public Council was held at the 5th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok. https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/282860/russia-eyes-annual-traffic-of-80-mn-tons-via-nsr-by-2024/
8. Baltic index falls on weaker demand across vessels
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index continued to fall on Friday, having broken a 10-day winning streak on Thursday, as rates throughout vessel segments eased. The Baltic index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, fell 37 points, or 1.5%, to 2,462 points. The index on Wednesday hit its highest since Nov. 2010 at 2,518 points. It has nearly doubled this year. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/baltic-index-falls-on-weaker-demand-across-vessels/
9. ‘Sizzling’ bulkers hit near nine-year high
ou wouldn’t know it from the performance of dry bulk stocks, but bulk shipping rates are on fire and reaching new heights well beyond levels seen in June and July when optimism toward the sector first flared. On Sept. 4, the Baltic Dry Index (BDI), which tracks rates of bulkers in multiple segments, hit 2,518 points, its highest level since November 2010, almost nine years ago. Shares in the Breakwave Dry Bulk Shipping exchange-traded fund (NYSE: BDRY), which purchases freight futures to mimic the BDI, are up 127% since April. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/sizzling-bulkers-hit-near-nine-year-high/
10. U.S. Increases Pressure on Iran’s Faltering Oil Exports
The U.S. has placed new sanctions on Iran and a top American official has said more measures will follow, further restricting the Islamic Republic’s ability to export oil. Iran is exporting a fraction of the crude it previously shipped because of sanctions and the U.S. may look to tighten the flow of other oil products next. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/U.S.+Increases+Pressure+on+Iran%E2%80%99s+Faltering+Oil+Exports
