1. Panamax ran aground on uncharted sandbank. Bulk carrier HB TUCUNARE ran aground at around 1530 UTC Oct 13 while proceeding in Amazon estuary by Curua Canal, some 20 nm off Bailique island. Bulk carrier en route from Porto Trombetas to Vila do Conde Brazil, with 74000 tons of bauxite on board. As of 1700 UTC Oct 15, ship remains in the same position, owner and authorities looking for refloating solutions. Ship’s hull intact, no spill. The ship ran aground on an uncharted sandbank. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/10/16/panamax-ran-aground-on-uncharted-sandbank/
2. Princess Cruises Takes Delivery of 4th Royal-Class Ship. Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered Sky Princess, the newest Royal Princess class ship, to cruise line Princess Cruises, part of Carnival Corporation. The delivery ceremony was held at the Monfalcone shipyard on October 15, 2019. Following the recent completion of sea trials, the newbuild will embark on a maiden Mediterranean & Adriatic cruise from Athens to Barcelona later this month.
https://mobile.worldmaritimenews.com/archives/283050/princess-cruises-newest-vessel-aces-sea-trials/
3. Mauritania’s Port of Nouadhibou Readies for Larger Ships. The Mauritanian Port of Nouadhibou will soon be ready to welcome vessels with a capacity of up to 250,000 tons after works on the expansion of the 25-km long entrance channel kicked off this month. The deepening and widening of the waterway will improve the accessibility to the port’s mineral terminal. https://mobile.worldmaritimenews.com/archives/284781/mauritanias-port-of-nouadhibou-readies-for-larger-ships/
4. Norway Fines Wirana for 2017 Tide Carrier Incident. The Mauritanian Port of Nouadhibou will soon be ready to welcome vessels with a capacity of up to 250,000 tons after works on the expansion of the 25-km long entrance channel kicked off this month. The deepening and widening of the waterway will improve the accessibility to the port’s mineral terminal. https://mobile.worldmaritimenews.com/archives/284781/mauritanias-port-of-nouadhibou-readies-for-larger-ships/
5. AIDAcosma Will Be AIDA Cruises’ 2nd LNG-Powered Ship. German shipbuilder Neptun Werft has held a keel-laying ceremony for AIDA Cruises’ second LNG-powered cruise ship. The first building-block for the LNG-fueled newbuild was put in place in Rostock on October 15, 2019. The traditional lucky coin was placed beneath the first of a total of 90 blocks. https://mobile.worldmaritimenews.com/archives/284770/aidacosma-will-be-aida-cruises-2nd-lng-powered-ship/
6. Greece Approves Part of COSCO’s Investment Plan for Piraeus. Greek Committee of Planning and Development of Ports (ESAL) has approved EUR 611.8 million (USD 673.3 million) worth of investments at the country’s Piraeus Port. According to the Piraeus Port Authority, the funding for development works by Chinese shipping giant Cosco would cover all the business units of the company and would contribute to the development of the local and national economy. https://mobile.worldmaritimenews.com/archives/284740/greece-approves-part-of-coscos-investment-plan-for-piraeus/
7. Fire and Gas Explosion in Battery Room of Norwegian Ferry Prompts Lithium-Ion Power Warning. Norwegian authorities are warning shipowners and operators about the dangers associated with lithium-ion battery systems after a fire and subsequent gas explosion on board a diesel-electric ferry in Norway. The small fire was reported October 10 in the battery room of the Norled passenger ferry MF Ytterøyningen. The ferry returned to harbor under its own power where passengers and crew were evacuated to land. Overnight, however, a serious gas explosion rocked the battery room causing significant damage. https://gcaptain.com/fire-and-gas-explosion-in-battery-room-of-norwegian-ferry-prompts-lithium-ion-power-warning/
8. Container Carrier MSC Orders Five Giant Box Ships for $762 Million. Mediterranean Shipping Co. will buy five giant container ships from South Korean yard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. for $762 million in a new sign that ocean cargo carriers are building up their capacity despite falling freight rates and weak trade growth. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/container-carrier-msc-orders-five-giant-box-ships-for-762-million/
9. Baltic index dips for a straight third session on lower vessel demand. The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, fell for a third consecutive session on Tuesday, due to lower demand for larger capesize and panamax vessels. The Baltic index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, fell 18 points, or 0.9%, to 1,898. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/baltic-index-dips-for-a-straight-third-session-on-lower-vessel-demand/
10. Oil Tanker Rates Roar to New Records Amid Geopolitical Risks. Nothing right now is stopping a surge in oil tanker rates that’s given owners of the vessels one of the biggest boosts in years. Rates have rallied so high that a secondhand supertanker could theoretically pay for itself in a couple of voyages, according to estimates from Clarkson Platou Securities AS. A normal payback period would often be about a decade. The combined market value of Frontline Ltd. and Euronav NV — two pureplay owners — has gained by 78% to $4.8 billion since mid-August. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/oil-tanker-rates-roar-to-new-records-amid-geopolitical-risks/
