InterManager Daily News 21.11.2019.

1. Cargo ship fire, crew evacuated, Hainan

Cargo ship SHENG HONG 6 reported fire in superstructure to MRCC Hainan at around 1100 Beijin time Nov 20, beaing anchored in Qiongzhou Strait off Haikou. SAR ship NAN HAI JIU 113 (IMO 9548055) was sent to assist, by the time she arrived 5 crew out of total 13 already abandoned the ship and were picked up by local fishermen. Superstructure was covered in thick smoke, remaining 8 crew also left SHENG HONG 6 and went over to SAR ship. After several hours of firefighting, fire was extinguished. The ship remained anchored. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/20/cargo-ship-fire-crew-evacuated-hainan/

2. Two minor accidents in Brunsbuettel, Kiel Canal

Russian ro-ro ship LADY R contacted constructions while entering lock at Brunsbuettel, Kiel Canal, at 1325 LT Nov 19, damaging dolphins and other items. The ship reportedly, sustained superficial damages and was allowed to resume transit soon after accident. She’s en route from Brunsbuettel to S-Petersburg. General cargo ship KORSOE contacted lock gate in Brunsbuettel at around 1000 LT Nov 20, while leaving Kiel Canal after transit. Understood ship’s portside navigation light was damaged, contacting gate’s railing. The ship left Brunsbuettel in the evening after completing repairs, resuming her voyage from Ust Luga Russia to Rouen France. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/20/two-minor-accidents-in-brunsbuettel-kiel-canal/

3. Cargo ship damaged crane in Volos, Greece

General cargo ship IAPETOS reportedly contacted crane on Pier 2 in Volos Port, in the morning Nov 20, on arrival from Heraklion, so most probably accident occurred during mooring maneuvers. Crane sustained damages, no information on ship’s damages. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/20/cargo-ship-damaged-crane-in-volos-greece/

4. Antarctic cruise cancelled, ship stuck in Buenos Aires

Cruise ship RCGS RESOLUTE docked at Buenos Aires on Nov 4, with 162 passengers and 98 crew on board, in a final stop before sailing to cruise destination, waters of Antarctic. The ship called Buenos Aires on Oct 19 then left, and sailed to Puerto Madryn port Argentina, but was refused bunkering, due to outstanding debts of operator company. The ship returned to Buenos Aires, and was berthed at cargo/passenger pier, disrupting its’ operations. Bunkering was again, refused. Passengers had to disembark and return home, reportedly on their own account. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/20/antarctic-cruise-cancelled-ship-stuck-in-buenos-aires/

5. U.S. Wind Developers Submit New England Wind Farm Layout Proposal

A consortium of offshore wind developers with leases off the U.S. Northeast coast has submitted their layout proposal to the United States Coast Guard.

The proposed layout calls for a uniform layout with 1 nautical mile (nm) spacing between wind turbines. The leaseholders include Equinor, Mayflower Wind, Ørsted/Eversource, and Vineyard Wind. https://gcaptain.com/u-s-wind-developers-submit-new-england-wind-farm-layout-proposal/

6. MSC Noses Toward Top Liner Ranking After Poaching Star Maersk Exec

Maersk’s cuts in capital expenditure, including its decision not to order new vessels in the next two years, will clear the way for MSC to take over as the top-ranked ocean carrier, according to Alphaliner, And The Loadstar’s sources suggested that this “profit over market share” strategy by the Danish transport group may have contributed to its chief operating officer, Soren Toft, being head-hunted by MSC as its new CEO. https://gcaptain.com/msc-noses-toward-top-liner-ranking-after-poaching-star-maersk-exec/

7. Refiners Across the Globe Increase Output of 2020-Compliant Ship Fuel

Global oil refiners have upgraded processing units and adjusted operations to raise output of low-sulfur residual fuels and marine gasoil (MGO) to prepare for stricter shipping fuel standards that kick in on Jan. 1, 2020. The new International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules prohibit ships from using fuels containing more than 0.5% sulfur, compared with 3.5% through the end of December, unless they are equipped with exhaust-cleaning “scrubbers.” https://gcaptain.com/refiners-across-the-globe-increase-output-of-2020-compliant-ship-fuel/

8. Yemen’s Houthis Release Captured South Korean, Saudi Vessels

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement released three vessels and 16 people it had seized, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry and a Houthi military source in Yemen said on Wednesday.

The seizure on Sunday was the latest incident at sea around Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is leading a Western-backed coalition of Arab states against the Houthis, who control the capital and most population centers and have been accused of attacking shipping. https://gcaptain.com/yemens-houthis-release-captured-south-korean-saudi-vessels/

9. Maritime Industry Confronts Boatload Of Environmental Challenges

Keeping up in a world hurtling toward the dawn of the IMO 2020 mandate is the biggest challenge facing the maritime industry, according to Kathy Metcalf, president and CEO of the Chamber of Shipping of America. In a discussion at the Women’s International Shipping & Trade Association (WISTA) International Annual General Meeting & Conference, Metcalf and other panelists addressed the many environmental challenges facing women — and men — in the maritime industry. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Maritime+industry+confronts+boatload+of+environmental+challenges

10. Iron Ore Futures Reverse Losses As Steel Prices Extend Gains

Chinese iron ore futures recouped early losses to extend their rally into a sixth straight session on Tuesday as steel prices stretched gains amid shrinking inventories and possible fresh output restrictions to curb air pollution. Dalian Commodity Exchange’s most-traded iron ore contract , with January 2020 expiry, ended up 0.6% at 636.50 yuan ($90.63) a tonne. It rose to 638 yuan earlier in the session, the highest since Oct. 28 this year. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Iron+ore+futures+reverse+losses+as+steel+prices+extend+gains