1. Luxury sailing yacht sank in Indonesian waters, crew rescued
Luxury sailing yacht ASIA with 4 crew on board, including two Brits, sank on Nov 22 in Indonesian waters, most probably in Banda sea, after hitting an unidentified object. All crew went into RHIB and shortly after were picked up by marine police, no injures reported. Yacht was en route from Kalabahi, Alor Island, Indonesia, Banda sea, to Phuket Island, Thailand. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/23/luxury-sailing-yacht-sank-in-indonesian-waters-crew-rescued/?fbclid=IwAR3DvNjkBcwt_xVpVou1KMaQZI391kZSYjG57q8xSqPRY4z_j-f35N9by7w
1. Seaman injured in stormy seas, died
Bulk carrier ALMA contacted MRCC Corsen, France, and requested medical assistance to 57-year old Ukrainian crew in critical condition, injured reportedly, due to rough seas conditions, at 2110 UTC Nov 22 in Celtic sea some 150 nm west of Brest. Paramedics team was delivered on board of bulk carrier by helicopter, at 0140 UTC Nov 23 paramedics pronounced seaman’s death. The ship interrupted her voyage from UK to Cuba and headed for Brest, to undergo all formalities. Exact cause of mortal accident unknown, it may be anything, from wave hit to fall or hit by some heavy object. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/23/seaman-injured-in-stormy-seas-died/?fbclid=IwAR3lo7c7K49P3HZLPTxFWi6M9gMMnvc5obZJKQ6oSPktOn021NWu2bmbVCI
1. Chemical tanker aground, Spain
Chemical tanker BLUE STAR ran aground at around 2230 UTC Nov 22 on a coast in Ares area, just north of La Coruna, Spain. Tanker was moving from La Coruna anchorage to Ferrol, to load a cargo of chemicals, but went out of control after mechanical failure, and ran aground. Tanker is in ballast, refloating attempts failed so far. As of 0320 UTC Nov 23, tanker was still aground, with SAR boat nearby, awaiting probably, tug or tugs and high water. Salvage coordinated by Salvamente Maritimo. Understood hull wasn’t breached, but tanker is in ballast, anyway. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/23/chemical-tanker-aground-spain/?fbclid=IwAR1qIAGQ8GlcxM6m_xBnItlCBAIPLHg1a3lNx3b8-9bQxHGqx6JxoE0jcMQ
1. Offshore tug attacked, 7 crew kidnapped, Gulf of Guinea
Offshore supply tug PACIFIC WARDEN was attacked by pirates on Nov 20 at 0420 UTC in vicinity 03 46N 008 14E, Gulf of Guinea, some 35 nm W of Malabo, Bioko island, Equatorial Guinea. Out of 15 crew 7 were kidnapped, 8 managed to hide inside ship’s compartments and avoid captivity. Crew include South African, Cameroon, Philippines and Serbia nationalities. The ship moved to Malabo and remains at Malabo since Nov 21. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/22/offshore-tug-attacked-7-crew-kidnapped-gulf-of-guinea/?fbclid=IwAR2nHjjUNAPyCPKg7mGilQuuymN-Y2TARPAnvLZ0lCHsIh1fo77iD4K6g64
1. Disabled Italian freighter on tow in Aegean sea
General cargo ship HARTURA suffered engine failure on Nov 21 in Aegean sea, while en route from Ravenna Italy to Gemlik Turkey. Tug APOLLON (IMO 7431806) was contracted for salvage, the ship was taken on tow on Nov 22, port of destination Piraeus, ETA Nov 23. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/22/disabled-italian-freighter-on-tow-in-aegean-sea/?fbclid=IwAR3XQPYcLH_O9SZTjx1kdwe2RelQl3irJhlak93MdDg5GumO3PXuyZu_D9M
1. Capesize bulk carrier fire, Captain died UPDATE Official Statement
Fire erupted in the morning Nov 22 in superstructure of Greek ore carrier ORE SUDBURY, anchored at Itaguai, Brazil, since Nov 19. Fire reportedly spread around Deck 3 in living quarters, and was extinguished by crew. Tragically, 40-year old Greek Captain died, understood suffocated in smoke. The ship remains in the same position, waiting for loading.http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/22/capesize-bulk-carrier-fire-captain-died/?fbclid=IwAR3H_g9y5pzGYWV-XByGGquwFn03TZXY2gQQy-gH_c9SYoQifEqdyFEWiU8
1. Bunker tanker aground, Ukraine UPDATE total loss, illegal activities
Bunker tanker DELFI dragged anchor in strong storm at night Nov 21 at outer anchorage of Yuzhniy port, Ukraine, and drifted aground on a coast in Odessa port area. As of early morning Nov 22, tanker was still aground, crew refused evacuation and remained on board. Tanker reportedly, is in ballast. Nov 23 UPDATE: Tanker seemingly, is a total loss. 3 crew were finally, evacuated against their will – they’ve been afraid to leave the ship without getting wages debts from owner. Tanker reportedly, was engaged in “grey” bunkering schemes in Ukrainian and Danube river waters. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/11/22/bunker-tanker-aground-ukraine/?fbclid=IwAR3DGga7ioOO5ACEoKaQ8GUFYMZK6_A7MOf4-JK8siGLpvKQSvpR4MDzM5c
1. Baltic index snaps 6-day losing streak on higher capesize rates
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index on Friday rose for the first time in seven sessions, helped by an uptick in capesize rates. The Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose 29 points, or 2.3%, to 1,284 points. For the week, however, the index recorded its sixth straight fall, declining by 5.4%. The capesize index rose 92 points, or 3.8%, to 2,493, but still shed 5.4% in the week, its fifth fall in six weeks. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/baltic-index-snaps-6-day-losing-streak-on-higher-capesize-rates/
1. U.S. Coast Guard Updates Policy on Vessel Exhaust Scrubber Approvals
With the January 1, 2020 start date for tough new limits on the sulfur content of marine fuels (commonly referred to as IMO 2020) only a month and a half away, the U.S. Coast Guard released on November 18, 2019, an update to its “Guidelines for Compliance and Enforcement of the [U.S.] Emission Control Areas.” However, the update included only one minor procedural change to the way the Coast Guard will validate a vessel’s claim of an “equivalency” to fuel sulfur content standards and leaves unchanged a reference to a now-revoked policy requiring vessels to submit “Fuel Oil Non-Availability Reports” (FONARs). The updated Guidance also fails to answer a number of pressing enforcement policy questions raised by the upcoming IMO 2020 start date. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/u-s-coast-guard-updates-policy-on-vessel-exhaust-scrubber-approvals/
1. Singapore ex-wharf HSFO bunker premium sinks further to four-month low ahead of IMO 2020
The Singapore ex-wharf premium for 380 CST high sulfur bunker fuel extended its downtrend to a four-month low at Asian close Thursday, S&P Global Platts data showed. This comes at a time when demand shifts rapidly to cleaner fuels away from higher sulfur grades, as the IMO 2020 sulfur mandate looms. The ex-wharf 380 CST bunker premium to the Mean of Platts Singapore 380 CST high sulfur fuel oil assessment fell to $15.08/mt at Thursday’s Asian close, it was last lower at $11.84/mt on July 4, Platts data showed. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/singapore-ex-wharf-hsfo-bunker-premium-sinks-further-to-four-month-low-ahead-of-imo-2020/
