1. Norwegian fishing vessel sank in Barents sea, 12 crew rescued
Fishing vessel FAY reported sinking around midday Dec 28 in Barents sea, N of Honningsvag, Norway. Cause of sinking unclear. 12 crew were rescued by rescue helicopter Sea King. Fishing vessel according to Redningsselskapet RS (The Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue), sank at 1325 LT. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/12/28/norwegian-fishing-vessel-sank-in-barents-sea-12-crew-rescued/
2. BW’s LNG tanker attacked in Gulf of Guinea
Merchant ship was attacked at 0945 UTC Dec 28 in Gulf of Guinea some 70 nm NW of Sao Tome, while en route to Bonny. According to time and track data, it’s a LNG tanker, LNG LOKOJA. Security company DRYAD GLOBAL also identified attacked ship as LNG LOKOJA. According to DRYAD data, tanker managed to thwart attack by evasive maneuvering. Tanker later was approached by Nigerian patrol boat DEFENDER 6, and as of 1330 UTC Dec 28, tanker was under way heading for Bonny, escorted by DEFENDER 6. Understood crew is safe. http://maritimebulletin.net/2019/12/28/bws-lng-tanker-attacked-in-gulf-of-guinea/
3. Miners vary in approach to handling IMO 2020 shipping costs
Global miners and traders say they are ready for the International Maritime Organization’s forthcoming introduction of 2020 fuel standards in January that limit sulfur levels in bunker fuels to 0.5% from the previous 3.5%, in shipping’s biggest regulatory change in decades. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/miners-vary-in-approach-to-handling-imo-2020-shipping-costs/
4. First LNG freight futures trades via CME Group agreed – broker
Affinity (Shipping) LLP, a shipbroker, said this week in a statement it had facilitated the first trades in CME Group’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) freight futures contracts.
The trades involved French energy major Total and commodities trader Trafigura and were submitted for clearing using CME Group’s ClearPort system, Affinity said. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/first-lng-freight-futures-trades-via-cme-group-agreed-broker/
5. LNG: The next major marine fuel?
A worldwide push is on to sharply reduce, if not eliminate, harmful emissions from the burning of fossil fuels by oceangoing ships. These emissions include nitrogen and sulfur oxides, particulate matter and carbon dioxide. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/lng-the-next-major-marine-fuel/
6. Shipping costs likely to rise as new clean-air rules kick in for vessels on January 1
Within days, new shipping emissions rules from a United Nations agency will kick in, requiring vessels around the world to cut sulfur pollution by 85%. Most analysts agree the regulation will result in higher shipping costs for consumers. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/shipping-costs-likely-to-rise-as-new-clean-air-rules-kick-in-for-vessels-on-january-1/
7. Piracy Along Malacca-Singapore Straits Jump Nearly Fourfold
Piracy has surged this year along Southeast Asia’s straits of Malacca and Singapore, one of the world’s busiest trade routes, according to a watch group that tracks maritime security. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/piracy-along-malacca-singapore-straits-jump-nearly-fourfold/
8. New report shows importance of shipping to UK economy
The UK shipping industry brings in a remarkable ÂŁ19bn to our economy, an increase of 41% from 2010, and directly supports 181,000 jobs, according to a new report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr). https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/new-report-shows-importance-of-shipping-to-uk-economy/
9. Keppel secures over 100 scrubber and BWTS retrofit projects worth S$160m in 2019
Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) has clinched 104 scrubber and ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) retrofit orders worth a combined value of about S$160 million for the year-to-date. This brings the total number of retrofit projects secured to date to 108 scrubber and 97 BWTS projects. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/keppel-secures-over-100-scrubber-and-bwts-retrofit-projects-worth-s160m-in-2019/
10. Wheat Could Be Surprise Winner of the U.S.-China Trade Deal
In the agriculture world, news of the partial U.S.-China trade deal has sparked a lot of buzz about soybeans. It turns out, wheat could actually end up being a bigger winner.
Speculations is mounting that China will work to fill its wheat-buying quota as part of the detente, creating new demand since it’s failed to stick to the pledge in the past. Purchases of soybeans, meanwhile, are likely to be hampered by a deadly pig disease that’s reducing demand for the oilseed used to make a key ingredient in hog feed. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/wheat-could-be-surprise-winner-of-the-u-s-china-trade-deal/
