1. Two crew washed overboard by wave in freezing Arctic waters
Two crew have been washed overboard by a wave from Bulgarian bulk carrier STARA PLANINA in Norwegian sea, some 210 nm SW of Bodo, Norway, in the morning Jan 2. Bulk carrier started search and rescue and as of 1330 UTC, was stil searching the area. 2 Norwegian SAR helicopters were deployed, both should be already in the area. Both seamen didn’t have life jackets, while carrying out the job on open deck, and unfortunately, chances of finding them alive are very small, life jackets or no life jackets, because the only thing which may keep them alive in winter Arctic seas, for probably, several hours, is immersion suit. http://maritimebulletin.net/2020/01/02/two-crew-washed-overboard-by-wave-in-freezing-arctic-waters/
2. Dutch freighter dangerous sailing caused by faulty autopilot
MRCC Gris-Nez, France, was alerted at 0520 UTC Jan 1 on dangerous movement of Dutch general cargo ship MOEZELBORG SW of Boulogne, English Channel. The ship didn’t change course as she should, and was heading for sandbanks in general direction of French coast. Voice contact was established, understood the ship was out of control, cause not clarified. Patrol boat was sent, check team boarded the ship and, understood, didn’t find any violations like intoxication. http://maritimebulletin.net/2020/01/02/dutch-freighter-dangerous-sailing-cause-unknown/
3. Turkish container ship on tow, Aegean sea
Container ship MED SAMSUN while en route from Antalya to Tekirdag, Turkey, encountered engine trouble in the evening Dec 29 in Greek waters, and understood, asked Greek authorities for shelter. The ship anchored off Naxos island eastern coast, Aegean sea, in the morning Dec 30. http://maritimebulletin.net/2020/01/01/turkish-container-ship-on-tow-aegean-sea/
4. Five Believed Dead as Fishing Vessel Sinks in Bering Sea
Five commercial fishermen were believed to have died after their crabbing vessel sank on New Year’s Eve in the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S. Coast Guard said after ending a search and rescue operation amid high winds and heavy seas. https://gcaptain.com/
5. In 2019, coastal shipping and transport via inland waterways made quite a ripple
The day is not too far off when cargo from Assam travels all the way down south and vice-versa via Inland Waterways Transport (ITW) and coastal shipping. In the last couple of years, the Centre has given tremendous impetus to both coastal shipping and IWT in an attempt to reduce logistics cost to less than 10 per cent of GDP — on par with developed countries such as Germany https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/in-2019-coastal-shipping-and-transport-via-inland-waterways-made-quite-a-ripple/
6. China steel futures close lower
Steel futures closed lower Thursday in daytime trading on the Shanghai Futures Exchange.
The most active construction steel rebar contract for May delivery was down 11 yuan (about 1.58 U.S. dollars) to close at 3,547 yuan a tonne. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/china-steel-futures-close-lower-4/
7. Ukraine’s Naftogaz to transmit 75 bcm of Russian gas to Europe in 2020
Ukraine’s Naftogaz expects to transmit 75 billion cubic metres of Russian gas to Europe in 2020 due to the expected delay of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, Naftogaz Chief Executive Andriy Kobolyev said. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/ukraines-naftogaz-to-transmit-75-bcm-of-russian-gas-to-europe-in-2020/
8. Egypt has planted nearly 3 mln feddans of wheat – official
Egypt will have planted 3 million feddans (1.26 million hectares) of wheat within the next two to three days and still aims to plant a total of 3.5 million feddans this season, an Agriculture Ministry official said. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/egypt-has-planted-nearly-3-mln-feddans-of-wheat-official/
9. Maersk-Run Port Of Salalah’s 2019 Volume Up 19pc To 4 Million TEU
OMAN’s Port of Salalah achieved a 19 per cent year-on-year increase in 2019 volume topping four million TEU, reports the Times of Oman. The port, run by Maerk’s APM Terminals, is almost fully recovered from the damage caused by Cyclone Mekunu that hit southern Oman in May, killing a 12-year-girl and leaving three other people injured. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Maersk-run+Port+of+Salalah%27s+2019+volume+up+19pc+to+4+million+TEU
10. Hong Kong’s GDP To Shrink In Fourth Quarter: HK Financial Secretary
HONG KONG’s economy is expected to shrink in the fourth quarter after six months of social unrest, says Financial Secretary Paul Chan, reports Bloomberg.
“Based on the situation of these few months, it is inevitable that negative growth will continue,” he said. “This means the government will be less flexible in using financial resources under an economic recession.” https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Hong+Kong%27s+GDP+to+shrink+in+fourth+quarter%3A+HK+financial+secretary
