1. Suezmax oil tanker in load still aground at Port Said entrance
Suezmax crude oil tanker ASTRO PERSEUS reported aground since 0800 UTC Feb 9 at Port Said entrance, looking like she strayed off fairway prior to grounding, probably because of some steering/engine failure. Several tugs were trying to refloat laden tanker during the day Feb 9, but all attempts failed, salvage suspended at night until daytime Feb 10. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/02/10/suezmax-oil-tanker-in-load-still-aground-at-port-said-entrance/
2. Two Russian tankers detained by Maritime Police, South Korea
Two Russian tankers on Feb 9 were detained by Korean Maritime Police off Gunsan, South Korea, Yellow sea, for illegal STS operation in Korean exclusive economic zone. Tankers were engaged in oil ship-to-ship transfer, being some 15 nm W of Gunsan, without requested formalities and authorization, in order to avoid extra paper work and costs. Companies operating tankers may face hefty fine. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/02/10/two-russian-tankers-detained-by-maritime-police-south-korea/
3. Tragedy in Phuket Royal Marina waters, 2 children died
Two tourist speed boats collided in channel in Phuket Royal Marina waters in the morning Feb 10, claiming lives of two Russian children, 12-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. According to The Phuket News, boat “Payan 5”, operated by Seastar company, was en route from Laem Nga in Rassada to pick tourists up at Royal Phuket Marina, and was struck by another boat, the “ALP” operated by LP company, with 39 people on board, mainly or all of them being Russian tourists. 22 people were injured, sent to hospitals in Phuket, with various injures, some of them have been already released after treatment. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/02/10/tragedy-in-phuket-royal-marina-waters-2-children-died/
4. Crashed H beam killed port worker in cargo hold, Korea
Port worker was killed by H beam, which fell in cargo hold of reportedly, Chinese general cargo ship DA GUI, on Feb 8 during wielding works. The ship docked at Yulchon Terminal, Gwangyang, Yeosu, Korea, on Feb 7, on arrival from China. Understood some repair works were under way, not known by whom, by crew or by some local company workers. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/02/10/crashed-h-beam-killed-port-worker-in-cargo-hold-korea/
5. Ghost Ship WESTERDAM refused entry country after country, no port to dock
Hapless cruise ship WESTERDAM with 1257 people on board has become a Flying Dutchman, a ship from techno thriller movie – she’s rejected entry by country after country, port after port, and her present port of destination is unclear. The ship is (was) on a 14-day Taiwan & Japan cruise, she departed Hong Kong on February 1, with 1455 passengers and 802 crew on board. WESTERDAM was scheduled to call Japanese Ishigaki Island, Naha, Okinawa, Nagasaki and Fukuoka (Hakata), and complete her cruise in Yokohama on February 15. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/02/10/ghost-ship-westerdam-refused-entry-country-after-country-no-port-to-dock/
6. Evergreen Line Defends Shipbreaking Practices
Evergreen Line once again emphasizes that its ship demolition and recycling policy requires the shipbreaking yard selected by all buyers of its decommissioned vessels must be not only ISO certified (ISO 9000, 14001, 18001 or 30000), but also implement class approved standards of the 2009 Hong Kong Convention (HKC). https://gcaptain.com/evergreen-line-defends-shipbreaking-practices/
7. China struggles to get back to work
Beijing decided over the weekend against officially extending the Lunar New Year holidays for another week. However, today was marked by a muted return to work in the world’s most populous nation with many conglomerates deciding to keep their factories shut for the time being, and tens of millions of workers being told to work from home. https://splash247.com/china-struggles-to-get-back-to-work/
8. Robbery attempts in the Singapore Strait escalate
Sunday saw two pirate incidents take place within an interval of an hour to a bulk carrier and a tanker while underway in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. The Information Sharing Centre (ISC) at the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery (ReCAAP) reported some engine spares were stolen in one incident, and nothing was reported stolen in the other. There was no confrontation between the perpetrators and the crew. https://splash247.com/robbery-attempts-in-the-singapore-strait-escalate/
9. BW LPG retrofits another four ships
BW LPG has announced that it has exercised an option for the delivery of four additional LPG dual-fuel engines. With this, BW LPG has committed to retrofit eight vessels with the propulsion technology. This announcement follows the decision by BW LPG in August 2018 to retrofit four of its ships – a world’s first at the time. https://splash247.com/bw-lpg-retrofits-another-four-ships/
10. Noble trims its cape arm
Shortly after Noble confirmed the sale of a 2012-built post-panamax, the commodity trading firm has found a buyer for another ship as its fleet clear-out continues. A Chinese leasing company is thought to have bought the 2011-built Aqua Vision capesize for $20m, leaving Noble with just two capes left, the Aqua Honour and Aqua Splendor. https://splash247.com/noble-trims-its-cape-arm/
