1. Record numbers of blanked sailings lead to severe container equipment imbalance
The container shipping industry is facing up to acute shortages of boxes at ports in Europe and North America, a situation that could worsen in the coming weeks.
Data from Hamburg-based Container xChange, an online box repositioning platform, shows that thanks to the coronavirus and record numbers of blanked sailings storage yards at Chinese terminals are overflowing with steel boxes, while equipment is running down at major ports elsewhere. https://splash247.com/record-numbers-of-blanked-sailings-lead-to-severe-container-equipment-imbalance/
2. Maersk doubles down on Panama Canal freshwater surcharge
Maersk risks irking the shipper community by doubling down on Panama Canal tariffs.
In the wake of the canal authorityâs decision to raise a $10,000 per transit fresh water surcharge for all ships longer than 38.1 m, a measure that came into effect last month to fight an ongoing drought in the Central American nation, liners have had to ponder what to pass on to clients. Setting the ball rolling, Marseille-based CMA CGM and subsidiary APL eight days ago announced a $15 per teu canal transit surcharge. https://splash247.com/maersk-doubles-down-on-panama-canal-freshwater-surcharge/
3. Polaris VLOC salvage progresses
Polaris Shipping, the Korean owner of the grounded, fully laden Stellar Banner VLOC off Brazil, reports that the oil sheen seen around the stricken four-year-old ship has disappeared but anti-pollution measures remain in place. https://splash247.com/polaris-vloc-salvage-progresses/
4. South Korea offers financial aid to maritime sector hit by coronavirus
South Koreaâs Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has decided to roll out financial measures to support domestic shipping firms as the escalation of coronavirus places increasing financial pressure on the industry, local newswire Yonhap reports. https://splash247.com/south-korea-offers-financial-aid-to-maritime-sector-hit-by-coronavirus/
5. Jumbo Shipping secures Hornsea Two wind farm transportation contract
Dutch heavylift specialist Jumbo Shipping has been awarded a contract by DEME Offshore to provide transportation services for Ărstedâs Hornsea Two offshore wind farm. Jumbo will transport 165 monopiles from Rostock to Eemshaven and 135 transition pieces from Aalborg to Eemshaven, utilising a K3000 class vessel commencing August 2020. The project will see Jumbo also undertake project management, including the engineering and design of both transportation and cradles. https://splash247.com/jumbo-shipping-secures-hornsea-two-wind-farm-transportation-contract/
6. ICS: Ships Could Face Detention Under New IMO âCarriage Banâ
Ships carrying non-compliant high-sulphur fuel now face high fines and detention under new rules entering into force banning the carriage of such fuels, the International Chamber of Shipping warns. As of March 1, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted the âcarriage banâ rule prohibiting to ships from carrying fuel oil with a sulphur content greater than 0.5 percent unless the ship is fitted with an Exhaust Gas Cleaning System, aka scrubber. https://gcaptain.com/ics-ships-could-face-detention-under-new-imo-carriage-ban/
7. Amsterdamâs Boats Go Electric Ahead of 2025 Diesel Ban
The century-old Amsterdam canal boat Gerarda Johanna looks like a classic with wood paneling, but beneath its floorboards lies a high-tech underbelly: rows of lithium ion batteries, 66 in all, with an electric drive train powering its propeller. The boat is part of a push by Amsterdamâs new Green Party mayor to ban diesel engines from the centerâs ancient canals by 2025, helping the cityâs efforts to combat climate change. https://gcaptain.com/amsterdams-boats-go-electric-ahead-of-2025-diesel-ban/
8. Pile-Driving Kicks Off Golden Ray Wreck Removal in Georgia
Salvage workers have started the job of constructing an environmental barrier around the Golden Ray wreck in St. Simons Sound, Georgia now four months since the ship grounded.
Construction of the barrier kicks off with a pile-driving operation by workers with Weeks Marine who will drive approximately 70-80 piles into the sea floor. https://gcaptain.com/pile-driving-kicks-off-golden-ray-wreck-removal-in-georgia/
9. Mercantile & Maritime to Comply with US Sanctions against Rosneft Trading
Singapore-based tanker owner Mercantile & Maritime is planning to end its shipping of Venezuelan oil for Rosneft in line with the sanctions imposed by the United States against the Russian oil giantâs Geneva-based trading arm Rosneft Trading S.A. With a fleet of nine tankers, Mercantile & Maritime was one of the largest shippers for Rosneft Trading over the past year, according to a report from Reuters.
10. Ships Violating IMO 2020 Face Serious Fines, Detention as Port Regimes Plan Rigorous Enforcement
Major port state regimes including Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU and the United States Coast Guard (USCG), plan to rigorously enforce the IMOâs Sulphur 2020 from March 1st, 2020.
As such, ship owners and operators could face detention of ships should they continue to carry fuel that contains a sulphur content higher than 0.5 percent unless the ship has an exhaust gas cleaning system. https://mobile.worldmaritimenews.com/archives/291873/ships-violating-imo-2020-face-serious-fines-detention-as-port-regimes-plan-rigorous-enforcement/
