1. Freighter grounding, Seine, France
General cargo ship KELLY C ran aground on Seine river in front of La Bouille, shortly after leaving Rouen port, France, bound for Casablanca, at around 1815 UTC Mar 17. The ship was refloated in less than an hour with the help of a Rouen port tug, and sailed back to Rouen, where she was berthed, understood for inspection. As of 0730 UTC Mar 18, KELLY C was still at Rouen. Reportedly, the ship ran aground while maneuvering to pass clear of tug with barge. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/18/freighter-grounding-seine-france/
2. Tanker collided with fishing vessel, Japan
Product tanker CHIZAN collided with 14-ton fishing vessel at 0135 Tokyo time Mar 18 south of Cape Irago Lighthouse, Honshu, while entering Ise Bay, en route from Yokosuka to Yokkaichi OPL. Understood fishing vessel struck tanker starboard. Tanker starboard sustained some damages, fishing vessel suffered bow damages, its’ skipper was seriously injured. Tanker was ordered to sail to Toba anchorage for investigation, resumed voyage in the afternoon, fishing vessel understood to remain afloat. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/18/tanker-collided-with-fishing-vessel-japan/
3. South Africa Bans Cruises, Crew Changes
South Africa’s Transport Minister Fikile Mbalul has imposed a ban on cruise ships starting today amid the novel coronavirus outbreak. The country’s Transnet National Ports Authority further confirms that it crew changes are now prohibited across all eight commercial ports in South Africa. https://gcaptain.com/south-africa-bans-cruises-crew-changes/
4. Port of Rotterdam: 2020 Traffic “Clearly Below” Forecasts Due to Coronavirus
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest, expects the flow of goods over the whole of 2020 to be “clearly below 470 million tonnes last year” as the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the continent, spokesman Leon Willems said on Wednesday. The outbreak of the virus in China had been seen cutting 2 million tonnes off monthly goods traffic. The impact will be far greater as Europe’s economy is hit, Willems said. https://gcaptain.com/port-of-rotterdam-2020-traffic-clearly-below-forecasts-due-to-coronavirus/
5. MSC Ship Busted Breaking HFO Carriage Ban
MSC has become the first major ocean carrier to fall foul of the IMO’s ban on carrying non-compliant fuel. The 9,784 teu post-panamax MSC Joanna has been prohibited from operating in UAE waters for one year and its master banned indefinitely and facing legal action from the country’s Federal Transport Authority (FTA) after allegedly failing to comply with an order to debunker 700 tons of heavy fuel oil (HFO) before entering the Dubai port of Jebel Ali. https://gcaptain.com/msc-ship-busted-breaking-hfo-carriage-ban/
6. South Africa Quarantines Cruise Liner, Cargo Ship Over Coronavirus Suspicion
South Africa is holding the cruise liner MV AidAmira and a cargo vessel off Cape Town after a crew member on board one of the ships showed signs of the new coronavirus, national ports operator Transnet said on Tuesday. On Sunday President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster and implemented urgent measures including travel bans to fight the pandemic, which has so far affected 62 people in South Africa. https://gcaptain.com/south-africa-quarantines-cruise-liner-cargo-ship-over-coronavirus-suspicion/
7. Bouchard Processes Back Pay for Tug and Barge Crews
New York-based Bouchard Transportation Company says it has now processed all back pay to employees, customers and vendors as the company continues to work on raising additional capital. Bouchard last week announced that it had received financing to start paying its tug and barge crew members who have been stranded onboard its vessels without pay since the beginning of the year as the closely held company struggled to meet its financial obligations.
https://gcaptain.com/bouchard-processes-back-pay-for-tug-and-barge-crews/
8. India To Seek $70 Million From World Bank For Waterway Connectivity Grid In East
The World Bank may provide a grant to develop India’s under-utilised network of rivers and canals as an alternative mode of transport. The Shipping Ministry has said it will seek a technical assistance grant of $70 million from the World Bank to build a transport connectivity grid linking waterways in the eastern region with its South Asian neighbours.
9. Baltic Index Falls On Softer Panamax Demand
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index dipped on Tuesday, weighed down by a fall in rates for panamax vessels, which registered its seventh straight day of decline.
The Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels that ferry dry bulk commodities, declined 11 points, or 1.8%, to 612 https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+falls+on+softer+panamax+demand
10. Coronavirus: Impact On Marine Insurance
There is much in the press about the economic impact of the Coronavirus (CoVid19) outbreak on tourism and supply chain/trade disruption with China. The insurance industry is already affected for example by cruise line passengers, crew P&I and event cancellation claims; similarly marine business generally, for example, by the invocation of force majeure/delay clauses in relation to charterparties and newbuilding/scrubber refit contracts with Chinese yards. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Coronavirus%3A+Impact+on+marine+insurance
