1. If it’s not a madness, then what is? Locals threaten anchored tanker on corona fears.
Chemical tanker HARAPAN BARU arrived at Pulau Atlas, Samarinda, Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Mar 10, with cargo of bitum. The ship is anchored since arrival and can’t off load her cargo, because of coronavirus fears. Tanker sailed from Singapore and was to offload cargo, all or part of it, in Pare Pare Sulawesi, Indonesia, but was turned off by strong locals protests, because “the ship arrived from Singapore, where there’s an outbreak of virus, and therefore, may be contaminated”. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/24/if-its-not-a-madness-then-what-is-locals-threaten-anchored-tanker-on-corona-fears/
2. Freighter ran on rock, Russian crew rescued, Scotland
General cargo ship KAAMI ran aground on the rock, known locally as Eugenie Rock which in about 6 nm North West off Duntulm, Isle of Skye, Scotland, at 0150 UTC Mar 23, reported RLNI UK. The Portree Lifeboat was launched at 2.24am., also were deployed the Emergency Towing Vessel IEVOLI BLACK (IMO 9439242) and the Pharos, a Northern Lighthouse Board buoy-laying vessel. 8 all Russian crew were airlifted to Stornoway by duty Stornoway Coastguard Rescue Helicopter, all are safe. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/23/freighter-ran-on-rock-russian-crew-rescued-scotland/
3. Shipping Industry Urges G20 to Keep Freight Flowing as Virus Hits Supply Chains
Ships and their crews must be able to trade freely with minimal port restrictions to ensure supply lines don’t freeze up while the coronavirus shuts down much of the globe,shipping and port officials said on Tuesday.
After draconian steps to stop the spread of the virus, China’s economy is slowly coming back online but logistics chains are backing up in other parts of the world. https://gcaptain.com/shipping-industry-urges-g20-to-keep-freight-flowing-as-virus-hits-supply-chains/
4. Clogging Toilets on Ford-Class Aircraft Carriers Illustrate Navy Cost Overruns
New toilets on the Navy’s two newest aircraft carriers clog so frequently that the ships’ sewage systems must be cleaned periodically with specialized acids costing about $400,000 a flush, according to a new congressional audit outlining $130 billion in underestimated long-term maintenance costs. https://gcaptain.com/clogging-toilets-on-ford-class-aircraft-carriers-illustrate-navy-cost-overruns/
5. Hospital Ship ‘Mercy’ Steaming to Los Angeles to Assist with COVID-19 Response
USNS Mercy left port with over 800 Navy medical personnel and support staff who will help treat non-COVID-19 patients aboard, and relieve local hospitals ashore by providing medical care including general surgeries, critical care and ward care for adults, the Navy said in a statement. https://gcaptain.com/hospital-ship-mercy-steaming-to-los-angeles-to-assist-with-covid-19-response/
6. Chugoku Marine Paints to supply solvent-free epoxy for MR tanker newbuildings’ water ballast tanks in South Korea
Following many years of extensive prototype trials in field tests, Chugoku Marine Paints, Ltd., (CMP) is ready to launch a new solvent-free epoxy coating that can be applied to water ballast tanks (WBT) with standard application equipment that meets new Korean regulations under the Atmospheric Environment Conservation Act for the management of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/chugoku-marine-paints-to-supply-solvent-free-epoxy-for-mr-tanker-newbuildings-water-ballast-tanks-in-south-korea/
7. World’s first 23,000-tank LNG-powered container ship starts trial voyage
The world’s first 23,000-tank liquefied natural gas-powered container ship has set out on its trial voyage. The mega ship, made by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group under China State Shipbuilding, is 400 meters in length and 61.3 meters in width. It is the world’s first ultra-large container ship with liquefied natural gas as its main power source, boasting optimal environmental protection performance. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/worlds-first-23000-tank-lng-powered-container-ship-starts-trial-voyage/
8. Russia’s VTB buys 50% of Taman grain terminal from Ukraine’s Kernel
Russian state-controlled VTB bank, which has been expanding its grain business, has bought a half of the Taman grain terminal in the Russian part of the Black Sea from Ukraine’s Kernel, it said. Global trade giant Glencore, which owns the other half of the terminal, remains VTB’s partner in it, VTB added. Russia is the world’s largest wheat exporter, which has only a limited number of grain terminals in deep-water ports. Taman is one of the key terminals.
9. Forth Ports: A new port to make Britain Brexit ready
Coronavirus has slowed down world trade and interfered with the EU-UK trade talks, and the ripples continue to be felt through the world economy. But while global leaders are preoccupied, now is a good time to focus on progress that is being made elsewhere, and a development that will be crucial to London’s future. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/forth-ports-a-new-port-to-make-britain-brexit-ready/
10. GRAINS-U.S. wheat falls 1%, strong demand caps losses; soybeans ease
Chicago wheat futures slid more than 1% on Tuesday, giving up some of the last session’s strong gains, although losses were limited by a jump in demand for grains amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Soybeans lost ground for the first time in six sessions. Corn dropped for a third consecutive day on expectations of lower ethanol fuel demand as global oil prices weaken. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/grains-u-s-wheat-falls-1-strong-demand-caps-losses-soybeans-ease/
