1. Panamax bulk carrier fire, Bristol, UK
Grain loading conveyor caught fire while loading bulk carrier THALASSINI at Bristol, UK, in the evening Mar 28. Fire was extinguished by joint efforts of Avon Fire and Rescue Service and Svitzer tug crews, no injures reported. Understood the ship sustained slight damages, if any.
http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/29/panamax-bulk-carrier-fire-bristol-uk/
2. Coal barge broke in two, sank at Dillingen port, Germany
Coal barge AQUA SPRINTER II broke in two and sank alongside berth during loading operation in Dillingen, Germany, in the morning Mar 28. Understood barge has some 1,200 tons of coal dust in hold. Barge was built in 1983, of 2,100 cargo capacity. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/29/coal-barge-broke-in-two-sank-at-dillingen-port-germany/
3. Disabled cargo ship towed to Thessaloniki Anchorage
General cargo ship NEPTUN suffered engine failure in the morning Mar 28 in Skiathos island area, Aegean sea, Greece, while en route from Egypt to Thessaloniki with cargo of 1,300 tons of potato. Disabled ship was taken on tow by tug, and towed to Thessaloniki anchorage, she was anchored at around 1420 UTC Mar 28, and as of morning Mar 29, remained in the same position. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/29/disabled-cargo-ship-towed-to-thessaloniki-anchorage/
4. Good news for shipping, bad news for IMO
Britain has suspended checks on ships for compliance with low sulphur fuel regulations as part of wider measures that cut back on inspections to reduce the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on supply chains, the coastguard authority said on Mar 27. Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it has enacted measures to keep freight moving.
“In terms of enforcing IMO 2020 and ultimately MARPOL Annex VI requirements, as we have suspended port state control inspections, this also means that the checking of compliant fuel has been suspended,” an MCA spokeswoman said, referring to the regulations, which were enacted by United Nations shipping agency the IMO. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/28/good-news-for-shipping-bad-news-for-imo/
5. Offshore ship crew corona positive, scared by Lagos hospital and treatment
Ukrainian crew member of offshore supply ship SIEM MARLIN has been diagnosed with coronavirus and hospitalized at Lagos Nigeria, reported Ukrainian media on Mar 26. According to their information, several other crew have corona-like symptoms, they are awaiting test results. Seaman who was taken to hospital describes dreadful conditions in hospital – he’s given some grey colored pills as the only medical treatment, food is awful, there are no masks and no emergency equipment, like lungs artificial ventilation apparatus.
6. Container ship failed to dock at Piraeus, and virus has nothing to do with it
Container ship ATLANTIC SOUTH suffered engine failure on Mar 27 while heaving up anchor at Piraeus Anchorage, to get pilot on board and proceed to Piraeus port. The ship remained at anchor and as of afternoon Mar 28, was still at anchor, understood carrying out repairs. The ship arrived from Split Croatia on Mar 26. Kind of rare event nowadays – just an accident, with no corona involved. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/28/container-ship-failed-to-dock-at-piraeus-and-virus-has-nothing-to-do-with-it/
7. Container ship attacked, escaped
Cargo ship was attacked at 1700 UTC Mar 27 in Gulf of Guinea halfway between Bonny Nigeria and Principe island, Sao Tome and Principo. According to ships tracks in attack position area, container ship LANA was attacked, but managed to escape – the ship didn’t stop and continued sailing at full speed. She’s en route from Duala Cameroon to Tangier Morocco. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/27/container-ship-attacked-escaped/
8. Bulk carrier attacked, looted, crew probably safe
DRYAD Global reported pirates attack at Conakry Anchorage Guinea, at 0230 UTC Mar 27. Pirates managed to board the ship, broke into superstructure and looted living quarters and service compartments, stealing cash and valuables. No other information available presently, with regards to crew and situation after attack, hopefully nobody was injured/kidnapped. Bulk carrier is anchored since Mar 21, on arrival from Abijan, Ivory Coast. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/03/27/bulk-carrier-attacked-looted-crew-probably-safe/
9. Coronavirus Rattles Shipping Industry As Supply Shock Moves To Demand Decline
Container ship operators that canceled more than half their sailings to China, as coronavirus-driven restrictions froze work at its ports last month, are bracing for a second wave of disruption. Now that China has resumed exporting, shipping companies expect thousands of shipments to be stranded at seaports as the pandemic engulfs the U.S. and Europe. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Coronavirus+Rattles+Shipping+Industry+as+Supply+Shock+Moves+to+Demand+Decline
10. Use Of Open Loop Scrubber When Transiting Turkish Straits
Members with ships fitted with scrubbers and transiting through the Turkish Straits are advised that based on the information received by the club’s local correspondent, and even though there is no formal limitation or ban on the discharge of scrubber wash-water, there are concerns that the environmental authorities in Turkey may fine the ship if the samples collected from the overboard discharge line is suspected to be a pollutant. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Use+of+open+loop+scrubber+when+transiting+Turkish+Straits
