1. Disabled tanker under tow, Aegean sea
Product tanker YM MERCURY on Apr 3 suffered engine failure in Mediterranean south of Crete, being en route from Alexandria to Italy. Tug MENTORAS (IMO 9061722) was contracted or designated, to tow tanker to Tuzla Turkey, towage commenced on Apr 3. On Aug 8 caravan reached southern coast of Kos island, tanker was anchored, cause unknown, probably waiting out rough weather. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/08/disabled-tanker-under-tow-aegean-sea/
2. Passenger ferry banned from docking, passengers jumped overboard
Hundreds of passengers of passenger ferry KM LAMBELU, which is connecting Indonesian ports at Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi and Flores islands, were shocked when told, that the ship can’t dock at Maumere, Flores island, Sikka Regency, on arrival from Tarakan, East Kalimantan, on Apr 7. Three of ship’s crew were found to be sick with coronavirus-like symptoms. Passengers went amok and yelled at boat with officials, five of them jumped overboard, wearing life jackets. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/07/passenger-ferry-banned-from-docking-passengers-jumped-overboard-video/
3. Inactive boxship fleet to surpass 3m teu for the first time
The sudden massive volume of blanked sailings announced in recent days is set to create new records in terms of the inactive containership fleet, which analysts at Alphaliner are now saying will breach the 3m teu mark for the first time meaning some 13% of the entire global box fleet will be out of work. https://splash247.com/inactive-boxship-fleet-to-surpass-3m-teu-for-the-first-time/
4. Busan berth will be offline for months after boxship prang takes out multiple cranes
Captured on video, and seen by more than 300,000 people on Splash’s YouTube channel already, the Japanese controlled 13,900 teu Milano Bridge ploughed into a number of cranes when coming into berth on Monday at the Korean port, also hitting the 10,000 teu Seaspan Ganges moored in front of it. https://splash247.com/busan-berth-will-be-offline-for-months-after-boxship-prang-takes-out-multiple-cranes/
5. French shipowners urge Macron to enact a shipping Marshall Plan
Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, the 55-year-old head of cruise line Ponant, has been elected president of Armateurs de France, the French shipowners association. He takes over from Jean-Marc Roué, whose parting message this week was a call to Emanuel Macron, the French president, to enact a Marshall Plan for local shipping amid the coronavirus crisis. https://splash247.com/french-shipowners-urge-macron-to-enact-a-shipping-marshall-plan/
6. Pacific Basin puts the brakes on acquisitions while speeding up its fleet
Pacific Basin, Hong Kong’s largest shipowner by fleet number, is putting the brakes on fleet expansion plans while also speeding up its fleet thanks to low price of fuel today.
In a release to the local stock exchange, the dry bulk owner said that due to the “unprecedented market uncertainty” the company is stopping seeking out secondhand acquisitions unless it finds “particularly compelling” opportunities. https://splash247.com/pacific-basin-puts-the-brakes-on-acquisitions-while-speeding-up-its-fleet/
7. Container Shipping Lines Cancel Sailings To Weather Coronavirus Storm
Global container shipping lines have canceled more than 160 sailings over the past week as they try to maintain freight rates in the face of billions of dollars in potential losses driven by falling trade demand. The service cancellations have grown from 45 last week to 212, according to Copenhagen-based consulting firm Sea-Intelligence ApS, a trend indicating that the summer peak season could be largely muted and that the shipping lines that carry most of the world’s manufactured and retail goods expect the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic to extend into the peak shipping season. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Container+Shipping+Lines+Cancel+Sailings+to+Weather+Coronavirus+Storm
8. LNG Vessels Build Up Outside Ports Due To Force Majeure Rejections, Tank-Top Concerns
Suppliers rejecting force majeure notices from Indian buyers and tank-top concerns in the Dahej and Hazira terminals have caused LNG vessels to build up along the west coast of India.
The discharge rate at Indian terminals has been lower since a 21-day lockdown was imposed in the country on March 24 to contain the spread of the coronavirus. For the two weeks during the lockdown India has discharged 12 LNG cargoes, compared with 16 clips for the two weeks prior, S&P Global Platts trade flow software cFlow showed. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/LNG+vessels+build+up+outside+ports+due+to+force+majeure+rejections%2C+tank-top+concerns
9. Maersk Stays Open For Business; Strengthens Customer Experience Through Digital Solutions To Keep Supply Chains Moving
In wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maersk, the integrated container logistics company, is taking all necessary measures to keep its employees safe and its customers’ supply chains moving with minimum disruptions. Maersk has ensured all its office-based employees work remotely with access to adequate IT infrastructure. The company is also urging its customers to make full use of their online platforms in the interest of ensuring safety for all. By leveraging pre-existing high impact digital platforms, Maersk seeks to serve its customers smoothly during these times. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Maersk+stays+open+for+business%3B+strengthens+customer+experience+through+digital+solutions+to+keep+supply+chains+moving
10. Copper Belt Miners Turn To Tanzania As South Africa Lockdown Hobbles Ports
South Africa’s strict coronavirus lockdown has caused miners to divert copper from the country’s ports to others in Africa, with Dar es Salaam the clear winner, sources told Reuters.
Authorities in South Africa initially said ports would only process essential goods during a three-week nationwide lockdown that began on March 27. On Friday, the Department of Transport said ports remain open to all types of cargo. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Copper+belt+miners+turn+to+Tanzania+as+South+Africa+lockdown+hobbles+ports
