1. Wind farm offshore tender collided with wind turbine, 3 people injured, Netherlands
High-speed offshore tender NJORD FORSETI collided with basement of a wind turbine at Borkum Rifgrund wind farm, North sea, in the evening Apr 23. Three people on board were injured. Vessel returned to Eemshaven Netherlands, no information on damages. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/24/wind-farm-offshore-tender-collided-with-wind-turbine-3-people-injured-netherlands/
2. Russian reefer aground, Antarctic
Reefer LA MANCHE ran aground at around 1500 UTC Apr 22 in Maxwell Bay, King George Island, Drake Passage, Antarctica, while performing personnel boarding, understood related to Uruguayan Artigas Base, and being at that time some 2 cables off coast. According to track, as of 1400 UTC Apr 24 reefer is still aground in Chilean zone of responsibility, Chile already dispatched SAR ship AFT LAUTARO (IMO 7325538) to assist. No hull breach, water ingress reported, so far. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/24/russian-reefer-aground-antarctic/
3. Container ship involved in hit-and-run identified
Container ship PACIFIC EXPRESS was identified by Vietnamese Maritime Authorities and Coast Guard, as the ship involved in hit-and-run accident, said Quy Nhon Maritime Port Authority in a statement, issued on Apr 25. Container ship struck fishing boat off Quy Nhon Port, Binh Ding Province, central Vietnam, on Apr 10. Fishing boat sank, 3 fishermen on board were thrown into water. Container ship didn’t stop and continued sailing, fishermen were rescued by nearby fishing boats. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/25/container-ship-involved-in-hit-and-run-identified/
4. Ferry disabled in Sunda Strait, 102 passengers evacuated
Ferry MUTIARA SENTOSA III with 102 passengers on board suffered engine failure and went adrift at around 0400 UTC Apr 24 in Sunda Strait, south of Bakauheni, Sumatra, while en route from Jakarta to Panjang, Sumatra. All passengers were evacuated by SAR boats, ferry understood to restart engine in the afternoon Apr 25, she reached Panjang in the morning Apr 26. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/04/26/ferry-disabled-in-sunda-strait-102-passengers-evacuated/
5. Container shipping capacity down 11% in April
New analysis conducted by Danish maritime intelligence company eeSea has revealed the quick drop in shipped container volumes brought about by the spread of coronavirus. Container shipping capacity is down 11% for this month and 11% of next month’s sailings have been blanked. https://splash247.com/container-shipping-capacity-down-9-in-april/
6. Vintage VLCCs find new owners in buoyant market
A large number of cash rich buyers of large tankers are now actively bidding for vintage VLCCs as stunning gains are be made on rusty giants before they are scrapped.
This week a handful of VLCCs have been reported as sold. AET’s 300,000 dwt Bunga Kasturi Tiga (built 2006) is finally believed sold for $40m, with Norwegian investor Arne Fredly tipped as a possible taker. https://splash247.com/vintage-vlccs-find-new-owners-in-buoyant-market/
7. Clipper Bulk cuts costs to combat coronavirus
Danish bulk carrier operator Clipper Bulk has announced initiatives to reduce costs as part of its measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
The initiatives include downsizing which will see the company cut 24 out of 91 jobs ashore by the end of this month. The changes will predominately be implemented at the company’s head office in Copenhagen. https://splash247.com/clipper-bulk-cuts-costs-to-combat-coronavirus/
8. China Fails To Deliver On US Gas Import Promises As Fleet Oversupply Looms
Liquefied natural gas brokers banking on a fixture boom between the US and China on the back of the trade agreement signed in January have been somewhat short-changed. No US LNG had been delivered to China since March 2019 because of 25% tariffs imposed by China on American cargoes in retaliation for US duties on Chinese goods. But a deal struck between the two countries at the start of the year made LNG shipments to China more economical as import tariffs exemptions were put in place. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/China+fails+to+deliver+on+US+gas+import+promises+as+fleet+oversupply+looms
9. Seafarer Mental Wellbeing During The COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 has forced many parts of the world to enforce a lockdown in a bid to flatten the curve in terms of transmissions. In these trying times, the majority of public services have come to a standstill, yet ships must continue sailing to keep the world supplied with essentials such as food, medical supplies, and goods. Such realities have only compounded the magnitude of the challenges, but international organisations are stepping in to assist and shoulder these responsibilities alongside seafarers. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Seafarer+mental+wellbeing+during+the+COVID-19+pandemic
10. Remember To Complete The Fuel Oil Quality And Safety Survey Before 6 May
The IMO 2020 global sulphur regulation for marine fuel oil has now been in force for over three months. BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO are calling on fleet- and vessel managers, as well as technical superintendents, to share their insight and experiences with the new IMO 2020 compliant fuels. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Remember+To+Complete+The+Fuel+Oil+Quality+And+Safety+Survey+Before+6+May
