InterManager Daily News 21.05.2020.

1. Bulk carrier contacted berth, Puerto Rico
Bulk carrier ATLANTIC TULUM contacted pier at Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica Pacific coast, in the afternoon May 19, while proceeding to berth with tug assistance. Ship’s boq was damaged, pier also sustained damages. bulk carrier was berthed after accident, she arrived from USA. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/05/20/bulk-carrier-contacted-berth-puerto-rico/

2. Thailand and the “pandemic”, some preliminary results
As of May 19, in Thailand, there were 3030 officially recorded cases of coronavirus infections, with 2857 recoveries and 56 deaths, with total population of some 69,700,000 people as of May 2020. “Pandemic” was declared in Thailand on Mar 15, and as everywhere around the globe, virus tests are a mystery, because nobody knows or cares to explain, why they differ so wildly from country to country, why there’s no universal standard test for exactly this type of virus, and why medics mix together statistics of deaths caused by virus, and deaths “related” to virus. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/05/19/thailand-and-the-pandemic-some-preliminary-results/

3. In Veiled Warning to Iran, U.S. Tells Gulf Mariners to Stay Clear of Its Warships
In an alert that appeared aimed squarely at Iran, the U.S. Navy issued a warning on Tuesday to mariners in the Gulf to stay 100 meters (yards) away from U.S. warships or risk being “interpreted as a threat and subject to lawful defensive measures.”
The notice to mariners, which was first reported by Reuters, follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat last month to fire on any Iranian ships that harass Navy vessels https://gcaptain.com/in-veiled-warning-to-iran-u-s-tells-gulf-mariners-to-stay-clear-of-its-warships/

4. Electronic Bills of Lading Could Save Shipping Billions Per Year
The container shipping industry could save itself up to $4bn a year if half of all bills of lading (B/Ls) were dealt with digitally, according to the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA).
The DCSA is using the coronavirus pandemic to accelerate its mission to introduce electronic B/Ls to the shipping industry. https://gcaptain.com/electronic-bills-of-lading-could-save-shipping-billions-per-year/

5. U.S. Navy Fires Cruiser Captain After Bunker Fuel Spill in Virginia
The U.S. Navy has removed the commanding officer of a guided missile cruiser following a bunker spill while pier side at the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown, Virginia.
Captain Erica Hoffmann was relieved from her command as commanding officer of the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) due to a loss of confidence in her ability to command, the Navy said in a statement. https://gcaptain.com/u-s-navy-fires-commanding-officer-after-bunker-fuel-spill-in-virginia/

6. Battle Over World’s Biggest Wind Turbine Is Heating Up
The 14-megawatt machine with a rotor diameter of 222 meters (728 feet) will be just two meters bigger than General Electric Co’s own massive turbine. It’s another sign that size matters when it comes to the rapidly growing market for green power from offshore wind farms. https://gcaptain.com/battle-over-worlds-biggest-wind-turbine-is-heating-up/

7. New bunker tanker for Fremantle
BP Marine (bp) and ASP Ships Group (ASP) are pleased to announce the arrival of the bunker tanker “ABSOLUTE I” in Fremantle. This replaces the smaller vessel “Vacamonte”. ASP has time chartered the vessel to bp to supply bunkers to its customers’ vessels in Fremantle, Kwinana and at the local Anchorages. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/new-bunker-tanker-for-fremantle/

8. Stena Lines Provides The 100th Reference For Survitec’s Marin Ark 2 MES
Delivery of Stena Lines’ new E-Flexer ropax ferries have marked the 100th reference for Survitec’s proven Marin Ark 2 Marine Evacuation System.
First of class Stena Estrid, delivered in January, is currently serving the Hollyhead-Dublin, route while newly delivered Stena Edda is operating Stena Lines’ Belfast-Birkenhead service.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/stena-lines-provides-the-100th-reference-for-survitecs-marin-ark-2-mes/

9. India: Is The Crew Change Crisis Hurting The Brand Image Of Indian Seafarers?
Soaring crew change costs in India are discouraging ship owners and managers from carrying out this task as seafarers pile up pressure to be relieved after spending time at sea much beyond their contract period.
„Crew change is turning out to be an expensive affair in India in these times,” said the Indian Captain of an oil tanker now sailing towards China, who has completed eight months on board. This is double the time typically allotted for a ship’s master. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/India%3A+Is+the+crew+change+crisis+hurting+the+brand+image+of+Indian+seafarers%3F

10. Move To IMO’s HSFO Carriage Ban ‘Very Smooth’: Precious Shipping MD
The transition to the International Maritime Organization’s HSFO carriage ban has been “very smooth” for the shipping industry despite initial fears of widespread non-compliance from some quarters, Thailand’s Precious Shipping Ltd., or PSL, MD Khalid Hashim told S&P Global Platts. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Move+to+IMO’s+HSFO+carriage+ban+‘very+smooth’%3A+Precious+Shipping+MD