InterManager Daily News 27.05.2020.

1. Capesize bulk carrier collision with Chinese bulk carrier off Shanghai, details and pics
CASTA DIVA collided with Chinese bulk carrier MING LIAN at around 1930 UTC May 19 (0330 May 20 Beijing time). CASTA DIVA left Shanghai (Jiangyin, Wuxi, Yangtze river) and was proceeding to sea after disembarking pilot, MING LIAN was sailing in WNW direction, en route to Rizhao, Yellow sea, N of Shanghai. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/05/26/capesize-bulk-carrier-collision-with-chinese-bulk-carrier-off-shanghai-details-and-pics/

2. Fire on board of cargo ship, Almeria, Spain
Fire erupted on board of general cargo ship SAN TRELA, docked at Almeria Spain, early in the morning May 25. Fire was quickly extinguished by fire engines, but in some 3 hours it rekindled, so firefighters had to be called again. Fire was extinguished, extent of damages unknown, but the fire wasn’t major one. The ship is understood to be either abandoned or in a lay-up, latest AIS dated May 2015. She’s reportedly, to be auctioned. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/05/25/fire-on-board-of-cargo-ship-almeria-spain/

3. The World’s Smartest Oil Traders Have Taken to the Seas
The waters off the South African oil storage terminal at Saldanha Bay are getting busy. A small flotilla of tankers full of crude is idling near the busy shipping lanes that link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Their presence, along with similar gatherings of ships all around the world, will be a potential source of oil price volatility for months to come, as global demand begins to recover amid the biggest production shutdown in the oil industry’s 160-year history. https://gcaptain.com/the-worlds-smartest-oil-traders-have-taken-to-the-seas/

4. Singapore to allow crew changes where seafarer contracts have expired
In a move forward in getting crew changes happening again Singapore has broadened “special circumstances” to include the end of the seafarer’s contract and is exploring options with the industry and unions including specially chartered flights. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/regulation/singapore-allow-crew-changes-where-seafarer-contracts-have-expired

5. SEALNG plans direct response to Climate Bonds Initiative
Peter Keller, SEALNG Chairman, described the CBI’s reasoning as ‘illogical’, given the clear decarbonisation pathway via liquefied biomethane (LBM) and liquefied synthetic methane (LSM) for LNG carriers and LNG-fuelled vessels. “LBM is already available as a bunker fuel in certain geographies,” Keller told Seatrade Maritime News, “for example North West Europe, and a pilot project using LSM has been announced for Unifeeder’s North European container feeder network.” https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/finance-insurance/sealng-plans-direct-response-climate-bonds-initiative

6. Iranian tanker arrives in Venezuela, five more to come
The tanker Fortune entered Venezuelan waters, the first of five vessels carrying fuel and oil products sent from Iran. The shipment comes at a time when the shortage of gasoline in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic has become more acute in the Caribbean South American nation. The tanker will sail to the El Palito refinery in Puerto Cabello. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/tankers/iranian-tanker-arrives-venezuela-five-more-come

7. Abu Sayyaf targeting kidnapping from vessels off East Malaysia
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued a warning that according to the Philippines Coast Guard group of approximately five ASG members armed with assorted firearms is planning to conduct kidnapping activities in undisclosed areas in Sabah, Malaysia https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/abu-sayyaf-targeting-kidnapping-vessels-east-malaysia

8. 45% of ports see drop in containership calls: IAPH report
Some 45% of ports report that the number of containership calls fell by between 5% and 25% compared to 34% the previous week, while 8% of ports faced a significant drop, over 25% in containership calls. Ports reporting reductions of more than 25% in calls in the cargo ship category increased to 16%; less than half of the ports mention that the number of calls of other cargo ships is fairly stable compared to a normal situation. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/45-ports-see-drop-containership-calls-iaph-report

9. US-Northwest Europe Crude Oil Export Route Attracts Interest Despite Closed Arbitrage
Assessed at $27/mt, Friday, freight rates last week hovered slightly above lows seen following a Worldscale w80 drop from April 27 to May 4. Despite this decline, the arbitrage to ship US crudes to Northwest Europe was considered unsupportive, while the incentive to ship to Asia appeared to be “opening up nicely.” https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/US-Northwest+Europe+crude+oil+export+route+attracts+interest+despite+closed+arbitrage

10. Russia To Cut Urals Oil Loadings From Its Baltic Ports Again In June – Schedule
Russia is planning to cut Urals oil exports from its Baltic ports by a further 5% on a daily basis in June after slashing them by half in May in line with output curbs agreed with the OPEC+ producer group, the loading schedule showed on Monday. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Russia+to+cut+Urals+oil+loadings+from+its+Baltic+ports+again+in+June+–+schedule