1. Hong Kong to allow unrestricted crew changes
Efforts led by the Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association (HKSOA) to lobby the government to allow crew changes in one of the world’s largest hub ports have been successful. In April the Hong Kong SAR government had relaxed regulations to allow crew changes for vessels in port for cargo operations, and while good the shipowners’ association did not feel it was enough.
https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/regulation/hong-kong-allow-unrestricted-crew-changes
2. Sembmarine to demerge from Sembcorp Industries, announces $1.5bn rights issue
Concurrently Sembmarine announced a SGD2.1bn 5 – 1 renounceable right issue at a price of SGD0.20 per share to recapitalise the shipyard group. Sembcorp Industries has undertaken to subscribe to SGD1.5bn of the rights issue by setting off the SGD1.5bn outstanding under its Subordinated Loan extended to Sembcorp Marine, while Temasek Holdings has agreed o sub-underwrite the remaining SGD0.6bn. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/shipbuilding/sembmarine-demerge-sembcorp-industries-announces-15bn-rights-issue
3. Taking ‘remote’ connectivity to the next level
The company’s Newtec Dialog system was selected because it enables Speedcast to support its wide variety of client operations across a range of markets, providing added scalability and flexibility, and the ability to deliver very high data rates as the demand for connectivity grows. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/taking-remote-connectivity-next-level
4. Confronting the challenges of Covid-19: A P&I Club operational perspective
Whether the calamitous consequences of the crisis were preventable has become as much an issue of political controversy as it is of scientific debate. But the speed at which the pandemic overwhelmed everyday life was unprecedented. For many of us, the earlier norms of modern living have become something of a distant memory. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/confronting-challenges-covid-19-pi-club-operational-perspective
5. First Major U.S. Offshore Wind Farm Reaches Permitting Milestone
Publication of the document marks a step forward for the Vineyard Wind project, which has experienced delays over concerns that its wind turbines will hurt commercial fishing. The supplemental review by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, announced last year, also considered the impacts of many such projects due to the growing number of offshore wind farms planned for the East Coast. https://gcaptain.com/first-major-u-s-offshore-wind-farm-reaches-permitting-milestone/
6. Cargo Volumes at Port of Long Beach Showing Signs of Recovery
Dockworkers and terminal operators at the port moved a total of 628,205 TEUs of container cargo last month, a 9.5% increase from May 2019, the port reported Tuesday. Imports also grew 7.6% to 312,590 TEUs while exports climbed 11.6% to 134,556 TEUs. Empty containers headed back overseas jumped 11.4% to 181,060 TEUs. https://gcaptain.com/cargo-volumes-at-port-of-long-beach-show-signs-of-recovery/
7. Enterprise Working to Address U.S. Regulatory Delays on Offshore Crude Terminal
Enterprise and Enbridge Inc agreed late last year to jointly develop a U.S. Gulf Coast crude export terminal known as Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT) that would load supertankers off Freeport, Texas. https://gcaptain.com/enterprise-working-to-address-u-s-regulatory-delays-on-offshore-crude-terminal/
8. CMA CGM Q1 Profit Up 13.5pc To US$48m, But Sales Off 3.3pc To $5.52b
“The good results of the first quarter demonstrate the strength and the resilience of the group. Despite the uncertainty around global economy, we anticipate an improvement during the second quarter,” said CMA CGM chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saade. CMA CGM experienced a 4.6 per cent decline in year-on-year quarterly cargo volume, “demonstrating the resilience of the shipping industry,” said the Marseille-based company. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/CMA+CGM+Q1+profit+up+13.5pc+to+US%2448m%2C+but+sales+off+3.3pc+to+%245.52b+
9. US Sanctions 121 Ships Linked To Iran’s IRISL; Little Oil Market Impact Expected
The US Treasury Department on June 8 designated 121 tankers, container ships and other vessels owned or tied to Iranian shipper IRISL for additional secondary sanctions, but the action is expected to have limited impact on crude and oil product markets. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/US+sanctions+121+ships+linked+to+Iran’s+IRISL%3B+little+oil+market+impact+expected
10. ILO Calls For Release Of More Than 150,000 ‘Trapped’ Seafarers
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has reiterated its call for seafarers to be treated as ‘key workers’ during the pandemic so they can safely return home.
The Geneva-based body says “urgent and coordinated action” is now needed to release the estimated 150,000 to 200,000 seafarers trapped on board ships around the world because of measures to contain the Covid-19 virus. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/ILO+calls+for+release+of+more+than+150%2C000+‘trapped’+seafarers+
