1. Tug with 13 crew missing in South China sea, Indonesia
Tug SUMBER MARINE 5 with 13 crew on board, towing barge SUMBER KAPUAS 232, went missing in southern South China sea N of Bangka Island, Indonesia, after issuing distress signal at around 0300 UTC Jun 15. Tug was towing barge from Batam island, Singapore Strait, to Banjarmasin, southern Kalimantan, Indonesia. SAR was launched. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/06/15/tug-with-13-crew-missing-in-south-china-sea-indonesia/
2. Major fire in Yanpu Fishing Port, Taiwan
Fire engulfed several ocean-going fishing vessels, longliner type, at Yanpu Fishing Port, Pingtung County, southwest Taiwan, in the afternoon Jun 15. Witnesses said they’ve heard at least two explosions prior to fire. A thick black smoke is billowing from harbor towards town, scaring locals off. Firefighters are fighting the fire, including firefighting boats and tugs with water cannons. No news on casualties or injured people. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/06/15/major-fire-in-yanpu-fishing-port-taiwan-video/
3. Chinese Panamax bulk carrier stuck with jammed rudder, Rio de la Plata
Panamax bulk carrier PHOENIX OCEAN arrived at Montevideo anchorage, Uruguay, on May 29, understood on tow, from Zarate Argentina, and as of Jun 15, was still at anchor. Fully laden ship understood to suffer jammed rudder, angled some 17 degrees from amidships position. Reportedly, rudder was twisted and jammed while the ship was at San Nicolas, Parana river, Argentina. http://www.maritimebulletin.net/2020/06/15/chinese-panamax-bulk-carrier-stuck-with-jammed-rudder-rio-de-la-plata/
4. Seafarer mental health an ongoing concern
The pre-existing mental health crisis in the maritime industry has been further exacerbated under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. For an industry only just acknowledging and beginning to address the reality of seafarer isolation and its effects on mental health and wellbeing, the conditions of work for crew and their families are quickly taking their toll. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/seafarer-mental-health-an-ongoing-concern/
5. All eyes on shipping
Shipping has received a massive amount of attention from mainstream media in 2020 because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. News of outbreaks on cruise ships, vessels unable to find a port to disembark, and thousands of crew stranded on board have all been covered in major newspapers around the world. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/all-eyes-on-shipping/
6. APL England master charged and bailed
The master of APL England, which jettisoned some 50 containers in heavy weather off the east coast of Australia has been charged, bailed, and awaiting trial.
The captain, 43-year-old Mohamad Zulkhaili Bin Alias, won a change to his bail conditions in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, 12 June, allowing him to return home to work in Malaysia until the hearing for his case later this year. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/apl-england-master-charged-and-bailed/
7. UK Coastguard Locates Wreckage of U.S. Fighter Plane in North Sea
British coastguards have located the wreckage of a U.S. fighter plane that crashed into the North Sea off the coast of northeast England on Monday but the pilot is still missing, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement.The F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing, which was on a routine training mission, crashed at around 0940 local time (0840 GMT). Only the pilot was on board. https://gcaptain.com/uk-coastguard-locates-wreckage-of-u-s-fighter-plane-in-north-sea/
8. BP Writes Off Billions as Covid Redraws Rules of Oil Demand
BP Plc will make the biggest writedown on the value of its business since the Deepwater Horizon disaster a decade ago, as the coronavirus pandemic hurts long-term oil demand and accelerates the shift to cleaner energy. https://gcaptain.com/bp-writes-off-billions-as-covid-redraws-rules-of-oil-demand/
9. Greek Ship Managers Shun Venezuela Trade as U.S. Sanctions Bite
Three Greece-based shipping firms said they have halted trade with Venezuela after the United States imposed sanctions on vessels under their management, as Washington ramps up commercial heat on Caracas. https://gcaptain.com/greek-ship-managers-shun-venezuela-trade-as-u-s-sanctions-bite/
10. Stranded at Sea in The Time of Corona
Spanish fisherman Josu Bilbao boarded a Qatar Airways flight headed for the Seychelles in January, just as he had done for the past 15 years. Ahead of him, four uninterrupted months of hauling tuna out of the glistening Indian Ocean. https://gcaptain.com/stranded-at-sea-in-the-time-of-corona/
