1. Junior sailors make history as number of Royal Navy Recruits Soars
Junior sailors are making history by training at the spiritual home of naval officers amid a rise in demand to join the Royal Navy during the COVID-19 outbreak. U.K. : To meet the sudden spike in interest among those wishing to serve their country, sailors are being inducted into the Royal Navy at the iconic Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth for the first time in history. https://themaritimepost.com/2020/06/22/junior-sailors-make-history-as-number-of-royal-navy-recruits-soars/
2. Japan’s top three shipping lines lobby government on crew change
Japan’s top three shipping companies, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), NYK Line, and K Line are working through the Japanese Shipowners’ Association to get the government to negotiate with the authorities of other countries to allow crew changes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/japans-big-three-shipping-groups-lobby-government-on-crew-change/
3. APL England heads for Chinese repair yard
After discharging its cargo, the 5,510 teu APL England is en route to Zhoushan, China, for repairs, after agreeing to a AUD22.5 million (USD15.4 million) Australian cleanup operation. The Singapore-flagged vessel lost 50 containers in heavy seas off the Australian coast on 24 May. Another 75 containers were badly damaged, many tottering over the edge of the ship and threatening to dislodge. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/apl-england-heads-for-china-empty-of-cargo/
4. Hawaiian Barge Loses More Than 20 Containers Overboard Off Hilo
A Hawaiian interisland barge lost more than 20 containers overboard off the coast of Hilo on Monday morning and several containers remain missing. The U.S. Coast Guard said it responded to a report of lost cargo from the barge Ho Omaka Hou as the tug Hoku Loa was transiting with the barge to Hilo Harbor. https://gcaptain.com/hawaiian-barge-loses-more-than-20-containers-overboard-off-hilo/
5. As if COVID-19 Wasn’t Enough, the Illinois River System Faces Lock Closures
The Illinois River system connects the supply of goods with domestic and international markets. This system of navigable water stretches roughly 333 miles, beginning with the Calumet River in Chicago and ending with the mouth of the Illinois River at Grafton, Illinois. https://gcaptain.com/as-if-covid-19-wasnt-enough-the-illinois-river-system-faces-lock-closures/
6. APL England Cleared to Leave Australia
The APL England has been cleared to leave Australia after losing some 50 containers overboard off the coast of New South Wales last month. Inspectors with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) boarded the vessel last week at the Port of Brisbane and were satisfied that the ship was fit to sail to China where it will undergo repairs. The ship departed Brisbane on June 19 without cargo and with a new Master. https://gcaptain.com/apl-england-cleared-to-leave-australia/
7. New Zealand Extends Ban on Cruise Ships and Tightens Border Rules
New Zealand on Monday extended a ban on cruise ships arriving in the country and tightened measures for visitors to exit quarantine, after reporting more coronavirus cases linked to overseas travel. The country, which has recorded just 22 deaths from COVID-19, was among the first in the world to end all restrictions after declaring it had no active cases, but has seen a small number of new cases in recent days. https://gcaptain.com/new-zealand-extends-ban-on-cruise-ships-and-tightens-border-rules/
8. Baltic Index Edges Up On Higher Panamax, Supramax Rates
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index inched higher on Monday, helped by stronger demand for panamax and supramax vessels. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, rose 3 points to 1,558, its highest since Dec. 6.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+edges+up+on+higher+panamax%2C+supramax+rates
9. Will Venezuela Sanctions Spark Another Tanker Spike?
Tanker owners have a love-hate relationship with U.S. sanctions. On one hand, sanctions can pull perfectly good fleet capacity from the market, causing spot rates to skyrocket. On the other, your own perfectly good fleet capacity can get pulled from the market. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Will+Venezuela+sanctions+spark+another+tanker+spike%3F
10. Korean Shipyards Sharply Off Order Targets On Pandemic
South Korea’s shipbuilders, led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., suffered from a sharp drop in new orders in the first five months of the year, falling sharply short of their annual order targets due to the coronavirus outbreak and a drop in oil prices, the companies’ data showed Monday. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Korean+shipyards+sharply+off+order+targets+on+pandemic
