InterManager Daily News 29.06.2020.

1. China Resumes Dredging at Woody Island in the Paracels
China is dredging in a bay at Woody Island, its biggest settlement in the South China Sea, likely to expand the artificial island’s northwest corner, satellite imagery shows. This development in the disputed Paracel island chain, in the northern part of the South China Sea, comes amid mounting concern in Southeast Asia over China’s assertion of its sweeping territorial claims. https://themaritimepost.com/2020/06/27/china-resumes-dredging-at-woody-island-in-the-paracels/
2. Blacklisting call for Panama flagged ships as seafarers told to stay onboard longer
Nautilus International has called for all Panama flagged ships to be targeted for inspection by Port State Control and detained for breaching the Maritime Labour Convention when entering their country in response to its ‘inhumane’ extension of Seafarer contracts. https://themaritimepost.com/2020/06/27/blacklisting-call-for-panama-flagged-ships-as-seafarers-told-to-stay-onboard-longer/

3. “Navios Unite” loses three containers off Cape Leeuwin, WA
A container ship reportedly lost three containers off cape leeuwin, WA The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is responding to an incident involving the loss of about three shipping containers from the Liberian-flagged container ship, Navios Unite. https://themaritimepost.com/2020/06/26/navios-unite-loses-three-containers-off-cape-leeuwin-wa/

4. Unable to Join First Ship, Depressed Cadet Commits Suicide
While a lot has been talked about the mental stress the seafarers stuck on board are going through, a very little concern has been shown for the seafarers who are awaiting to join ships since a long time without any salary. On Thursday night (June 25), a young cadet (23-years old), who was waiting to start his on board career since last 2 years tried to commit suicide by jumping from a flyover. After waiting for 2 long years, he finally got news of his first joining, which was further delayed due to the coronavirus lockdown. https://themaritimepost.com/2020/06/26/unable-to-join-first-ship-depressed-cadet-tries-to-commit-suicide/
5. The UK’s post-Brexit framework for financial services regulation
Fascinating statements from the UK government released this week that look to really set the theme for financial services regulation in the UK after the Brexit transitional period is over and the UK is no longer bound by EU rules. Although the UK legally left the EU on 31 January 2020 (ironically the date of the first confirmed UK cases of coronavirus), it agreed to abide by EU law until the end of 2020 including new regulation, on which it had no say. https://ihsmarkit.com/research-analysis/the-uks-postbrexit-framework-for-financial-services-regulation.html

6. Satellites Reveal Major New Gas Industry Methane Leaks
Last fall, European Space Agency satellites detected huge plumes of the invisible planet-warming gas methane leaking from the Yamal pipeline that carries natural gas from Siberia to Europe. Energy consultancy Kayrros estimated one leak was spewing out 93 tonnes of methane every hour, meaning the daily emissions from the leakage were equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide pumped out in a year by 15,000 cars in the United States. https://gcaptain.com/satellites-reveal-major-new-gas-industry-methane-leaks/

7. More Transatlantic Blankings Unveiled as New Trade War Threatens
2M partners Maersk and MSC have extended the suspension of their TA4/NEUATL4 transatlantic loop through to September. The service, which deploys five vessels with an average capacity of 5,300 teu and has a rotation of Antwerp-Rotterdam-Bremerhaven-Liverpool-New York-Savannah-Port Everglades-Savannah, was originally suspended until mid-June and to mid-July. https://gcaptain.com/more-transatlantic-blankings-unveiled-as-new-trade-war-threatens/
8. Hapag-Lloyd to Halt Waste Shipments to China
German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd said it had notified customers it will stop accepting cargoes of solid waste, including scrap metal, bound for China that arrive from Sept. 1 onwards to comply with new legislation. China in April passed a law, taking effect in September, that holds carriers and importers responsible for the return and disposal of solid waste that fails to meet import requirements. https://gcaptain.com/hapag-lloyd-to-halt-waste-shipments-to-china/

9. Baltic Index Up For 6th Straight Week On Robust Vessel Demand
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index edged higher on Friday, helped by an uptick in rates for capesize and panamax vessels, and posted a sixth consecutive weekly gain. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, gained 11 points, or 0.6%, to 1,749 and rose 12.5% this week.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+up+for+6th+straight+week+on+robust+vessel+demand

10. New BIMCO Law & Arbitration Clause Will Clarify Arbitration Processes
If a contractual dispute escalates and one of the parties want to involve arbitrators, it is essential that notices of commencement of proceedings and the appointment of arbitrators are properly served to the right people.
BIMCO’s new Law & Arbitration Clause will address these issues with a provision requiring parties to a contract to clearly identify who are authorised to receive arbitration notices and communication. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/New+BIMCO+Law+%26+Arbitration+clause+will+clarify+arbitration+processes