1. Over A Dozen Countries Pledge to Urgently Resolve Crew Change Crisis
Representatives from over a dozen countries including Norway, Denmark, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Greece, Philippines and the USA attended the summit. They agreed to new international measures to open up foreign borders for seafarers and increase the number of commercial flights to expedite repatriation efforts. https://themaritimepost.com/2020/07/10/over-a-dozen-countries-pledge-to-urgently-resolve-crew-change-crisis/
2. Container ship catches fire in Iran port
A fire on board a container ship docked at Ameri port in the southern Iranian port city of Bushehr was brought under control on 6 July, following concerns that the blaze would spread to other vessels https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/container-ship-catches-fire-in-iran-port/
3. Russian seafarers test positive for COVID-19 in Dalian
Two Russian seafarers have tested positive for COVID-19 after their ship arrived in Dalian, China, from Vladivostok, Russia. These incidents were two of three imported cases that were confirmed in China’s Liaoning Province on 9 July 2020. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/russian-seafarer-duo-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-dalian/
4. Mental health training standards launched during Seafarers Awareness Week
The Seafarers’ Mental Health Awareness and Wellbeing Training Standard, a guide that offers standards for designing mental health and wellbeing training courses for seafarers, was launched today. Created by The Maritime Charities Group (MCG; a coalition of 10 maritime charities) and the UK’s Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), these guidelines are intended to address ongoing concerns with the varying quality of mental health awareness training. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/mental-health-training-standards-launched-during-seafarer-awareness-week/
5. Baltic index snaps streak of 7 consecutive weekly gains
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index was unchanged on Friday, as gains in panamax and supramax vessel rates offset losses in capesize rates, although it was set for its first weekly decline in eight https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/baltic-index-snaps-streak-of-7-consecutive-weekly-gains/
6. Prime Lake successfully treat wastewater from open loop scrubbers, paving the way for cutting down wastewater from ships globally
Prime Lake Technology Sweden AB (“Prime Lake”) has successfully completed a pilot test for the elimination of harmful contaminants found in wastewater generated from open loop scrubbers. The test results, obtained by ALS Scandinavia, verify a significant reduction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Sulphur (S), improved turbidity and pH-levels, as well as a dramatic increase of dissolved oxygen (DO). https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/prime-lake-successfully-treat-wastewater-from-open-loop-scrubbers-paving-the-way-for-cutting-down-wastewater-from-ships-globally/
7. Supertanker rates bounce back — stocks don’t
The tanker sector refuses to follow its script. Rates were supposed to keep on sinking into the summer. They didn’t. Rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs; tankers that carry 2 million barrels of crude oil) have jumped well above recent lows. They’re now nearly double last year’s rate. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/supertanker-rates-bounce-back-stocks-dont/
8. Australia ships record volume of iron ore to China in June
Australia’s shipments of iron ore to China from the world’s top export hub of Port Hedland climbed to a record of 46.2 million tonnes in June, data from the port authority showed on Friday. Shipments rose by 7% from May’s figure of 43.18 million tonnes, and were up by 10% from the same month last year, the data showed. https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/australia-ships-record-volume-of-iron-ore-to-china-in-june/
9. India’s Reliance To Load Venezuelan Oil Cargo Under Fuel Swap Deal: Sources
India’s Reliance will load its first cargo of Venezuelan crude in three months this week in exchange for diesel under a swap deal the parties say is permitted under the U.S. sanctions regime on the Latin American country, according to a Reliance source and a shipping document from state oil firm PDVSA. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/India’s+Reliance+to+load+Venezuelan+oil+cargo+under+fuel+swap+deal%3A+sources
10. Port Of Rotterdam To Start Trial With PIN-Free Container Handling
This week, various parties in Rotterdam will be launching a new pilot project, in which containers are handled and released without a PIN code: a widely used verification method in this transport segment. The project revolves around a new application, Secure Container Release, which replaces the PIN code with a digital signal: a solution that is significantly less susceptible to fraud. It is not only intended to make container handling more efficient, but also safer. Participants in the three-month trial include CMA-CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, ONE-Line, Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam, Rotterdam Fruit Wharf, Milestone Fresh, VTO, Portmade and the application developer T-Mining. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Port+of+Rotterdam+to+start+trial+with+PIN-free+container+handling
