1. Shipowners blamed for putting crew change efforts at risk
Despite many governments attempting to restart sustainable crew change processes, Sukhorukov said that an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard Russian fish carrier vessel Ice Stream, which came into contact with port workers on 21 June 2020, could have “far-reaching consequences for all seafarers, putting the huge work we have done over the past two months to ease the sanitary restrictions at risk”. He blamed the actions of the shipowner for creating this risk. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/shipowners-blamed-for-putting-crew-change-efforts-at-risk/
2. Taiwan trade association: Crew change is national, not industry issue
Speaking after his election as the association’s chairman in July, Lee said, “Seafarers are vital to the shipping industry. If there is no shipping industry to transport grain from the United States and South America to other countries in the world, uneven food distribution may occur; if there is no shipping, oil won’t be exported from oil-producing countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia. The same is true of coal and iron ore mining companies that depend on shipping to get their output to customers worldwide.” https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/taiwan-trade-association-crew-change-is-national-not-industry-issue/
3. USCG says attribution of fires caused by electrical faults cannot be overstated
In its published safety alert, Electrical Issues Spark Major Concern – Addressing Hazardous Area Electrical Installations Knowledge Gaps, the USCG stressed the importance of ensuring the proper installation and certification of electrical equipment in hazardous areas to reduce the risk of fire or explosion on board vessels. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/uscg-says-attribution-of-fires-caused-by-electrical-faults-cannot-be-overstated/
4. Surging demand sees new lay-up destinations emerge
Labuan in Malaysia, just north of Brunei, one of Asia’s premier lay-up destinations has become very busy in recent weeks (see MarineTraffic image taken today below), with available space becoming even tighter due to recent ship-to-ship operations. Costs in Labuan have also increased as authorities have just introduced new measures to use tugs to bring vessels into the anchorage area. https://splash247.com/surging-demand-sees-new-lay-up-destinations-emerge/
5. One week on from international summit, just 15 countries have fully opened for crew change
More than two months since the International Maritime Organization (IMO) endorsed a 12-step set of protocols to ensure safe crew changes and one week on from the UK-convened international crew change summit there are still just 15 countries that have fully opened to crew movements, according to data amassed by global port agent Inchcape Shipping Services, which has been running a crew change tracker. https://splash247.com/one-week-on-from-international-summit-just-15-countries-have-fully-opened-for-crew-change/
6. Cross-industry initiative in Japan seeks to transform CO2 from steel mills into new shipping fuel
Nine Japanese companies – including shipyards, shipping line Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Class NK and steel mills – are looking into capturing CO2 emissions from steel production to ultimately power ships. The cross-industry initiative using so-called methanation technology is the latest innovative research being carried out as Japan pursues zero-emission ship fuels. https://splash247.com/cross-industry-initiative-in-japan-seeks-to-transform-co2-from-steel-mills-into-new-shipping-fuel/
7. Carnival to Raise $1.26 Billion in Debt for COVID-19 Relief
Carnival Corp is planning to raise about $1.26 billion in a bond offering, the beleaguered cruise operator said Wednesday as it struggles to stay afloat after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted its business. The bond offering is split into a $775 million tranche paying an annual coupon of 10.5%, and 425 million euro-tranche ($484.93 million) paying 10.125%. https://gcaptain.com/carnival-to-raise-1-26-billion-in-debt-for-covid-19-relief/
8. COVID-19 Cases Confirmed on Two U.S.-Flagged Ships -Hapag-Lloyd
The German container shipping group saidthe cases were confirmed on the Philadelphia Express and St. Louis Express, both deployed on its Atlantic Loop 3 (AL3) service. One member on each vessel tested positive for COVID-19, the company said. https://gcaptain.com/covid-19-cases-confirmed-on-two-u-s-flagged-ships-hapag-lloyd/
9. Crew Kidnappings Surge In Seas Off West Africa, IMB Reports
Violent attacks against ships and their crews have risen in 2020, with 77 seafarers taken hostage or kidnapped for ransom since January, reveals the ICC International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) latest piracy report. The Gulf of Guinea off West Africa is increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping, accounting for just over 90% of maritime kidnappings worldwide. Meanwhile ship hijackings are at their lowest since 1993. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Crew+kidnappings+surge+in+seas+off+West+Africa%2C+IMB+reports
10. Hapag-Lloyd AG Publishes Preliminary Earnings Figures For The First Half-Year 2020
Hapag-Lloyd AG herewith publishes preliminary earnings figures for the first half-year 2020. Accordingly, the key performance indicators EBITDA and EBIT, amounting to approximately EUR 1,150 million (EBITDA) and approximately EUR 500 million (EBIT) in the first half-year 2020, are above the respective previous year figures (EBITDA H1 2019: EUR 956 million / EBIT H1 2019: EUR 389 million). https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Hapag-Lloyd+AG+publishes+preliminary+earnings+figures+for+the+first+half-year+2020
