1. Update: Bizarre kidnapping incident on Gulf Sky
Charity Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) and the the Commonwealth of Dominica Maritime Administration have confirmed that the crew of Gulf Sky were victims of a hijacking on 5/6 July, in a joint statement published on 21 July. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/update-bizarre-kidnapping-incident-on-gulf-sky/
2. Wilhelmsen Ship Management Acquires 50% Stake in Ahrenkiel Steamship
Wilhelmsen Ship Management has teamed up with Hamburg-based investment firm MPC Capital by acquiring a 50% stake in Ahrenkiel Steamship, a MPC Capital subsidiary. Once finalized, the joint venture will operate under the brand “Wilhelmsen Ahrenkiel Ship Management” and provide technical management to a fleet of 72 containerships, with a focus on feeder ships between 1,000 and 3,000 TEU capacity. https://gcaptain.com/wilhelmsen-ship-management-acquires-50-stake-in-ahrenkiel-steamship/
3. New York Wants to Buy Enough Clean Power for 1.5 Million Homes
The state plans to buy 2,500 megawatts of power from offshore wind farms proposed in the Atlantic Ocean and 1,500 megawatts from clean-power projects on land, according to a statement Tuesday. New York will also invest more than $400 million in port upgrades to support the emerging offshore-wind industry. https://gcaptain.com/new-york-wants-to-buy-enough-clean-power-for-1-5-million-homes/
4. Chevron’s $5 Billion Deal for Noble Ends Deal Drought
Chevron Corp’s surprise $5 billion all-stock deal for oil producer Noble Energy should spell the end of this year’s deal drought, setting a price benchmark that will trigger more buys, according to mergers and acquisition bankers, lawyers and analysts. https://gcaptain.com/chevrons-5-billion-deal-for-noble-ends-deal-drought/
5. Posidonia Conference Cancelled Due to Pandemic
The biennial Posidonia conference has been cancelled due to uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Posidonia is held every other year in Athens, Greece and is regarded as one of the leading maritime and shipping conferences in the world, attracting thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees. https://gcaptain.com/posidonia-conference-cancelled-due-to-pandemic/
6. PIL’s HQ up for sale
As it awaits an urgent financial injection from the state, Singapore’s Pacific International Lines (PIL) has put its headquarters up for sale, the latest in a string of assets being offloaded by the SS Teo-led firm.
https://splash247.com/pils-hq-up-for-sale/
7. Maersk among big names including Unilever and Microsoft in new net zero initiative
The heads of nine companies including Maersk yesterday announced the establishment of a new initiative to accelerate the transition to a net zero global economy. The initiative, known as Transform to Net Zero, intends to develop and deliver research, guidance, and implementable roadmaps to enable all businesses to achieve net zero emissions. https://splash247.com/maersk-among-big-names-including-unilever-and-microsoft-in-new-net-zero-initiative/
8. Tanker Rate Puzzle Gets Even Harder To Solve
Rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs, tankers that carry 2 million barrels of crude oil) currently average $32,800 per day, up 130% year-on-year, according to Clarksons Platou Securities data. VLCC rates are averaging more than 3.5 times higher year-to-date than during the same period last year.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Tanker+rate+puzzle+gets+even+harder+to+solve
9. 2020 ICC Global Survey On Trade Finance Confirms Industry Optimism
The International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) 11th annual Global Survey on Trade Finance reveals that banks are optimistic about the evolving nature of trade finance, though unsurprisingly expect various industry-wide challenges and disruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/2020+ICC+Global+Survey+on+Trade+Finance+confirms+industry+optimis
10. UK P&I Club Launches Lessons Learnt Video On Correctly Checking An Engine Room Leak
UK P&I Club, a leading provider of P&I insurance and other services to the international shipping community, has launched its latest video in a series of award-winning reflective learning training videos, on a burn injury to the first engineer while inspecting a leak in the engine room. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/UK+P%26I+Club+launches+Lessons+Learnt+video+on+correctly+checking+an+engine+room+leak
