InterManager Daily News 27.07.2020.

1. Investigation: Bow thruster of a tanker ship sucks two lines
A tanker in ballast was berthing starboard side to in a strong current, running at nearly five knots. The Master was on the bridge and the vessel was under the guidance of a pilot. A small line handling boat was attending to help achieve the planned mooring pattern of three head and aft lines as well as two forward and aft spring lines. https://themaritimepost.com/2020/07/24/investigation-bow-thruster-of-a-tanker-ship-sucks-two-lines/

2. Experts predict spike in vessel detentions as inspection restrictions end
Following the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) announcement of a phased resumption of inspection activities, beginning 20 July, Mark McGurran, group managing director AqualisBraemar, told SAS he expects to see an increase in Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) deficiencies caused by lack of crew changes due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/experts-predict-spike-in-vessel-detentions-as-inspection-restrictions-end/

3. Singapore to tighten COVID-19 prevention procedures for crew change
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced on 24 July that all shore personnel in contact with ship crew are advised to don face shields or goggles in addition to face masks and gloves when working on the ships. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/singapore-to-tighten-covid-19-prevention-procedures-for-crew-change/

4. Novatek Ships LNG to Japan Via Northern Sea Route
Russia’s Novatek announced on Friday it has shipped its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the Yamal LNG project to Japan via the Northern Sea route. The cargo was delivered by the LNG tanker “Vladimir Rusanov” under a spot contract and unloaded at the Ohgishima LNG Terminal in Japan. https://gcaptain.com/novatek-ships-lng-to-japan-via-northern-sea-route/
5. Oil Trading Profits Soar for Energy Majors Who Made Storage Bets
In March and April, as oil prices plunged to their lowest in a generation, Norwegian energy giant Equinor ASA was busy doing the opposite of what oil companies usually do: pumping as much crude as possible underground into giant caverns on the nation’s North Sea coast. https://gcaptain.com/oil-trading-profits-soar-for-energy-majors-who-made-storage-bets/

6. Australia Tackles Lost Containers at Sea with Targeted Safety Campaign
Australia has launched a safety campaign targeting cargo securing arrangements on board containerships after spate of recent lost container incidents off the country’s shores. The inspection campaign was launched this week by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. https://gcaptain.com/australia-tackles-lost-containers-at-sea-with-targeted-safety-campaign/

7. Ecuador Monitoring Fishing Vessel Fleet Near Galapagos Islands
Ecuador is monitoring a large fleet of fishing vessels, many of them Chinese, off the Galapagos Islands and has increased patrolling to ensure the ships do not enter the area of the ecologically sensitive islands, the defense minister said on Thursday. https://gcaptain.com/ecuador-monitoring-fishing-vessel-fleet-near-galapagos-islands/

8. Baltic Index Falls On Lower Rates Across Vessel Segments
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index hit a more than one-month low on Friday, as rates dropped across all vessel segments. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, fell 71 points, or 5.1%, to 1,317, its lowest since June 17. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+falls+on+lower+rates+across+vessel+segments

9. Seaspan Splashes Out $146m In Cash For Boxship Pair Backed By Charters
Seaspan Corporation has acquired two secondhand containerships for approximately $146m in cash in a deal backed by long term charters. The 2010-built and 2011-built ships are 13,000-teu in capacity and they will operate under long term charters with a “leading global liner”, according to Seaspan. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Seaspan+splashes+out+%24146m+in+cash+for+boxship+pair+backed+by+charters

10. Increased Supply Chain Efficiency For Customers: Hapag-Lloyd Presents “Loaded As Booked” Quality Promise
“Your cargo has been rolled” – for customers, this message only brings disadvantages, such as delayed cargo, more administrative work and additional commercial costs. With our newly launched “Loaded as Booked” quality promise, we spare our customers these headaches and inconveniences by promising to load more than 95 percent of their confirmed bookings on the exact ship specified in the reference or first booking confirmation. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Increased+supply+chain+efficiency+for+customers%3A+Hapag-Lloyd+presents+“Loaded+as+Booked”+quality+promise