1. Thailand allows crew changes on ‘humanitarian principles’
A notification from the Thailand Marine Department said that crew change guidelines must ensure compliance with the requirements of the MLC 2006, which state that crew should not work more than 12 months on board. Therefore, Thailand is allowing foreign crew to change work duties on a ship within its country as appropriate and necessary according to ‘humanitarian principles’. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/thailand-allows-crew-changes-on-humanitarian-principles/
2. Cyber preparedness and post attack plan vital, experts discuss
Year on year cyber-attacks are increasing in maritime, with 31% of respondents to the SAScyber security survey saying their organisation experienced an attack in the 12 months prior to taking the survey in February 2020, compared with 24% in 2019’s survey results, and 22% in 2018. The most common effects of an attack were loss of money (28%), systems outage onshore (23%) and reputational damage (15%), preparation is key to limit these attacks and consequences.
https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/cyber-preparedness-and-post-attack-plan-vital-experts-discuss/
3. COVID-19 disruptive effects on seafarer safety training
COVID-19 has played havoc with seafarer safety training and certification and lockdowns in different countries, coupled with some easing of lockdown restrictions in July, have forced a radical rethink of how course content is delivered.
https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/covid-19-disruptive-effects-on-seafarer-safety-training/
4. First convictions under Nigerian piracy law, experts remain dubious
Three men have been the first to be convicted under Nigeria’s piracy law on 11 August, however, the lenient sentencing will do little to deter or decrease the ever-growing piracy numbers in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) security experts maintain. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/first-pirates-convicted-under-nigerian-law-experts-remain-dubious/
5. Port of Long Beach Reports Best Month Ever in July Amid Pent-Up Consumer Demand
The port said trade increased 21.1% in July compared to the same month in 2019, totaling 753,081 TEUs. The previous single-month record of 752,188 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs), set in June 2018, was surpassed by nearly 900 TEUs.
https://gcaptain.com/port-of-long-beach-reports-best-month-ever-in-july-amid-pent-up-consumer-demand/
6. New Zealand Fines Ports of Auckland for Excessive Speeding During Thousands of Pilot Boat Voyages
A New Zealand court has fined the Ports of Auckland and one of its pilot a total of NZD $432,400 for excessive speeding during thousands of pilot boat voyages in Waitemata Harbour. Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL) and the master of the pilot boat, Grant More, both admitted exposing people to risk of death or serious injury. https://gcaptain.com/new-zealand-fines-ports-of-auckland-and-pilot-for-excessive-speeding-on-thousands-of-pilot-boat-voyages/
7. Birthday party and quest for wifi revealed in lead up to Wakashio grounding off Mauritius
The 58-year-old captain of the ill-fated newcastlemax Wakashio could face negligence charges after it emerged the crew were celebrating a crewmember’s birthday and had headed nearer towards the Mauritius coastline to get a wifi signal just prior to the bulk carrier’s grounding on a reef off the island’s south coast. https://splash247.com/birthday-party-and-quest-for-wifi-revealed-in-lead-up-to-wakashio-grounding-off-mauritius/
8. Chinese authorities investigate liners as transpacific rates hit record territory
China’s Ministry of Transport has sent letters to six major containerlines, asking them for explanations behind the recent freight rate surges, which has seen ships charging record figures on the transpacific.
https://splash247.com/chinese-authorities-investigate-liners-as-transpacific-rates-hit-record-territory/
9. Hapag-Lloyd Delivers Good Half-Year Result, But Uncertainties Due To COVID-19 Pandemic Remain
significantly down in Q2, significant reduction in bunker cost
Measures of the Performance Safeguarding Program (PSP) already having an impact
Very positive free cash flow and very good liquidity reserve
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Hapag-Lloyd+delivers+good+half-year+result%2C+but+uncertainties+due+to+COVID-19+pandemic+remain
10. Tankers Ship Iranian Fuel Cargoes To U.S. For Seizure – Sources
Tankers carrying Iranian fuel cargoes covered by a U.S. warrant for seizure are sailing to the United States after talks between U.S. authorities and ship owners, a U.S. government source and a shipping source said on Thursday.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Tankers+ship+Iranian+fuel+cargoes+to+U.S.+for+seizure+–+sources
