1. Indian shipbreaking yards set to suspend operations due to oxygen shortage
The number of coronavirus infections in India has crossed the 5m mark with over 90,000 new cases reported on Tuesday. There has been a significant shortage of medical oxygen at hospitals in the country, and the government has instructed oxygen suppliers to provide maximum output of production with hospitals and Covid care centres given priority.
https://splash247.com/indian-shipbreaking-yards-set-to-suspend-operations-due-to-oxygen-shortage/
2. Cosco Shipping Ports buys into Guangxi container terminal
Cosco Shipping Ports has announced that subsidiary China Shipping Terminal Development has proposed to acquire a 26% equity interest in Guangxi Beibu Gulf Terminal, through the injection of its entire 40% equity interest in Guangxi Qinzhou Terminal into the latter and a cash consideration of RMB486.8m ($71.9m).
https://splash247.com/cosco-shipping-ports-buys-into-guangxi-container-terminal/
3. Wilhelmsen buys into offshore wind vessel firm Edda Wind
Edda Wind, formed in 2018, owns and operates service operation vessels supporting offshore wind farm construction and maintenance. It currently has two vessels on the water and a further four on order, with two of the newbuilds already committed with long-term charters. https://splash247.com/wilhelmsen-buys-into-offshore-wind-vessel-firm-edda-wind/
4. Port of Los Angeles Reports Strongest Month Ever in August
The Port of Los Angeles recorded its first monthly cargo increase of the year in August as imports soared to a record high, helping the port to its strongest month ever. In August, the port processed 961,833 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), up 12% from August 2019. The port said the increase was mainly driven by imports, which eclipsed 500,000 TEUs for the first time ever. https://gcaptain.com/port-of-los-angeles-reports-strongest-month-ever-in-august/
5. U.S. Defense Department Awards Long-Range Unmanned Vessel Contracts
The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, aka DARPA, has awarded contracts to private sector companies as part of a project to demonstrate the use of long-range unmanned surface vessels for naval operations. https://gcaptain.com/u-s-defense-department-awards-long-range-unmanned-vessel-contracts/
6. Marine student outrage in India over hostel fees for online classes
Ajinkya Sinha, marine engineering student at IMU, told SAS that IMU is still charging students the full yearly amount of INR225,000 (USD3,050) despite only having access to the university’s online learning platform. According to a Twitter post from an IMU student, course fees for marine engineering, hostel and workshop fees amount to INR98,000 (USD1,330) and 44% of the yearly charges. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/marine-student-outrage-in-india-over-hostel-fees-for-online-classes/
7. 103 stranded Mauritian crew arrive safely home
Mauritian crew stranded on three Mediterranean Shipping Co. Cruises passenger vessels off Brazil since March have finally returned home, following swift company action after crew threatened a hunger strike. The 103 crew on board the MSC Seaview, MSC Poesia, and the MSC Musica at anchor off the port of Santos, Brazil, were among an estimated 1,000 Mauritians still stranded on passenger vessels worldwide.
https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/103-stranded-mauritian-crew-arrive-safely-home/
8. Baltic Index Gains As Capesize Vessel Rates Rise
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index rose for a second consecutive session on Tuesday, buoyed by stronger rates for capesize vessels. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities and reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was up seven points, or 0.5%, at 1,289 points. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+Index+Gains+As+Capesize+Vessel+Rates+Rise
9. SCI To Set Freight Rates For India-Maldives Direct Service In Line With Market
State-run Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) will “review” the rates for shipping cargo containers/bulk cargo from India to Maldives as its prepares to launch a direct cargo service between the two countries from September 21, linking Thoothukudi and Kochi with Kulhudhuffushi and Male.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/SCI+to+set+freight+rates+for+India-Maldives+direct+service+in+line+with+market+
10. BIMCO: Simplifying Environmental Reporting
BIMCO Shipping KPI version 4 is expected to be released by end September. Considering the development in the shipping sector, several Performance Indicators and Key Performance Indexes will be updated. To simplify environmental reporting, BIMCO will fully implement and embrace the IMO efforts to reduce emissions from shipping. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/BIMCO%3A+Simplifying+environmental+reporting
