1. Ships that change crew must produce negative COVID-19 results
Ships calling at Chinese ports need to ensure their crew have tested negative for COVID-19 if the vessels underwent crew change in the 14 days prior to arrival. This is a new measure announced by China’s Ministry of Transport, General Administration of Customs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 September 2020. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/beijing-ships-that-change-crew-must-produce-negative-covid-19-results/
2. Nautical Institute launches education charity
The Nautical Institute (NI) has launched a charity “to support global maritime safety and education”. The NI said the Nautical Institute Foundation (NIF) will allow it to “extend the scope and reach of its current activities”. The NI added that the charity also aims to improve standards in maritime safety and marine environmental protection. https://safetyatsea.net/news/2020/nautical-institute-launches-education-charity/
3. U.S. House Passes Bill Supporting Jones Act Enforcement in Offshore Wind
The U.S House of Representatives has passed the “Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act” seeking to reform U.S. energy policy and authorize major investments in research and development in transition to renewable and low-carbon energy sources.
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-house-passes-bill-supporting-jones-act-enforcement-in-offshore-wind/
4. Trafigura Proposes Carbon Tax on Marine Fuels to Help Meet Emissions Targets
Commodities trader Trafigura on Friday proposed a carbon levy of $250-$300 per tonne of carbon-dioxide (CO2) equivalent on shipping fuels to make zero and low carbon fuels more economically viable and competitive. https://gcaptain.com/trafigura-proposes-carbon-tax-on-marine-fuels-to-help-meet-emissions-targets/
5. Canada Gives $238 Million to Newfoundland and Labrador’s Offshore Oil and Gas Industry
The Government of Canada will provide CAD $320 million (USD $238 million) to support offshore oil and gas industry jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador amid the slump in the oil market.
https://gcaptain.com/canada-gives-238-million-to-newfoundland-and-labradors-offshore-oil-and-gas-industry/
6. Crew change humanitarian crisis on course to affect 1m seafarers
Shipping’s most acute logistical challenge of the past 50 years – the crew change crisis brought about by Covid-19 travel restrictions – could soon affect 1m seafarers, Guy Platten the secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) warned at a United Nations-convened event yesterday. https://splash247.com/crew-change-humanitarian-crisis-on-course-to-affect-1m-seafarers/
7. China, South Korea and Taiwan join search for missing livestock carrier crew
The livestock carrier, carrying over 5,000 cattle, left Napier in New Zealand on August 14 bound for Tangshan in China. It sent a distress signal and subsequently sank on September 2while sailing in bad weather caused by Typhoon Maysak in the East China Sea. https://splash247.com/china-south-korea-and-taiwan-join-search-for-missing-livestock-carrier-crew/
8. Baltic Index Hits Over 2-Month High As Vessel Rates Rise
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index on Friday hit an over two-month high on higher vessel rates across segments, and along with the capesize index posted its highest weekly rise since mid-June. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+hits+over+2-month+high+as+vessel+rates+rise
9. Shell Books Tanker To Load Crude At Libya’s Zueitina Oil Port
Royal Dutch Shell RDSa.L has provisionally booked a tanker to load a crude cargo at Libya’s Zueitina terminal on Oct. 3, potentially the first since January at the recently reopened port. The Amoureux tanker is expected to load a 1 million barrel cargo and then discharge in Singapore on Oct. 22, Refinitiv Eikon shipping data showed. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Shell+books+tanker+to+load+crude+at+Libya’s+Zueitina+oil+port
10. Korea’s 3 Shipbuilders Stepping Up Efforts To Develop Ammonia-Powered Vessels
Korean shipbuilders are stepping up their efforts to develop zero-carbon ammonia-powered vessels to prepare for the post-LNG era. Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) announced on Sept. 24 that it has obtained Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR) of the United Kingdom for its ammonia-fueled tanker design. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Korea’s+3+Shipbuilders+Stepping+Up+Efforts+to+Develop+Ammonia-powered+Vessels