1. Piracy Attacks On Oil Facilities: Are US Vessels A Target?
“Piracy attacks against crude oil tankers have taken place in the Gulf of Guinea, Horn of Africa, and Malacca Strait over the last 20 years,” said Rockford Weitz, Director of Maritime Studies at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, when I spoke with him last week. “In addition to piracy threats, crude oil tankers have been attacked by maritime terrorists, such as the October 2002 bombing of French oil tanker MV Limburg off the coast of Yemen.”
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2020/11/20/piracy-attacks-on-oil-facilities-are-us-vessels-a-target/
2. Thomas Wilhelmsen battles for control of family empire
Wilhelmsen took the reins at the family’s holding company via his holding of A shares following the suicide of his father, Wilhelm Wilhelmsen, in February this year. The battle for control of the Wilhelmsen empire has entered a new stage. Norwegian daily Dagens Næringsliv reported in September that cousins and aunts from three branches of the Wilhelmsen family had bid NOK1bn to try and get the current boss of the group, Thomas Wilhelmsen, to step down from all his roles at the diverse conglomerate. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2020/11/20/thomas-wilhelmsen-battles-for-control-of-family-empire/
3. ABP invests around £2 million in new lock gates in Ipswich
Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s leading and best-connected port operator has completed the installation of new lock gates at the Wet Dock entrance at the Port of Ipswich, which represent an investment of £2 million and will support the activities of Ipswich Haven and Neptune marinas as well as the wider leisure and tourism sector in Ipswich.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2020/11/20/abp-invests-around-2-million-in-new-lock-gates-in-ipswich/
4. ITF welcomes return to international rules for seafarers
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) welcomes the announcement this week by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) that it will be ending temporary exemptions for vessels to have seafarers on board for longer than the 11 months maximum stipulated by the International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2020/11/20/itf-welcomes-return-to-international-rules-for-seafarers/
5. Chinese reefer delays escalate as fears grow of Covid relapses from frozen food imports
Chinese health officials said Wednesday that two cold-chain storage workers in the port city of Tianjin were infected with Covid-19. Earlier Covid relapses in the summer in cities including Beijing and Dalian were cited as coming from frozen food, with salmon often mentioned. https://splash247.com/chinese-reefer-delays-escalate-as-fears-grow-of-covid-relapses-from-frozen-food-imports/
6. MOL develops app with Microsoft that slashes hours of data input
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has developed a new app which carries out real-time processing of ship operational data, the latest chapter in the Japanese line’s bid to create efficiencies at sea through technology. The Online ABLOG app processes and utilises abstract log (ablog) data, improving operational efficiency both onboard and on shore. https://splash247.com/mol-develops-app-with-microsoft-that-slashes-hours-of-data-input/
7. LNG enters new phase
There’s a ploy used in tabloid journalism about building up stars and then bashing them once they’ve made it to the big time. The same could be said in the excruciating slow development of LNG as a ship’s fuel. However, the past few days have been rather monumental in the marathon to make LNG a mainstream shipping fuel, led by the fuelling in Rotterdam of a gigantic modern marvel CMA CGM vessel (pictured) – the largest ship fuelling to date of this fuel type. https://splash247.com/lng-enters-new-phase/
8. Wind Power Strengthens As Decarbonisation Drive Becomes More Urgent
Harnessing the power of the wind to supplement thrust developed by ships’ engines is now a key focus as shipping’s decarbonisation process becomes more pressing. Traditionally viewed with benign scepticism by shipping folk based on wind variance and the practical challenges of putting sails on cargo ships, today’s smart wind propulsion systems are rapidly climbing the decarbonisation agenda, both for new and existing vessels. A wide range of projects are at various stages of development, and LR is involved in many of them. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Wind+power+strengthens+as+decarbonisation+drive+becomes+more+urgent
9. Methanol Industry Weighs Impact Of US-Iran Relations, Global Decarbonization
The methanol industry is watching for changes in US foreign policy under the incoming Biden administration, as well as decarbonization policies that could create new opportunities for the product as a fuel. Methanol trade flows have been altered in recent years owing to sanctions on Iran, but a potential shift in the US stance on the country could spur increased Iranian production. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Methanol+industry+weighs+impact+of+US-Iran+relations%2C+global+decarbonization
10. IMO And Arctic States Slammed For Endorsing Continued Arctic Pollution
NGOs protest outrageous approval of Arctic Heavy Fuel Oil “ban” which will drive continued pollution of the Arctic throughout 2020s London, 20 November 2020:- The Clean Arctic Alliance today slammed the decision by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to approve a ban ridden with of loopholes on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil in the Arctic (HFO), saying that it would leave the Arctic, its Indigenous communities and its wildlife facing the risk of a HFO spill for another decade [1]. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/IMO+and+Arctic+States+Slammed+for+Endorsing+Continued+Arctic+Pollution
