1. IMO and WISTA International launch first Women in Maritime Survey
The International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International) have launched the Women in Maritime – IMO and WISTA International Survey 2021 to examine the proportion and distribution of women working in the maritime sector, from support roles to executive level positions. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/02/18/imo-and-wista-international-launch-first-women-in-maritime-survey/
2. Rio Tinto connects the Pilbara to Asia with new direct freight shipping service
Rio Tinto has secured a new commercial freight shipping service connecting Western Australia’s Pilbara region to the major international shipping hub of Singapore. The service will provide the company with a quicker, cheaper and cleaner alternative to the existing freight delivery route via Perth, helping to drive regional economic development and local job creation. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/02/20/rio-tinto-connects-the-pilbara-to-asia-with-new-direct-freight-shipping-service/
3. Croatia accedes to fishing vessel safety treaty
Croatia is the 15th country to become a Contracting State to the 2012 Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety, showing increasing support for the regulations designed to safeguard fishing vessels and their crews. Croatia deposited its instrument of accession on 16 February.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/02/19/croatia-accedes-to-fishing-vessel-safety-treaty/
4. Greek ports to be hit by two-day towage strike
The Panhellenic Crew Union of Towage & Salvage have joined the action and consequently, towage service will be unavailable during the strike hours, which will affect the vessels’ maneuvering ability inside the country’s ports as from Tuesday, 23 February at 00:01 hours until Wednesday, 24 February at 24:00 hours local time.
https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/greek-ports-be-hit-two-day-towage-strike
5. Panama Canal modifies transit reservation and service fees
The Canal Authority said the changes were part of its continuous improvement process. The authority explained the changes would help simplify the current structure and seek to reflect the value of the services provided by the waterway, including the reservation system, which ensures the certainty of transit on a given date. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/panama-canal-modifies-transit-reservation-and-service-fees
6. Maersk Eindhoven Cargo Loss: Engine Oil Pressure Triggered Loss of Propulsion
Maersk says a loss of propulsion led to some 260 containers falling overboard from the Maersk Eindhoven in severe weather off the coast of Japan this week. Another 65 containers are reported damaged on deck. The new details were provided in an update from the Danish shipping giant on Friday. https://gcaptain.com/maersk-eindhoven-cargo-loss-engine-oil-pressure-triggered-loss-of-propulsion/
7. The big get bigger in public dry bulk shipping
The largest U.S.-listed dry bulk shipping companies are buying up ships in the secondhand market in anticipation of higher rates ahead.
During conference calls on Thursday, executives of both Golden Ocean (NASDAQ: GOGL) and Star Bulk (NYSE: SBLK) highlighted stronger fundamentals for 2021, with vaccine-fueled cargo demand growth expected to outpace vessel supply growth.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/the-big-get-bigger-in-public-dry-bulk-shipping/
8. Norway’s Frontline sees signs of turnaround in ‘muted’ tankers market
Norwegian shipper Frontline said the tanker market was currently “muted” but noted signs of a recovery to come, as it reported fourth quarter and full year 2020 results Feb. 19.
Interim CEO Lars Barstad said that in 2020 his group recorded its strongest result since 2008, but that the fourth quarter of the year reflected the challenging conditions tanker markets were experiencing as a record volume of oil inventories are drawn.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/norways-frontline-sees-signs-of-turnaround-in-muted-tankers-market/
9. Gazprom Neft delivers a 3.5-fold increase in sales of environmentally friendly marine fuels in 2020
Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, operator of the Gazprom Neft bunkering business, delivered a 3.5-fold increase in ship-to-ship sales of MARPOL-compliant marine fuels in 2020,* reaching 1.1 million tonnes and giving the business a 20% market share in low-sulphur and ultra-low-sulphur bunkering fuels in the Russian Federation.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/gazprom-neft-delivers-a-3-5-fold-increase-in-sales-of-environmentally-friendly-marine-fuels-in-2020/
10. BIMCO Covid 19 Weekly Report
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO). https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/BIMCO+Covid+19+Weekly+Report
