1. RightShip launches new 2021 vetting criteria
RightShip has today announced that it has expanded its vetting criteria as part of its mission to improve safety and sustainability in the maritime industry and drive the sector beyond base compliance.
The new criteria extends beyond the previous version from 20 assessment items to 50 items. We have drilled down further in terms of incidents and PSC performance and looked at operator performance in more detail. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/12/rightship-launches-new-2021-vetting-criteria/
2. Castor Maritime acquires a 2010 Korean-built Kamsarmax dry bulk carrier
Castor Maritime, a diversified global shipping company, announces that it entered, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, into an agreement to purchase a 2010 Korean-built Kamsarmax dry bulk carrier from an unaffiliated third-party for a purchase price of $15.45 million. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/12/castor-maritime-acquires-a-2010-korean-built-kamsarmax-dry-bulk-carrier/
3. British Ports Association glad to see freight connections prioritised in interim connectivity review
The British Ports Association (BPA) has today welcomed much of the contents of Sir Peter Hendy’s interim Union Connectivity Review report, which acknowledges the critical need for strong freight and passenger links between the four nations of the UK.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/12/british-ports-association-glad-to-see-freight-connections-prioritised-in-interim-connectivity-review/
4. Maritime industry leaders to explore ammonia as marine fuel in Singapore
A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S, Fleet Management Limited, Keppel Offshore & Marine, Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, Sumitomo Corporation and Yara International ASA are pleased to announce that the parties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly conduct a feasibility study (hereinafter “Study”) with the aim to be one of the pioneers in establishing a comprehensive and competitive supply chain for the provision of green ammonia1 ship-to-ship bunkering at the Port of Singapore, the largest bunkering port in the world.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/12/maritime-industry-leaders-to-explore-ammonia-as-marine-fuel-in-singapore/
5. A road to recovery for product tankers
Lead shipping analyst at Jefferies Inc., Randy Giveans wrote in his recent research report on the products sector: “We believe refined products tanker rates are on the road to recovery, especially in the latter half of this year as inventories are worked down and markets normalize post Covid-19.” https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/tankers/road-recovery-product-tankers
6. 365 days of WFH – and a seismic shift in thinking
Exactly one year ago, we asked our staff to pack up their desks and make their home space their new office space. We knew that the Covid-19 stay at home order would be coming – it was only a matter of time – and that we needed to act swiftly to keep our team both safe and operational, even before governments made working from home mandatory for non-key workers. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/365-days-wfh-and-seismic-shift-thinking
7. CMA CGM Sees Strong Shipping Market Continuing in First Half
Container shipping group CMA CGM said on Friday that it expected activity to remain strong in the first half of this year after brisk demand for consumer goods boosted its profits at the end of last year. France-based CMA CGM said its fourth-quarter earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) reached $2.23 billion, compared with $1.01 billion in the year-earlier period. https://gcaptain.com/cma-cgm-sees-strong-shipping-market-continuing-in-first-half/
8. Fujairah-Owned Company Claims Stake in Oil Cargo Seized by U.S.
Fujairah International Oil & Gas Corp., wholly owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, the ruler of the emirate, claims it’s an intermediary seller of the cargo and that it is Iraqi oil, according to a document filed in federal court in the District of Columbia.
https://gcaptain.com/fujairah-owned-company-claims-stake-in-oil-cargo-seized-by-u-s/
9. Baltic Index Registers Second Straight Weekly Gain
Lower capesize rates weighed down the Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index on Friday, though it posted a second consecutive weekly gain. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities, dropped 10 points, or 0.5%, to 1,960. It hit a 5-month peak earlier this week. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+registers+second+straight+weekly+gain
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
