InterManager Daily News 16.03.2021.

1. Maltese flagged MT DAVIDE B boarded by 9 armed individuals 213nm South Cotonou, 15 crew reported kidnapped
The incident appears to have occurred 9nm SE of the edge of the Nigerian EEZ and is near to where a number of vessels will look to RV with Nigerian SEV. Vessels within this area are at a unique vulnerability in that they are generally operating within waters beyond the operational footprint of regional security forces. Within 2020 there were 5 incidents inclusive of kidnapping that occurred within 30nm of the reported incident. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/15/maltese-flagged-mt-davide-b-boarded-by-9-armed-individuals-213nm-south-cotonou-15-crew-reported-kidnapped/

2. V.Group calls upon shipping industry to do more to attract talent to the sector
Ship management company V.Group has released the third discussion paper in its ‘Life After Lockdown’ series. The latest focuses on talent in the maritime industry. Each Life After Lockdown paper shines a spotlight on a specific area of maritime operations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and sets out key lessons learned. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/15/v-group-calls-upon-shipping-industry-to-do-more-to-attract-talent-to-the-sector/

3. BIMCO and RINA propose method to calculate energy efficiency of existing ships
BIMCO and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) have identified a need for – and therefore proposed – an alternative method to determine an accurate reference speed in connection with a carbon reduction framework currently under development by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The aim is to secure that older ships also can obtain a reliable energy efficient design index (for existing ships), even if the original sea trial data from when the ship was delivered, is lost. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/15/bimco-and-rina-propose-method-to-calculate-energy-efficiency-of-existing-ships/

4. Shell hits milestone in fleet decarbonisation with half of long-term chartered crude tankers to run on LNG in 2023
Today, Shell signed agreements to charter ten new crude tankers powered by dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines. Four of the very large crude carriers (VLCCs) have been chartered from Advantage Tankers, three from AET and three from International Seaways. All 10 ships will be built in South Korea by DSME, the first operational from 2022 and be on charter to Shell for seven years. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/15/shell-hits-milestone-in-fleet-decarbonisation-with-half-of-long-term-chartered-crude-tankers-to-run-on-lng-in-2023-2/

5. Woodside and Trafigura celebrate first carbon offset condensate cargo traded globally
Woodside and its Pluto LNG joint venture participants Kansai Electric Power and Tokyo Gas have delivered their first cargo of carbon offset condensate to Trafigura. The cargo was loaded at Pluto LNG in Western Australia. The carbon dioxide equivalent emissions associated with extraction, storage and shipping of the 650,000 barrel cargo will be offset through a combination of efficiency measures, which reduce emissions, and surrender of high-quality carbon offsets. https://splash247.com/woodside-and-trafigura-celebrate-first-carbon-offset-condensate-cargo-traded-globally/

6. Bulk carriers collide in Greece
Two dry bulk carriers collided 10 nautical miles west from the Greek island of Kithira in the southern Peloponnese early on Saturday morning. The Liberian-flagged Kiveli crashed with its prow midship into the Maltese-flagged Afina I. No injuries were reported while water ingress has occurred on both ships. https://splash247.com/bulk-carriers-collide-in-greece/

7. CMA CGM Sees $2 Billion Turnaround in 2020
CMA CGM has posted a net profit of $1.75bn for 2020, following a loss of $229m the year before, and said it was “confident” about the outlook for 2021. The French carrier stormed to a net profit of $1bn in the final quarter as freight rates soared across the world’s tradelanes, buoyed by consumer demand and supply chain bottlenecks. https://gcaptain.com/cma-cgm-sees-2-billion-turnaround-in-2020/

8. Adani Ports Wins Rs310 Crore Dredging Deal From Deendayal Port Trust
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) has won a dredging contract valued at Rs 310 crore from Centre-run Deendayal Port Trust in Kandla, Gujarat. India’s biggest private port operator and private dredging contractor had emerged the lowest bidder on a tender floated by Deendayal Port Trust by placing a price bid of Rs310 crore for the three-year deal. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Adani+Ports+wins+Rs310+crore+dredging+deal+from+Deendayal+Port+Trust

9. Wärtsilä Shaft Line Solutions Technical Bulletin Wärtsilä Sternguard E Seals
For more than 25 years, Wärtsilä Shaft Line Solutions’ Sternguard E seals have provided robust and cost-effective sealing for stern shafts on several thousand medium-sized commercial vessels ranging from tugs to trawlers and coasters. The impressively broad range of applications for which the seals can be used stands as proof of the core design’s durability. Simple, hard-wearing and flexible, this innovative design underpins the widespread acceptance of the Wärtsilä Sternguard E seals among vessel owners in several sectors. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/wrtsil-shaft-line-solutions-technical-bulletin-wrtsil-sternguard-e-seals

10. Piraeus retains largest Med port crown in 2020
According to port research initiative Port Economics, 5.437m teu were handled by Piraeus port during 2020, while 5.415m teu were transported through Spain’s Valencia. When it comes to Europe, the top three places were held by the traditional leaders, Rotterdam with 14.349m teu, Antwerp with 12.023m boxes and Hamburg with 8.52m teu. The top 15 ports in Europe handled 76.8m teu in 2020, down 2.8% when compared to 2019.
https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ports-logistics/piraeus-retains-largest-med-port-crown-2020