1. Polish captain cleared of all charges in Mexico
Captain Andrzej Lasota, imprisoned in Mexico in 2019 on charges of alleged involvement in cocaine smuggling, was acquitted by a court in Ciudad Victoria, in the north-east of Mexico. âThe Consul of the Republic of Poland in Mexico participated in the hearing and continues to provide all necessary assistance to Captain Andrzej Lasota,â the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported, adding that from the beginning of the Poleâs imprisonment it had been in contact with him and was working towards his release.
https://polandin.com/52877107/polish-captain-cleared-of-all-charges-in-mexico
2. âINTERCARGO affirms leadership role in representing dry bulk shippingâ
INTERCARGO re-iterated its commitment to a safe, efficient, high quality and environmentally sound dry bulk shipping industry at its semi-annual meetings which were held last week. The Executive Committee and the Technical Committee convened over two days via videoconference, and the meetings were presided over by Chairman Dimitris Fafalios, Vice Chairman Spyros Tarasis, Vice Chairman Uttam Kumar Jaiswal, and Technical Committee Chairman Tom Keenan. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/19/intercargo-affirms-leadership-role-in-representing-dry-bulk-shipping/
3. Marine & offshore companies to comply with safe restart criteria
Singaporeâs Economic Development Board (EDB) has advised that marine and offshore companies are required to comply with prevailing COVID-Safe Restart Criteria for Shipyards, Resident Contractors and Common Contractors (Marine & Offshore). Shipping, harbour and pleasure craft communities are also reminded to comply strictly with the Mandatory Precautionary Measures for shipyard repair calls and waterfront facilities accepting vessels in Singapore. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/19/marine-offshore-companies-to-comply-with-safe-restart-criteria/
4. Trafigura closes the refinancing and extension of its USD5.5bn EU syndicated revolving credit facilities, its first sustainability-linked loan structure
Trafigura, a market leader in the global commodities industry announced the closing of its new 365-day European multi-currency syndicated revolving credit facility (the â365-day ERCFâ) totaling USD1.85 billion, as well as the extension and increase of its USD3.65 billion 3-year facility. The facilities, which include the Companyâs first sustainability-linked loan structure, were very well received by the bank market partly due to the Companyâs record performance in 2020. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/03/19/trafigura-group-pte-ltd-closes-the-refinancing-and-extension-of-its-usd5-5bn-eu-syndicated-revolving-credit-facilities-its-first-sustainability-linked-loan-structure/
5. Queue jumpers dog Singaporeâs vaccine rollout
Splash has unearthed many non-key workers who have jumped the queue for a Covid-19 vaccine in Singapore. Many citizens and residents in the Lion Republic have used vague shipping-related job descriptions to ensure they get a priority Covid-19 vaccine ahead of key workers, including in maritime, as well as the elderly. https://splash247.com/queue-jumpers-dog-singapores-vaccine-rollout/
6. Number of installed scrubbers has doubled since last yearâs global sulphur cap introduction
The price gap between low and high sulphur fuel oil has failed to hit the highs scrubber advocates would have wanted to justify their investments in the 15 months since the start of the global sulphur cap and yet the number of exhaust gas containment systems installed since the key legislation came into place has nearly doubled. https://splash247.com/number-of-installed-scrubbers-has-doubled-since-last-years-global-sulphur-cap-introduction/
7. Royal Caribbean to Resume Caribbean Cruises in June for Vaccinated Guests
Caribbean Groupâs cruises will resume sailing in the Caribbean in June with vaccinated adult guests, ending a year-long hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Adventure of the Seas and Celebrity Millennium ships will also have vaccinated crews and accept children under the age of 18 with a negative COVID-19 test, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises said on Friday. https://gcaptain.com/royal-caribbean-to-resume-caribbean-cruises-in-june-for-vaccinated-guests/
8. Search Continuing for Missing Fishing Vessel âNicola Faithâ in UK
Authorities in the U.K. are continuing the search for the missing fishing vessel that was lost off the coast of North Wales earlier this year. The F/V Nicola Faith, with three crew members on board, went missing off the coast of Colwyn Bay on January 27, 2021. https://gcaptain.com/search-continuing-for-missing-fishing-vessel-nicola-faith-in-uk/
9. Baltic Index Gains For Third Week As Larger Vessel Rates Rise
The Baltic Exchangeâs main sea freight index gained for a third straight week on Friday, as rates for the larger capesize and panamax vessel segments rose. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose 66 points, or 3%, to 2,281, its highest since September 2019. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+gains+for+third+week+as+larger+vessel+rates+rise
10. Hapag-Lloyd Avoids Forecast Due To Coronavirus Uncertainty
German container shipper Hapag-Lloyd said on Thursday it almost tripled its net result in 2020 due to lower costs and higher freight rates, but shied away from specifying 2021 results due to uncertainty in the coronavirus crisis. The net result in 2020 amounted to 935 million euros ($1.12 billion) compared with 373 million euros in 2019 after revenue rose 3% and freight rates increased 4%, it said in a statement. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Hapag-Lloyd+avoids+forecast+due+to+coronavirus+uncertainty
