InterManager Daily News 08.04.2021.

1. The effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on shipping and maritime industries
The worldwide transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to stressful and difficult situations worldwide, ranging from ceasing usual daily routines to loss of lives and tremendous influences on the economy of all countries. One of the most seriously affected fields is the shipping and maritime industry. Some major issues that arose will be mentioned briefly and analysed explicitly in this article. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/07/the-effects-of-coronavirus-covid-19-on-shipping-and-maritime-industries/

2. Castor Maritime announced pricing of $125 Million registered direct offering
Castor Maritime announces today that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain unaffiliated institutional investors to issue approximately 192.3 million of its common shares and warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 192.3 million common shares at a purchase price of $0.65 per common share and accompanying warrant in a registered direct offering (the “Offering”). https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/07/castor-maritime-announced-pricing-of-125-million-registered-direct-offering/

3. Clean planet energy unveil two new ultra clean marine fuels, made from non-recyclable plastic waste
Clean Planet Energy has today released details of two new ultra-clean fuels manufactured to replace fossil fuels in the Marine industry, for use in any ship or vessel. The products branded under the banner of “Clean Planet Oceans” can provide CO2e reductions of over 75 percent, and significantly reduce harmful air-pollutants by up to 1,500x. Both fuels are produced using non-recyclable waste plastics as the feedstock, therefore removing waste which would otherwise go to incineration, landfill or into our oceans. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/07/clean-planet-energy-unveil-two-new-ultra-clean-marine-fuels-made-from-non-recyclable-plastic-waste/

4. MSC Cruises deploys flagship MSC Virtuosa to the UK for Summer 2021
MSC Virtuosa was delivered in February and is one of MSC Cruises’ most innovative and environmentally-advanced ships and part of the generation of Meraviglia class vessels that are characterised by an iconic 112-metre-long promenade with a stunning LED sky dome as the social heart of the ship.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/07/msc-cruises-deploys-flagship-msc-virtuosa-to-the-uk-for-summer-2021/

5. Norwegians buy 50% stake in Ørsted’s Borssele 1 & 2 offshore wind farm
Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), an asset management division of the Norwegian central bank, is to acquire a 50% ownership in the largest offshore wind farm in the Netherlands, Borssele 1 & 2 from Denmark’s Ørsted. According to Ørsted, the deal worth approximately €1.37bn is expected to close around summer 2021. https://splash247.com/norwegians-buy-50-stake-in-orsteds-borssele-1-2-offshore-wind-farm/

6. World’s first hydrogen cargo vessel set for Paris debut
The European innovation project Flagships will deploy the world’s first commercial cargo transport vessel operating on hydrogen later this year, plying the river Seine in Paris, gliding passed the Eiffel Tower. The hydrogen cargo transport vessel will be owned by French inland shipowner Compagnie Fluvial de Transport (CFT), a subsidiary of the Sogestran Group. The company is currently developing a new business for urban distribution using vessels in the Paris area.
https://splash247.com/worlds-first-hydrogen-cargo-vessel-set-for-paris-debut/

7. Rescue Underway for Abandoned Yacht Transport Ship Adrift Off Norway
Emergency response teams scrambled on Tuesday to prevent a Dutch cargo ship adrift in the North Sea from sinking and causing an oil spill off Norway’s coast after the crew had to be evacuated in stormy weather. Footage released by the Norwegian Rescue Coordination Centre showed some of the 12 crew members jumping into the sea late on Monday from the badly listing Eemslift Hendrika before being rescued by helicopter. Others were hoisted directly from the deck. https://gcaptain.com/rescue-underway-for-abandoned-yacht-transport-ship-adrift-off-norway/

8. Calm Before the Storm: European Ports Await Influx of Ships Impacted by Suez Blockage
The main container ports in North Europe were eerily quiet at the weekend, due to the almost week-long blockage of the Suez Canal by the Ever Given. But now, an armada of late-running ULCVs is enroute from the Mediterranean, providing an intense challenge for vessel operators to turn ships around as quickly as possible and return them, as well as desperately needed empty equipment, back to Asia. https://gcaptain.com/calm-before-the-storm-european-ports-await-influx-of-ships-impacted-by-suez-blockage/

9. N Europe – Asia exporters face near 80% container capacity drop
Exporters from North Europe to Asia are facing a drop in capacity of near 80% this week, analysts Sea Intelligence warned. However, this will then be followed by much higher than usual capacity in the following two weeks.
“But an imminent sharp drop in export capacity will most certainly leave a significant amount of European export cargo stranded in Europe for a week or two until it can be moved,” said Alan Murphy, CEO of SeaIntel. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/containers/n-europe-asia-exporters-face-near-80-container-capacity-drop

10. Higher Capesize Rates Buoy Baltic Index
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Tuesday as stronger demand for capesize vessels offset a dip in panamax and supramax rates.
The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels, was up 20 points, or about 1%, to 2,092.The capesize index climbed 134 points, or 5.6%, to 2,528, its highest since Jan. 25. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes of coal and steel-making ingredient iron ore, added $1,109 to $20,962. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Higher+capesize+rates+buoy+Baltic+index