InterManager Daily News 28.04.2021.

1. Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS) strengthens its team of psychologists to help meet industry demand
Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS) is strengthening its team of clinical psychologists in a bid to meet the demand for its services from ship owners and ship managers.The company, which provides professional mental health support across the maritime sector, has recruited nine additional psychologists who will start work immediately due to the increased demand for mental health support. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/27/mental-health-support-solutions-mhss-strengthens-its-team-of-psychologists-to-help-meet-industry-demand/

2. Onboard connectivity critical for crew welfare, reveals latest Seafarers Happiness Index
The Mission to Seafarers has published the latest Seafarers Happiness Index report for the first quarter of 2021, revealing a mixed picture in terms of welfare standards and conditions for seafarers. The report shows big discrepancies in seafarer welfare, with happiness levels fluctuating significantly. The report also reveals the positive impact of improved connectivity and port welfare services, but also shows growing concern over crew changes, access to COVID vaccines and onboard working conditions. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/27/onboard-connectivity-critical-for-crew-welfare-reveals-latest-seafarers-happiness-index/

3. Singapore prohibits crew change for crew with recent travel history to India
India is battling a record-breaking rise in COVID-19 infections. Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) has tightened COVID-19 border measures for travelers arriving from India. In line with these new requirements, Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore has issued a new Port Marine Circular (PMC 12 of 2021) announcing prohibition of crew change in Singapore for crew with recent travel history to India with effect from 2359 LT on 23 April 2021. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/27/singapore-prohibits-crew-change-for-crew-with-recent-travel-history-to-india/

4. Trafigura and Braskem collaborate on carbon offset naphtha cargo
Trafigura Group Pte Ltd (“Trafigura” or the “Group”), one of the world’s leading independent commodity trading companies, and Braskem, the largest petrochemical company in the Americas and a world leader in biopolymers production, have collaborated on what is believed to be the first cargo of carbon offset naphtha¹. The cargo was shipped last week from Corpus Christi, Texas and will be delivered by Trafigura to Braskem’s facility via the Port of Aratu in Bahia, Brazil. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/27/trafigura-and-braskem-collaborate-on-carbon-offset-naphtha-cargo/

5. Maersk Upgrades Full-Year Guidance by Billions
Danish shipping conglomerate A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S announced a big upgrade to its full year guidance for the year due to the “exceptional market situation” happening in container shipping as surging demand causes supply chain bottlenecks and a shortage of shipping containers. https://gcaptain.com/maersk-upgrades-full-year-guidance-by-billions/

6. Biden to Push IMO Member States to Adopt Zero Emissions by 2050 Goal for Shipping
The Biden Administration will push International Maritime Organization Member States to to adopt a goal of achieving “zero emissions” from international shipping by 2050. The call comes as President Biden held a virtual Leaders Summit on Climate last week during which he announced a target of reducing U.S. emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels and also fulfilled his commitment to rejoin the Paris Agreement. https://gcaptain.com/biden-to-push-imo-member-states-to-adopt-zero-emissions-by-2050-goal-for-shipping/

7. Sea Consortium orders four 7,000 teu boxships at SWS
It is the first time Sea Consortium, the company behind container common feeder line X-Press Feeders, has ordered newbuildings at SWS The vessels, developed by Shanghai Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI), will be in 272.5 metres length and 42.8 metres width, and meet the requirements of EEDI phase 3. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/shipbuilding/sea-consortium-orders-four-7000-teu-boxships-sws

8. Oil Tanker Hit By Suspected Drone Attack Off Syria
Syria’s oil ministry said firefighters on Saturday put out a fire on an oil tanker off the Baniyas refinery after a suspected attack by a drone coming from the direction of Lebanese waters. The identity of the vessel was unclear, with Iran’s al-Alam TV saying it was one of three Iranian oil tankers that had recently arrived at the Syrian oil terminal, while the semi-official news agency Tasnim denied it was Iranian. https://www.marinelink.com/news/oil-tanker-hit-suspected-drone-attack-off-487159

9. Baltic Index Hits Highest In Over 10 Years Powered By Capesizes
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index on Monday drifted up to its highest since September 2010, as an uptick in rates for the larger capesize segment offset a drop in panamax vessel demand. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities, edged up 20 points, or 0.7%, to 2,808, a high since September 2010. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+hits+highest+in+over+10+years+powered+by+capesizes

10. Abu Dhabi Ports Hires Banks For Dollar Bonds
Abu Dhabi Ports has hired banks to arrange an issuance of 10-year U.S. dollar-denominated bonds, which it will use for general corporate purposes, a presentation for investors seen by Reuters showed on Monday. The banks will arrange fixed income investor calls on Monday and Tuesday, a document from one of the banks showed. An issuance of benchmark size, generally at least $500 million, will follow, subject to market conditions. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Abu+Dhabi+Ports+hires+banks+for+dollar+bonds