1. InterManager to source vaccines for seafarers, frustrated with global organisations
InterManager President Mark O’Neil offered a blunt assessment on international efforts to provide a vaccine programme for seafarers. “Global organisations have talked their way round in circles and still we are no further forward in providing a vaccination programme for seafarers who are vital in ensuring that world trade and aid continues to be delivered.” https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/intermanager-source-vaccines-seafarers-frustrated-global-organisations
2. Legal and practical guidance published for the hundreds of seafarers abandoned across the globe
Charity Human Rights at Sea has partnered with global law firm Reed Smith to help tackle the growing problem known as seafarer abandonment; an issue that has seen cases rise dramatically over the last 12 months. Seafarer abandonment happens when a shipowner abandons a ship and its crew, failing to cover the cost of repatriation or payment of wages. This often results in the crew being left to live on board the vessel in inhumane conditions, with no food, clean water, medical help or financial support – sometimes for years. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/28/legal-and-practical-guidance-published-for-the-hundreds-of-seafarers-abandoned-across-the-globe/
3. MSC celebrates its 25th anniversary in Asia
2021 marks the 25th anniversary for MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company’s business in Asia. MSC set up its first office in the region in Singapore in April 1996, and today, it has over 50 offices in 10 markets: Singapore, Greater China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Cambodia, Myanmar, and is represented by a third-party agent in the Philippines. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/28/msc-celebrates-its-25th-anniversary-in-asia/
4. The Fourth IMO GHG Study now available
The Fourth IMO GHG Study has been published in full. This study is the first iteration since the adoption of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships in 2018. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/28/the-fourth-imo-ghg-study-now-available/
5. Qatar Navigation announces amendment of the Articles of Association to increase the percentage of non-Qatari ownership from 49% to 100%
Qatar Navigation (Milaha) Q.P.S.C. announced that the Board of Directors approves the amendment of the Articles of Association to increase the percentage of non-Qatari ownership from 49% to 100% subject to the approval of the concerned official authorities and the Company’s Extra Ordinary General Assembly and according to the necessary procedures in this regard. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/04/28/qatar-navigation-announces-amendment-of-the-articles-of-association-to-increase-the-percentage-of-non-qatari-ownership-from-49-to-100/
6. Optimism for 2021 Great Lakes navigation season
Like other shipping sectors, expectations point to resurgent demand. A statistic from the Port of Duluth at the western end of Lake Superior underscores the backdrop; shipments outbound from the port registered an 80-year low of 25.8m short tons. Dwindling iron ore (taconite) tonnage from the port, which is a hub for steel-making raw material from the well-known Mesabi Range, were largely responsible. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/optimism-2021-great-lakes-navigation-season
7. Car Carrier Grounds in Chesapeake Bay Leaving the Port of Baltimore
A 760-foot Wallenius Wilhelmsen car carrier ran aground in Chesapeake Bay early Tuesday as it departed the Port of Baltimore, but the vessel was refloated without pollution or injury, the Coast Guard reported. Members from Coast Guard Sector Virginia are assessing the condition of a Norwegian-flagged MV Tirranna, which is now safely anchored in the Chesapeake Bay. https://gcaptain.com/car-carrier-grounds-in-chesapeake-bay-leaving-the-port-of-baltimore/
8. Siemens Expects Offshore Wind Boom in Baltic Sea
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA sees huge potential for offshore wind in the Baltic Sea as the world’s largest producer of turbines at sea looks to take advantage of a jump in global demand.
The company estimates the capacity potential of the Baltic Sea at several dozen gigawatts by 2040, Pawel Przybylski, a regional head of offshore sales, said in an interview. Coal-reliant Poland, with the most ambitious targets in the Baltics, plans to install as much as 11 gigawatts by then amid rising pressure to cut carbon emissions. https://gcaptain.com/siemens-expects-offshore-wind-boom-in-baltic-sea/
9. Clean-up off Qingdao Continues After Oil Spill from Ship Collision
Clean-up work continued on Wednesday near the Chinese port city of Qingdao, a day after a yet-to-be determined quantity of oil spilled into the Yellow Sea after a tanker carrying around a million barrels of bitumen mix collided with a bulk vessel in thick fog. “There are oil spill experts on the scene that have started clean-up operations,” said a spokesman for Goodwood Ship Management, manager of the Liberia-flagged tanker, A Symphony, that was at anchor when involved in the collision with bulk shipping vessel Sea Justice. https://www.marinelink.com/news/cleanup-off-qingdao-continues-oil-spill-487199
10. Egyptian Suez Canal Authority Denies Reports On Arresting EVER GIVEN Crew Members
The Egyptian Suez Canal Authority (SCA) denied, Monday circulated reports on arresting any of EVER GIVEN crew members SCA head admiral Osama Rabie said in a statement that the authority does not object the leaving or replacing of any of the crew members, provided the presence of the sufficient percentage of sailors necessary to ensure the ship security. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Egyptian+Suez+Canal+Authority+denies+reports+on+arresting+EVER+GIVEN+crew+members
