InterManager Daily News 15.06.2021.

1. COLUMBIA Cruise Services recruits medical staff for TUI Cruises
COLUMBIA Cruise Services (CCS) has been appointed to recruit medical professionals for the Mein Schiff fleet of ships owned and operated by TUI Cruises. The partnership will see CCS, one of the leading international cruise ship managers and a brand of COLUMBIA blue – The Leisure Group, drawing on its network of crewing offices around the globe to source doctors and nurses. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/06/14/columbia-cruise-services-recruits-medical-staff-for-tui-cruises/

2. Global minimum tax: a game changer for EU shipping?
Discussions are taking place at the OECD to try to reach an international agreement on a global minimum tax for multinational companies. This process has gained momentum now that the Biden administration has come out in favour of a 21% global minimum tax. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/06/14/global-minimum-tax-a-game-changer-for-eu-shipping/

3. 100th State joins ship air pollution and emissions treaty
Argentina has become the 100th Contracting State to the mandatory International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations on cutting air pollution from shipping. The regulations in Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) address air pollution from ships and include energy efficiency and fuel quality requirements designed to reduce harmful emissions from shipping. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/06/14/100th-state-joins-ship-air-pollution-and-emissions-treaty/

4. Ports Refuse Access to Another Ship Carrying Body of Deceased Captain
Efforts are underway to repatriate the deceased Romanian captain of the cargo ship M/V Vantage Wave after seven weeks and refusal by multiple States to disembark the body. The ship now faces food and water shortages as it awaits orders at an anchorage in China, the group Human Rights at Sea reports. https://gcaptain.com/ports-refuse-access-to-another-ship-carrying-body-of-deceased-captain/

5. X-Press Pearl Captain Arrested -Media
Authorities in Sri Lanka have reportedly arrested the captain of the stricken X-Press Pearl which caught fire and sank off the coast of Colombo after a chemical leak last month, the Straits Times reported Monday. The arrest comes after investigations into the incident and statements from the captain and others on board, including the chief engineer. https://gcaptain.com/x-press-pearl-captain-arrested-media/

6. Baltic Dry Index Hits One-month High
The Baltic exchange’s main sea freight index rose for the fourth straight session on Monday to its highest in a month, supported by higher rates across vessel segments. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities, gained 87 points, or 3%, to a peak since May 13 at 2,944. https://www.marinelink.com/news/baltic-dry-index-hits-onemonth-high-488423

7. New entrant into US offshore wind with a long shipping heritage – GSL
Green Shipping Line (GSL) based just outside of the Port of New York New Jersey, has announced that has signed a Teaming Agreement with Netherlands-based designer DEKC Maritime to bring Jones Act compliant offshore wind vessel solutions into the US market. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/offshore/new-entrant-us-offshore-wind-long-shipping-heritage-gsl

8. The impending disruption of maritime disputes and what can we do about it?
I have been in commercial shipping for over 25 years but my experience in the world of arbitration and lawyers is quite recent. However, I have understood two facts quite quickly. First one is that most of the legal concepts are embedded in commercial dealings for a very long time, especially when it comes to maritime contracts and second is that the legal community is transforming, slowly but surely.
https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/impending-disruption-maritime-disputes-and-what-can-we-do-about-it

9. BIMCO Covid 19 Weekly Report
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO). https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/BIMCO+Covid+19+Weekly+Report

10. ‘Wishful Thinking’: Why China Needs Australian Iron Ore For ‘Many Years’ To Come
A “wintry period”.That’s what’s expected to happen to Australia’s economy “when” China stops or reduces its imports of Australia’s iron ore, according to Chen Hong, the director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/‘Wishful+thinking’%3A+Why+China+needs+Australian+iron+ore+for+‘many+years’+to+come