1. In the Spotlight – Alastair Evitt, V.Ships Cyprus Managing Director
For the last 18 months, I have been fortunate enough to be the managing director of V.Ships in Cyprus, and the company is actually celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. We have a global client base, the majority in Greece, but also customers based in the UK, Caribbean and West Africa. As of today, we manage 70 ships, and employ 76 ship management colleagues based in our Cyprus office. Cyprus is also where Oceanic Catering, V.Group’s leading catering and hospitality brand, is located so, overall, the office has around 200 people. About two months ago, we moved into a brand new office, but due to Covid only now are we able to reach full occupancy and continue our focus on growing our businesses. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/09/02/in-the-spotlight-alastair-evitt-v-ships-cyprus-managing-director/
2. Seaspan to order five more LNG-fuelled boxships for ZIM charter
Israeli carrier ZIM has exercised its option to enter into a long-term charter deal with Seaspan for five more 7,000 teu LNG-powered containership newbuilds after signing up for ten ships of the same class in July this year in a deal worth more than $1.5bn. The value of this option for ZIM is over $750m. Seaspan said it will enter into shipbuilding agreements with a major shipyard, with deliveries expected during the fourth quarter of 2024. The latest deal has lifted Seaspan’s newbuilding programme to 60 ships since December 2020.
https://splash247.com/seaspan-to-order-five-more-lng-fuelled-boxships-for-zim-charter/
3. Island Oil’s MT Alexandria deployed to protect Cyprus coast from the oil spill
M/T ALEXANDRIA managed by Cyprus-based Petronav Shipmanagement Ltd (member of the Island Oil Holdings Group) has been deployed by the Cyprus Government to provide anti-pollution services for the oil spill caused by leakage from Syria’s power plant. The vessel is fully equipped to tackle such an incident. At the moment the vessel is 6 miles south east from Cape Grego, ready to commence anti-pollution services when requested. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/09/02/island-oils-mt-alexandria-deployed-to-protect-cyprus-coast-from-the-oil-spill/
4. Marlow Cadet programme expands to new countries
Marlow’s training programme has broadened greatly, with new intakes coming from Egypt, Peru and Panama over the last year, in addition to the already well-established system in the Philippines, Ukraine and Russia. New Deck and Engine cadets have been recruited to enter the company’s training programme via partnerships with locally based maritime academies in each country, namely: Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport; Escuela Nacional de Marina Mercante – Peru; and Universidad Marítima Internacional De Panamá. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/09/02/marlow-cadet-programme-expands-to-new-countries/
5. EU maritime transport: first environmental impact report acknowledges good progress towards sustainability and confirms that more effort is needed to prepare for rising demand
Maritime transport plays and will continue to play an essential role in global and European trade and economy. In recent years, the maritime sector has taken significant measures to alleviate its environmental impacts. Ahead of a projected increase in global shipping volumes, a new report reveals for the first time the full extent of the impact of the EU maritime transport sector on the environment and identifies challenges to achieving sustainability.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/09/02/eu-maritime-transport-first-environmental-impact-report-acknowledges-good-progress-towards-sustainability-and-confirms-that-more-effort-is-needed-to-prepare-for-rising-demand/
6. Hartnoll buys into OSV owner Britoil
Tim Hartnoll’s family private investment business, HICO, has acquired a significant stake in Singapore-based Britoil Offshore Services. Founded by David Hill over thirty years ago, Britoil owns a fleet of twenty Singapore-flagged anchor handling tugs and two platform supply vessels. Hill will continue as a shareholder and chairman of the company. https://splash247.com/hartnoll-buys-into-osv-owner-britoil/
7. Coast Guard responds to Noble Globetrotter II near Grand Isle, La.
The Coast Guard responds Wednesday to a vessel that reportedly sustained damage during Hurricane Ida.
During the storm, we received a report that the vessel had sustained damage. Members of the Coast Guard’s Eighth District Outer Continental Shelf division have been in contact with both the master of the Noble Globetrotter II and Noble Corporation since Sunday to determine the extent of any damage, and to ensure that the crew’s lifesaving equipment is functional and available in the event of an emergency. https://gcaptain.com/coast-guard-responds-noble-globetrotter-ii-near-grand-isle-la/
8. Crowley and Shell to Build and Charter Largest LNG Bunker Barge in U.S.
Crowly Maritime Corporation has signed a long-term time charter with Shell NA LNG, LLC, (“Shell”) providing for the building and operation of a new, U.S.-built, LNG bunker barge. Upon construction, the barge will be the largest Jones Act-compliant vessel of its kind, helping to expand current network capacity and meet demands for cleaner energy. https://gcaptain.com/crowley-and-shell-to-build-and-charter-largest-lng-bunker-barge-in-u-s/
9. India Asks Utilities To Import Coal Amid Short Supply As Demand Spikes
India has urged utilities to import coal despite having the world’s fourth-largest reserves, with several power plants on the verge of running out of fuel due to a surge in power demand. Coal-fired power accounts for more than 70% of India’s electricity generation. Electricity generation makes up three-fourths of India’s coal consumption. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/India+asks+utilities+to+import+coal+amid+short+supply+as+demand+spikes
10. Neptune Indicator Points To Stabilization Of The Crew Change Crisis As Seafarer Vaccination Rate Rises
Travel restrictions, flight cancellations and domestic lockdowns continue to prevent seafarers from going back home. This is according to reporting from the world’s top ship managers provided for the Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator. But there could be light at the end of the tunnel. After months of deterioration, the September Indicator shows that the number of seafarers onboard vessels beyond the expiry of their contract has slightly decreased from 9.0% to 8.9% in the last month. Similarly, the number of seafarers onboard vessels for over 11 months has slightly decreased from 1.3% to 1.2%. The Maritime Labour Convention states that the maximum continuous period a seafarer should serve on board a vessel without leave is 11 months. Thus, the September Indicator confirms the tendency from August that the situation may be stabilizing. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Neptune+Indicator+Points+To+Stabilization+Of+The+Crew+Change+Crisis+As+Seafarer+Vaccination+Rate+Rises
