1. ECSA appoints Sotiris Raptis as Secretary General
Sotiris Raptis has been appointed by the General Assembly to lead the European Community Shipowners’ Associations as its new Secretary General.
Sotiris Raptis (41) has extensive EU political and policy experience, having worked for different organisations in Brussels over the last 14 years. After joining ECSA as Director of Environment and Safety in 2020, he took on the role of Acting Secretary General for the last seven months. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/05/02/ecsa-appoints-sotiris-raptis-as-secretary-general/?amp=1
2. Amending the determining rules of the Suez Canal transit tolls for cruise yachts
In the context of the Suez Canal Authority’s efforts to promote yacht tourism in the Canal region, H.E. Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, announced the amendment of the determining rules of the Suez Canal transit tolls for cruise yachts with a gross tonnage of less than 300 tons, aiming to facilitate the clients’ navigation experience, ensure time effectiveness, and provide yacht owners with the opportunity to learn about the cost of transiting the Suez Canal -in advance- in order to evaluate the economic feasibility of transiting the Suez Canal according to their destination and touristic program. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/05/02/amending-the-determining-rules-of-the-suez-canal-transit-tolls-for-cruise-yachts/?amp=1
3. Royal Caribbean Group CEO says 2023 will be better than pre-pandemic
The cruise industry is poised for a major comeback, and Royal Caribbean sees better things to come over the next year and a half.
Speaking at Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Miami on Tuesday, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty shared his thoughts on the prospects for emerging from the depths of the pandemic. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/05/02/royal-caribbean-group-ceo-says-2023-will-be-better-than-pre-pandemic/?amp=1
4. Poseidon Principles elect new Steering Committee members
The annual meeting of the Poseidon Principles Association took place on Wednesday, 27 April 2022 as a hybrid meeting. Among other business, the Association re-elected existing members of its Steering Committee, and appointed two new members to the governance body. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/04/29/poseidon-principles-elect-new-steering-committee-members/?amp=1
5. British Virgin Islands’ port boss charged in cocaine smuggling sting
The British Virgin Islands is in turmoil following the arrest last week in Miami of the premier of the self-governing Caribbean archipelago in a drugs sting that also involves the territory’s port boss and his son
US officers at Miami-Opa-locka Executive Airport took Andrew Fahie, the premier of the territory and Oleanvine Maynard, director of the BVI’s Ports Authority, into custody on Thursday after they allegedly agreed to accept money from undercover agents posing as Mexican drug traffickers. Maynard’s son, Kadeem, was also detained. https://splash247.com/british-virgin-islands-port-boss-charged-in-cocaine-smuggling-sting/
6. MMA Offshore sells Indonesian shipyard to Wasco
Australian OSV operator and services provider MMA Offshore has struck a deal to sell its shipyard facility in Batam, Indonesia to Wasco Engineering Group.
Wasco is paying $15m for the shipyard facility MMA acquired in 2014. The purchase price will be paid in tranches, with the total amount payable on or before the completion date. The Perth-based firm said it would use the cash from the sale to strengthen its balance sheet. https://splash247.com/mma-offshore-sells-indonesian-shipyard-to-wasco/
7. West Coast Port Employers Laud Automation Ahead of Labor Talks
Employers at West Coast ports at the center of the U.S. supply-chain crisis released a study extolling the benefits of automation a week before the start of labor talks where the issue is set to feature. Paid hours at the two automated terminals in the San Pedro Bay complex — which includes the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach — have increased 31.5% since 2015. That’s more than twice the rate at the 11 non-automated terminals, according to the study led by University of California at Berkeley professor Michael Nacht published Monday. https://gcaptain.com/west-coast-port-employers-laud-automation-ahead-of-labor-talks/
8. Mapping the Seafloor – Innovations In Forward Looking Sonar (FLS)
All Argos FLS systems use FarSounder’s SonaSoft™ software for processing and displaying data. Its main function is to view real-time data in the path of the vessel. In addition to detecting the seafloor and hazards ahead in real-time, it also has a unique application called Local History Mapping™. The application stores this data for use as additional information to supplement older chart data. https://gcaptain.com/mapping-the-seafloor-innovations-in-forward-looking-sonar-fls/
9. Petronas-chartered midsize LNG carrier completes gas trials
China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding recently completed gas trials on the first of two midsize LNG carrier newbuilds built for long-term charter to Petronas by
Completion of gas trials on the LNG carrier Lagenda Suria is one of the final stages before delivery to its owner, K-Line. With a capacity of 79,960 m3, the LNG carrier was loaded in mid-March at Shanghai No. 5 Gou Gas Station in advance, completing the cargo hold cool down. https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/petronas-chartered-midsize-lng-carrier-completes-gas-trials-70896
10. Cochin Shipyard To Invest Rs 50 Cr In Maritime Sector, Announces Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
The ministry of waterways announced on Sunday that Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has committed to an initial amount of Rs 50 crore in start-ups in the maritime sector.
The announcement was made by Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, who unveiled the start-up engagement framework of CSL during the inauguration of the golden jubilee celebrations of CSL. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Cochin+Shipyard+to+invest+Rs+50+cr+in+Maritime+sector%2C+announces+Union+Minister+Sarbananda+Sonowal
