1. Topeka, the Wilhelmsen owned zero emission shipping company, launches two carbon neutral, methanol fuelled container newbuilds
Together with partners MPC Container Ships ASA and MPC Capital AG, Topeka has contracted two 1300 TEU carbon neutral container vessels. Both vessels will be delivered in 2024 and immediately move into long-term contracts with North Sea Container Line.
Benefitting from dramatically reduced emissions, the two new-build ships will replace three of North Sea Container Line’s (NCL) current diesel-powered vessels, which will be phased out of operations. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/07/06/topeka-the-wilhelmsen-owned-zero-emission-shipping-company-launches-two-carbon-neutral-methanol-fuelled-container-newbuilds/
2. Höegh Autoliners recognised for excellence in the maritime sector by winning important award
Höegh Autoliners has been awarded “Shipping Line of the Year – Breakbulk & RoRo” for the fifth time in a row at the India Maritime Awards 2022 held in Mumbai.
When the India Maritime Awards 2022 was held recently, Höegh Autoliners was awarded Best Shipping Line of the year within the RORO Category for sustained year on year growth, customer appreciation and innovative solutions within the High & Heavy, Breakbulk and Project Cargo segments. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/07/06/hoegh-autoliners-recognised-for-excellence-in-the-maritime-sector-by-winning-important-award/
3. OneLearn Global welcomes drive for greater digitalisation in seafarer training
OneLearn Global has welcomed findings by Inmarsat that tomorrow’s seafarers will demand greater use of technology, digitalisation and faster internet speeds at sea as part of their future training requirements.
“The rapid adoption of available digital tools will not only accelerate the training and wellbeing choices and options open to seafarers, but also help organizations build a productive and engaged workforce in the years ahead,” said OLG CEO, Abhinava S. Narayana. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/07/06/onelearn-global-welcomes-drive-for-greater-digitalisation-in-seafarer-training/
4. EU guarantee supports EBRD in loans to key Ukraine companies
The EBRD and European Union are further strengthening their already close cooperation on supporting Ukraine in wartime, formalising a commitment for the European Commission to provide guarantees to support €70 million of recent EBRD loans to Ukrainian companies that provide vital services to the country’s real economy.
These loans – part of the €1 billion which the EBRD will invest in Ukraine in 2022, with donors and partners – include €50 million in liquidity support to UkrZaliznytsya (UZ), Ukraine’s railway company, and support for the country’s pharmaceutical industry. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/07/06/eu-guarantee-supports-ebrd-in-loans-to-key-ukraine-companies/
5. Zelenskyy urges Greek owners to stop moving Russian oil
Speaking via a video link from Kyiv to the 26th Annual Economist Government Roundtable held in Athens yesterday, Zelenskyy said: “We see Greek companies providing almost the largest tanker fleet for the transportation of Russian oil.” The Ukrainian president went on to add: “I am sure that this does not meet the interests of Europe, Greece or Ukraine. This is just one example of the need for even greater unity, so that Russia is forced to seek peaceful solutions.” https://splash247.com/zelenskyy-urges-greek-owners-to-stop-moving-russian-oil/
6. Rising covid cases in China spark further lockdowns
Covid flareups are being reported across the world’s most populous nation, with a three-day mass testing of millions of citizens in Shanghai underway, the 13m people in the northwestern city of Xian back under partial lockdown and growing numbers of cases reported in the capital, Beijing. https://splash247.com/rising-covid-cases-in-china-spark-further-lockdowns/
7. Norway Oil and Gas Workers End Strike as Government Steps In
The Norwegian government on Tuesday intervened to end a strike in the country’s energy sector that had cut oil and gas output, a union leader and the labor ministry said.
Norwegian offshore oil and gas workers went on strike over pay on Tuesday, the first day of planned industrial action that had threatened to cut the country’s gas exports by almost 60% and exacerbate supply shortages linked to the Ukraine war. https://gcaptain.com/norway-oil-and-gas-workers-end-strike-as-government-steps-in/
8. Proman Stena Bulk Takes Delivery of Second Methanol-Powered MR Tanker
The joint venture, named Proman Stena Bulk, was formed in 2019 as a 50-50 joint venture between Swiss-based methanol Proman and Stena Bulk. The JV announced Tuesday the delivery of the Stena Pro Marine, its second of six methanol-powered newbuilds ordered Guangzhou Shipyard International. The first vessel, Stena Pro Patria, was delivered in June.
https://gcaptain.com/proman-stena-bulk-takes-delivery-of-second-methanol-powered-mr-tanker/
9. Ballast water systems: what shipowners really want
Not all ballast water treatment systems are the same system design limitations can have a big impact on the efficiency of the system
One of the first lessons learnt by shipowners now operating ballast water treatment systems (BWMS) on newbuildings, or recently retrofitted systems on older ships, is that IMO and/or US Coast Guard (USCG) type-approval is not guarantee of 100% performance. Why is that?
https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/ballast-water-systems-what-shipowners-really-want-71873
10. India, Iran discuss Chabahar port, other bilateral issues
India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on Tuesday spoke to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani and discussed various bilateral issues, according to a Ministry of External Affairs statement. “The two sides discussed various elements of bilateral relations, including progress on the Chabahar Port. The Foreign Secretary underscored India’s commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Iran in addressing shared opportunities and challenges. Both sides also discussed international and regional issues including Afghanistan,” the statement said. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/India%2C+Iran+discuss+Chabahar+port%2C+other+bilateral+issues
