1. Nicolas Jirkas appointed as Deputy CEO of Island Oil Holdings
Island Oil Holdings announced that, effective as of September 1st 2022, Island Oil Holdings’ CFO, Mr. Nicolas Jirkas, will assume an additional role as Deputy CEO of the group. In addition, Mr. Aris Athanasiades has joined Island Oil Holdings as Deputy CFO, also effective as of September 1st. Mr. Athanasiades is a chartered accountant who has held a similar position in the ship- ping industry and joins us with a wealth of knowledge and experience. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/09/01/nicolas-jirkas-appointed-as-deputy-ceo-of-island-oil-holdings/
2. Grounded bulk carrier ‘OS 35’ off Gibraltar starts to break in two but not yet fully separated
The hull of the Bulk Carrier OS 35 has broken. The two sections of the vessel have not yet fully separated. There was a clear risk that this would occur. It was for this reason that urgent attempts were being made to remove fuel from the vessel. This has not yet been possible. The OS 35 is already surrounded by an ocean boom that should contain any spill of oil which may occur. No oil spill appears to have occurred. This is being constantly monitored. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/09/01/grounded-bulk-carrier-os-35-off-gibraltar-starts-to-break-in-two-but-not-yet-fully-separated/
3. Oil tanker runs aground, briefly blocking Suez Canal before it was freed
An oil tanker ran aground Wednesday in Egypt’s Suez Canal, briefly blocking traffic in the global waterway before it was freed, the canal’s authority said, according to Associated Press. The Singaporean-flagged Affinity V vessel had become wedged in a single-lane stretch of the canal, the Suez Canal Authority’s head Osama Rabie said in a statement issued by the body. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/09/01/oil-tanker-runs-aground-briefly-blocking-suez-canal-before-it-was-freed/
4. Proman Stena Bulk’s methanol-fuelled tankers conduct South Korea’s first methanol bunkering
Proman Stena Bulk, the joint venture (JV) between major global methanol producer Proman and one of the world’s largest tanker shipping companies Stena Bulk, has announced that their two fully operational methanol-fuelled tankers have become the first vessels to bunker methanol in Ulsan, South Korea. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/09/01/proman-stena-bulks-methanol-fuelled-tankers-conduct-south-koreas-first-methanol-bunkering/
5. Valaris seals fresh drilling deals
The New York-listed offshore driller has secured a three-well contract with Eni offshore Mexico for the 2012-built semisub Valaris DPS-5. The contract is set to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022 and has an estimated duration of 240 days with an operating day rate of $313,500 plus a mobilisation fee of around $1.2m. https://splash247.com/valaris-seals-fresh-drilling-deals/
6. Transatlantic capesize round voyage rates hit new low of just $944 a day
Capesize woes have entered new depths. The transatlantic C8 route yesterday plummeted into triple-digit territory, coming in at $944 per day, according to the Baltic Exchange, capping off one of the most miserable Augusts on record. https://splash247.com/transatlantic-capesize-round-voyage-rates-hit-new-low-of-just-944-a-day/
7. Russian Chief Engineer Sentenced to Prison for Dumping Oily Bilge Water and Cover-Up
The Chief Engineer of a foreign flagged bulk carrier has been sentenced to a year plus one day in prison for deliberately discharging oil-contaminated bilge water overboard in U.S. waters and obstructing justice. Chief Engineer Kirill Kompaniets, a Russian national, previously pleaded guilty in May to two felony counts related to illegal discharges in violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and obstruction of justice based on multiple intential efforts to conceal the discharges.
8. Preventing Risk of Battery Fires in Shipping
As more and more electric vehicles (EVs) and battery-powered electronic devices are being transported by ships, highly inflammable lithium-ion batteries are increasingly impacting shipping safety. This has been demonstrated by a number of fires on vessels, especially on roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) car carriers and containerships. https://gcaptain.com/preventing-risk-of-battery-fires-in-shipping/
9. Cutting drydocking costs down to size with digital tools
In its determination to be a “digital frontrunner”, Remøy Shipping has thrown away the spreadsheet and replaced it with VesselMan. A long-term owner of OSVs with a big ship-management business, parent company Remøy Group has engaged the digital management tool to help with project planning, cost control and analysis. Already, the tool has greatly simplified the widely recognised complications of drydocking, where delays and cost overruns are almost routine, says the company. https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/cutting-drydocking-costs-down-to-size-with-digital-tools-72704
10. Weak demand across vessels drags Baltic index to worst month in over 2 years
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Wednesday and registered its biggest monthly decline in more than two years on waning demand across vessels, led by capesizes. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Weak+demand+across+vessels+drags+Baltic+index+to+worst+month+in+over+2+years
