1. Women in maritime have shown leadership during the pandemic crisis, 61% of participants of a COVID survey believe
WISTA International (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association) and the researchers from the Espirito Santo Federal University in Brazil (UFES) ran a survey focused on the impact of the COVID pandemic on women in maritime based on work, family and community life of WISTA members. According to the findings, 61.51% of the participants feel that women showed leadership during the pandemic crisis at work or in their communities. A further key finding was that for the majority of the group (54.81%), domestic activities increased after the start of the pandemic. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/10/31/women-in-maritime-have-shown-leadership-during-the-pandemic-crisis-61-of-participants-of-a-covid-survey-believe/
2. Sunstone takes delivery of Infinity class vessels Ocean Odyssey and Sylvia Earle
SunStone Maritime Group A/S, the world’s largest tonnage provider to the expedition cruise industry, is pleased to announce the delivery of two INFINITY CLASS vessels, the OCEAN ODYSSEY, and the SYLVIA EARLE. Final documents were signed on Friday, October 21, completing delivery of the two vessels from the CMHI Shipyard in Haimen, China to the SunStone companies. They will now begin repositioning before going on long-term charters. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/10/31/sunstone-takes-delivery-of-infinity-class-vessels-ocean-odyssey-and-sylvia-earle/
3. Port of Antwerp-Bruges & CMB.TECH welcome HYDROTUG 1 to Belgium
On Thursday 27 October, the HYDROTUG 1 arrived in the port of Ostend. Here, the first hydrogen-powered tugboat will be further finished with the hydrogen system. Ostend was chosen because the tug can use the hydrogen bunkering facilities of CMB.TECH’s Hydrocat 48 there. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/10/31/port-of-antwerp-bruges-cmb-tech-welcome-hydrotug-1-to-belgium/
4. Ørsted enters into agreement with Equinor on Norwegian gas for Denmark
Ørsted and Equinor have just signed an agreement under which Equinor will supply Norwegian gas to Denmark via Baltic Pipe. The agreement covers the period from 1 January 2023 to 1 April 2024, and the total volumes of gas supplied during the period will be approx. 8 TWh, corresponding to roughly a quarter of the expected total Danish gas consumption. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2022/10/31/orsted-enters-into-agreement-with-equinor-on-norwegian-gas-for-denmark/
5. Nigeria to Open Bidding for Deep Offshore Oil Blocks
Nigeria plans to auction deep offshore oil and gas licenses for the first time in 15 years, according to a senior government official. The West African country will launch a bidding round for seven deep-water blocks in November, the chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, said by phone. The government issued dozens of such permits between 1993 and 2007 to open up the ocean floor to oil and gas production. https://gcaptain.com/nigeria-to-open-bidding-for-deep-offshore-oil-blocks/
6. U.N., Turkey, Ukraine Press Ahead With Black Sea Grain Deal Despite Russian Pullout
The United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine pressed ahead to implement a Black Sea grain deal and agreed on a transit plan for Monday for 16 vessels to move forward, despite Russia’s withdrawal from the pact that has allowed the export of Ukrainian agricultural products to world markets. https://gcaptain.com/u-n-turkey-ukraine-press-ahead-with-black-sea-grain-deal-despite-russian-pullout/
7. Laden VLCC aground near Singapore gas pipeline
A very delicate refloating operation is required in Indonesian waters where a laden VLCC has run aground in the busy Singapore Strait, very near a gas pipeline. The Djibouti-flagged Young Yong tanker ran aground by Nipa Island near Batam on Thursday. The ship is carrying 284,429 tons of Indonesian crude bound for Mozambique. https://splash247.com/laden-vlcc-aground-near-singapore-gas-pipeline/
8. US Department of Transportation invests $703m to improve port infrastructure
The US Department of Transportation, through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), plans to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory to improve port facilities across the country. The $703m investment in coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inland river ports is intended to help improve supply chain reliability through increased port capacity and resilience, more efficient operations, reduced port emissions and new workforce opportunities. https://splash247.com/us-department-of-transportation-invests-703m-to-improve-port-infrastructure/
9. The dire triangle and crew welfare
Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, identifies the three elements which shape life for crew that suffer. One of the first things any seafarer learns, well aside from how to soap their nethers properly, is about the fire triangle. That beautifully simple yet evocative explanation of the relationship between heat, fuel and oxygen. https://splash247.com/the-dire-triangle-and-crew-welfare/
10. India’s Sept crude oil imports fall 6.7% to 16 mn tonnes; 5.8% YoY decline
India’s crude oil imports in September fell to 16.46 million tonnes, down 6.7% from a month ago, government data showed on Friday. On a yearly basis, imports dipped by 5.8%, data from the website of the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell showed. The drop in intakes come against a backdrop of maintenance at refiners such as Reliance Industries and Indian Oil Corp. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/India%E2%80%99s+Sept+crude+oil+imports+fall+6.7%25+to+16+mn+tonnes%3B+5.8%25+YoY+decline
