1. Supporting sustainable blue economy development through IMO’s Voyage Together Initiative
IMO in partnership with MTCC Latin America co-hosted a side event during the Our Ocean Conference in Panama City (2 March). Its theme was “Supporting Blue Economies through Sustainable Maritime Transport (BE SMART): Building Global Partnerships to address Climate Change and Marine Pollution through IMO’s Voyage Together Initiative”. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/15/supporting-sustainable-blue-economy-development-through-imos-voyage-together-initiative/
2. Ocean Yield announced agreement with new bareboat charters with purchase obligations for two AHTS vessels
Ocean Yield AS has entered into an agreement to charter out the two 2013 built AHTS vessels, Far Senator and Normand Statesman on bareboat charters to Viking Supply Ships AB for a period of five years. The Charterer will have purchase options during the charter, and an obligation to purchase the vessels at the end of the charter term, if requested by Ocean Yield. There is also a substantial element of pre-paid charter hire to be paid upon commencement of the transaction. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/15/ocean-yield-announced-agreement-with-new-bareboat-charters-with-purchase-obligations-for-two-ahts-vessels/
3. New Coal Carrier for EnerGia Named “Kagura”
Uses carbon offsets to theoretically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to zero for the entire contracted voyage On March 9, the coal carrier Kagura for the Chugoku Electric Power was delivered at Oshima Shipbuilding. A naming and delivery ceremony took place on the same day and was attended by Shigeru Ashitani, representative director, vice president and senior managing executive officer of EnerGia; Hitoshi Nagasawa, president of NYK; and many other persons concerned https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/15/new-coal-carrier-for-energia-named-kagura/
4. ABP wins ‘Employer of the Year’ and ‘Maritime 2050’ categories at Maritime UK Awards
Last night, ABP, the UK’s leading ports group, won two categories in the prestigious Maritime UK Awards – ‘Employer of the Year’ and ‘Maritime 2050’, at a ceremony in Hull, fittingly the home of one of ABP’s strategic Humber ports. This recognition by Maritime UK – the collective voice for the UK’s maritime industries – follows a number of significant steps taken by the company to empower employees and create a great place to work as well as ABP taking a leading role in delivering the objectives of the Maritime 2050 Strategy. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/03/15/abp-wins-employer-of-the-year-and-maritime-2050-categories-at-maritime-uk-awards/
5. Wan Hai cops fine from the Federal Maritime Commission
Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines has become the latest carrier to feel the wrath of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in Washington DC, copping a $950,000 fine as well as agreeing to refund charges in a detention and demurrage case which dates back to 2021. https://splash247.com/wan-hai-cops-fine-from-the-federal-maritime-commission/
6. Japan to California green shipping corridor pact signed in Tokyo
The Japanese government has signed a letter of intent with the governor of California to establish a green shipping corridor over the Pacific. The agreement signed between governor Newsom and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan will also look to commercialise zero-emission fuels. https://splash247.com/japan-to-california-green-shipping-corridor-pact-signed-in-tokyo/
7. Number of scrubber-equipped vessels to grow despite drop in fittings last year
Despite a significant drop in the number of installations, the share of scrubber-fitted vessels is expected to increase in the coming years. BIMCO reported 399 onboard installations last year, a 24% decrease year on year, with scrubbers now installed on 13% of bulkers, tankers, and containerships. This percentage is set to rise, as 17% of ships currently on the yard’s books are expected to have scrubbers installed. https://splash247.com/number-of-scrubber-equipped-vessels-to-grow-despite-drop-in-fittings-last-year/
8. All-Female SpaceX Crew Makes Space Recovery History
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is making a little bit of history this week with what is believed to be the first all-female crew involved the space recovery operations off the coast of Florida. The operation was carried out Tuesday as part of SpaceX’s latest launch of the company’s of its Dragon spacecraft by one of its Falcon 9 rocket, marking the Dragon program’s 27th commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station. https://gcaptain.com/all-female-spacex-crew-makes-space-recovery-history/
9. UAE Bunkering Hub Falling Behind on Alternative Fuels
UAE’s Fujairah must step up investments for storage and supply of new alternative fuels as these markets are still lacking traction at the world’s third-largest bunkering hub despite the urgency for maritime decarbonisation, industry executives said on Wednesday. The maritime industry must seek out alternative fuels to meet carbon emission reduction targets set out by the U.N.’s International Maritime Organization, which include cutting carbon emissions by 40% from 2008 levels by 2030 and overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2050. https://gcaptain.com/uae-bunkering-hub-falling-behind-on-alternative-fuels/
10. Baltic index rises on panamax vessel demand
The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose on Wednesday, as gains in the panamax segment countered losses in capesize rates. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 16 points, or about 1%, to 1,603 – its highest since Dec. 22. The panamax index was up 25 points, or about 1.4%, to 1,768 – its highest since Oct. 28 https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+rises+on+panamax+vessel+demand
