InterManager Daily News 14.08.2023.

1. ZeroNorth signs three-year deal with Cargill to provide a unified platform for vessel and voyage optimisation. Climate technology company will help Cargill reduce emissions and reach commercial goals using its full suite of services. Climate technology company ZeroNorth is today announcing that Cargill has signed a three-year contract that will see ZeroNorth become Cargill’s primary software provider for optimisations across vessels and voyages. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/08/11/zeronorth-signs-three-year-deal-with-cargill-to-provide-a-unified-platform-for-vessel-and-voyage-optimisation/
2. Impact of UK ETS Reforms on the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry. On 3 July 2023, the UK Government announced a package of reforms by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) Authority – the joint body that runs the scheme and comprises the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland. The UK ETS was launched in 2021 to replace the UK’s participation in the EU ETS, which it had participated in since its inception. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/08/11/impact-of-uk-ets-reforms-on-the-offshore-oil-and-gas-industry/
3. Shipowners look to avoid Panama Canal as wait times reach 21 days. Wait times at the Panama Canal have continued to mount, reaching up to 21 days as of Aug. 8, up from 18 on Aug. 4, causing clean tanker owners to avoid going through the canal, shifting their preference to book routes to the Atlantic Basin. As the dry season has continued to wreak havoc on the water levels at Gatun Lake, canal wait times have increased sharply amid draft restrictions and a reduced number of transit allotments. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/08/11/shipowners-look-to-avoid-panama-canal-as-wait-times-reach-21-days/
4. Japanese owners offload older Capesizes. Capesize sales from Japanese owners have increased by c.20% year on year with twelve sales reported over the first seven months of this year. Approximately half of these sales were for larger vessels of over 200,000 DWT. The average age of vessels sold was 15 years and almost all of these vessels were Japanese built and many were sold with long term charters attached. Chinese buyers led the way accounting for four purchases, followed by Singapore with three. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/08/11/japanese-owners-offload-older-capesizes/
5. China’s Guangzhou Gas receives first LNG cargo at new Nansha terminal. China’s Guangzhou Gas newly built 1 million mt/year Nansha LNG terminal has kicked off its operations under phase 1 after receiving the first cargo Aug. 8, an official with the company told S&P Global Commodity Insights Aug. 9. The LNG carrier MARAN GAS CORONIS carrying 142,889 cu m, or about 63,000 mt, of LNG arrived at Guangzhou Gas’ Nansha LNG terminal Aug. 8, S&P Global Commodities at Sea showed. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/08/11/chinas-guangzhou-gas-receives-first-lng-cargo-at-new-nansha-terminal/
6. Insurers take fright as tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait. With China facing economic headwinds Beijing has deployed a regular tactic to distract – sending its military toward the island of Taiwan, something that is happening on a more regular basis during Xi Jinping’s third term as president of the People’s Republic. China sent navy ships and a large group of fighter jets toward Taiwan this week. Taiwan’s defence ministry said the Chinese People’s Liberation Army sent 33 warplanes and six navy vessels between 6 am Wednesday to 6 am Thursday. https://splash247.com/insurers-take-fright-as-tensions-rise-in-the-taiwan-strait/
7. Ukraine proposes ‘humanitarian corridor’ to allow stranded ships to depart Ukraine announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea yesterday to release merchant ships stuck in its ports since the outbreak of war a year and a half ago. The move is seen as a challenge to Russia’s naval blockade it has enacted in recent weeks since quitting a United Nations-brokered grain shipping pact. https://splash247.com/ukraine-proposes-humanitarian-corridor-to-allow-stranded-ships-to-depart/
8. Russian Warships Sent To Arctic. Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected remote Arctic garrisons of the Northern Fleet, the ministry said on Saturday, as a detachment of warships was sent to the Arctic Ocean to perform tasks. Shoigu inspected the military infrastructure as well as “readiness for actions to protect and defend critical facilities”, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. https://gcaptain.com/russian-warships-sent-to-arctic/
9. Three Bulk Carriers Robbed In Singapore Strait. Three bulk carriers were robbed in the Singapore Strait earlier this week, a Singapore-based regional maritime security centre on Friday. One of the busiest commercial waterways in the world has seen a spike in piracy in recent years. https://gcaptain.com/three-bulk-carriers-robbed-in-singapore-strait/
10. IMO III 9: Guidance on remote survey and ISM Code audits finalized. The 9th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III 9) agreed on guidelines for remote surveys and ISM Code audits in extraordinary circumstances, and on updates to the survey guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) and the procedures for port state control. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/IMO+III+9%3A+Guidance+on+remote+survey+and+ISM+Code+audits+finalized