InterManager Daily News 17.08.2023.

1. Blanked sailings now ‘part of normal shipping business life’. Blanked sailings have become “part of normal shipping business life” on key east-west container tradelanes, suggests Alphaliner in its latest weekly report. However, other experts question just how much is actually blanked. Alphaliner data shows in June and July, 10.8% of all regular sailings out of the 25 Central China — Europe loops offered by the three big alliances were voided. Sea-Intelligence data shows transpacific blanked sailings have been ticking up in July and August also. https://splash247.com/blanked-sailings-now-part-of-normal-shipping-business-life/
2. Evergreen buys into Rotterdam’s Euromax terminal. Taiwanese container giant Evergreen has bought a 20% stake in Rotterdam’s Euromax terminal for EUR72.5m ($109m), with analysts at Alphaliner suggesting Hutchison Ports was the seller. Fully operational, Euromax has design capacity of 4m teu. COSCO is among the other shareholders in the highly automated terminal. https://splash247.com/evergreen-buys-into-rotterdams-euromax-terminal/
3. Minerva Marine readies container entrance. Andreas Martinos-led Minerva Marine is tipped to shortly be entering the container trades. Analysts at Alphaliner suggest Martinos is behind a pair of 1,844 teu newbuilds ordered a year ago at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, due for delivery by the end of this year. The ships are costing $30m each. https://splash247.com/minerva-marine-readies-container-entrance/
4. AD Ports eyes further Kazakhstan investments AD Ports Group from Abu Dhabi has signed a heads of terms (HoT) agreement with Semurg Invest, the owner and developer of Sarzha Multifunctional Marine Terminal at Kazakhstan’s Kuryk Port, to potentially invest in a grain terminal. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies would form a joint venture to invest, operate and develop Sarzha terminal on the Caspian Sea into a multipurpose terminal. https://splash247.com/ad-ports-eyes-further-kazakhstan-investments/
5. One dead, three missing as rig capsizes in Nigeria. One person has died and three have been declared missing after a drilling rig capsized in Nigeria’s Delta State on Tuesday. Nigerian oil and gas independent Seplat Energy confirmed the incident on the Depthwise swamp rig Majestic took place while it was in transit to its planned drilling location at Ovhor oilfield in the OML 38 block in the northwestern Niger Delta. https://splash247.com/one-dead-three-missing-as-rig-capsizes-in-nigeria/
6. U.S. Navy Decommissions 5-Year-Old Littoral Combat Ship USS Sioux City. The U.S. Navy decommissioned the littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Sioux City (LCS 11) on Monday after less than five years in service. The Freedom-variant LCS was built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, and commissioned November 17, 2018, at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. https://gcaptain.com/u-s-navy-decommissions-5-year-old-littoral-combat-ship-uss-sioux-city/
7. Global Conservation Mission Sets Sail From UK in Darwin’s Wake. Almost two centuries after Charles Darwin’s voyage around the world, environmentalists plan to follow in his footsteps by undertaking a two-year journey across four continents to study endemic wildlife and boost conservation. The group will set sail on board a 105-year-old schooner on Tuesday from the southern English port of Plymouth, from where British naturalist Darwin’s own expedition began in 1831, leading him to develop the theory of evolution by natural selection. https://gcaptain.com/global-conservation-mission-sets-sail-from-uk-in-darwins-wake/
8. Germany signs milestone LNG deal with Oman LNG. SEFE and Oman LNG have signed a binding term-sheet agreement, whereby SEFE will receive 0.58 mta of LNG per year from Oman LNG for four year, starting in 2026. SEFE is the first German firm to receive Omani LNG. Oman LNG chief commercial officer Mahmoud Al-Balushi said, “The term-sheet signing with SEFE marks another milestone, where the Omani LNG will be accessing a new market through Germany, and beyond.” https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/germany-signs-milestone-lng-deal-with-oman-lng-77390
9. Advancing ammonia fuel development without compromising safety. SEFE and Oman LNG have signed a binding term-sheet agreement, whereby SEFE will receive 0.58 mta of LNG per year from Oman LNG for four year, starting in 2026. SEFE is the first German firm to receive Omani LNG. Oman LNG chief commercial officer Mahmoud Al-Balushi said, “The term-sheet signing with SEFE marks another milestone, where the Omani LNG will be accessing a new market through Germany, and beyond.” https://www.rivieramm.com/news-content-hub/germany-signs-milestone-lng-deal-with-oman-lng-77390
10. Gains in panamax vessel rates take Baltic sea freight index higher. The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index .BADI edged up on Monday as rates for the panamax segment, ferrying coal and grain cargoes, hit a more than three-month high that also helped offset a dip in the larger capesize vessel segment. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Gains+in+panamax+vessel+rates+take+Baltic+sea+freight+index+higher