InterManager Daily News 22.09.2023.

1. Inchcape hosts webinar to highlight Panama Canal challenges amid drought restrictions. Shipping companies need to plan voyages around the availability of vessel transit slots on the Panama Canal as an extreme drought has hit traffic flows and led to longer waiting times for ships traversing the key waterway, according to Inchcape Shipping Services https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/20/inchcape-hosts-webinar-to-highlight-panama-canal-challenges-amid-drought-restrictions/
2. At APM Terminals everyone should feel safe to speak up says CEO Keith Svendsen Occasionally, I am asked, “What’s the best thing about being CEO of APM Terminals?” I don’t have to think for long. The best part of my job is when I do a GEMBA – a face-to-face, frontline walk – with my teammates, to listen to their experiences, concerns, perspectives, and new ideas.https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/20/blog-at-apm-terminals-everyone-should-feel-safe-to-speak-up-by-ceo-keith-svendsen/
3. NorthStandard identifies path for the future of P & I as it realises early consolidation gains Seven months after its formal launch, NorthStandard is already realizing tangible benefits from combining two of the best-known names in global marine insurance. Following an internal restructuring process which ended on 1 September, NorthStandard says the foundations are in place to deliver the full advantages of consolidating North P&I and Standard Club under a single organization. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/20/northstandard-identifies-path-for-the-future-of-p-and-i-as-it-realizes-early-consolidation-gains/
4. CMA CGM and Maersk join forces to accelerate the decarbonization of the shipping industry A.P. Moller – Maersk A/S and CMA CGM have decided to join forces on several areas relating to decarbonization, in full compliance with all laws and regulations. As frontrunners of the energy transition in shipping, both companies are convinced that joint action will help accelerating the green transition in shipping, learning from each other to go further and faster.https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/20/cma-cgm-and-maersk-join-forces-to-accelerate-the-decarbonization-of-the-shipping-industry/
5. Fire not the only danger with lithium-ion batteries. TT Club, the specialist international freight insurance provider is seeking greater emphasis on the critical dangers of toxic gas emissions associated with lithium-ion battery fires. The failure of such batteries has the potential to occur with no prior warning, or with such speed that there is typically no time to react to any warning signs. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/20/fire-not-the-only-danger-with-lithium-ion-batteries/
6. Castor Maritime spinoff Toro nets nearly $27m from double tanker sale. Nasdaq-listed tanker and LPG owner Toro has offloaded two ships for an aggregate price of $49.5m and a net gain of nearly $27m. The spinoff of Cyprus-based Castor Maritime has sold the 2006-built handysize MR tanker Wonder Formosa for $18m and the 2005-built aframax Wonder Vega for $31.5m to two different unaffiliated third parties. https://splash247.com/castor-maritime-spinoff-toro-nets-nearly-27m-from-double-tanker-sale/
7. Crowley floats plan for nuclear power plant vessel. US-based maritime, logistics and energy solutions company Crowley has teamed with fellow nuclear components supplier and developer BWX Technologies for a shallow-draft hull ship concept that will supply small-scale nuclear energy to shoreside locations. https://splash247.com/crowley-floats-plan-for-nuclear-power-plant-vessel/
8. China’s First Offshore Wind SOVs Launched The first two purpose-built Service Operation Vessels (SOV) for the Chinese offshore wind market have been launched at the ZMPC shipyard in China. The two Ulstein-designed SOVs are being built for Shanghai Electric Windpower Group and will enhance the efficiency of offshore wind farm operations in China, particularly in construction support and maintenance stages, by providing reliable and eco-friendly platforms, comfortable workspaces, safe access to wind turbines, and logistics capability. https://gcaptain.com/chinas-first-offshore-wind-sovs-launched/
9. Cargo Ship Crew Evacuated After Explosion Near Romanian Danube Port The crew of a Togo-flagged general cargo ship bound for one of Ukraine’s Danube river ports were evacuated early on Wednesday after an explosion on board near the Romanian port of Sulina, Romanian officials said. The Seama ship reported an explosion early on Wednesday and requested the evacuation of the 12-person crew near Sulina, where the Danube flows into the Black Sea. https://gcaptain.com/cargo-ship-crew-evacuated-after-explosion-near-romanian-danube-port/
10. Baltic index logs best day in almost two months on capesize demand The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, on Tuesday posted its biggest single-day gain since late July, propelled by a jump in the capesize segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 87 points, or 6.1%, to 1,526. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+logs+best+day+in+almost+two+months+on+capesize+demand