InterManager Daily News 25.09.2023.

1. Europe’s shipping emissions back to pre-pandemic high. European shipping emissions reached an all time high last year, new Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis shows. With the UN’s global shipping body failing to agree on binding emissions measures at its landmark summit back in July, Europe must move ahead with its own ambitious decarbonisation path, says T&E. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/22/europes-shipping-emissions-back-to-pre-pandemic-high/
2. West of Suez VLCC rates near 16-month lows amid weak fundamentals. Freight rates for the West of Suez Very Large Crude Carrier market have fallen significantly since the end of August, with market sources pointing to low inquiry levels, OPEC+ oil production cuts until the end of 2023, uncertainty over China’s economic prospects, weakness in adjacent markets and a lengthy tonnage list. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/22/west-of-suez-vlcc-rates-near-16-month-lows-amid-weak-fundamentals/
3. Seafarers reporting diverse mental health challenges to ISWAN’s helplines. The latest quarterly helpline data released by the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) highlights the diverse range of mental health challenges facing seafarers. Calls and messages from seafarers relating to mental health increased by 37% in the last quarter (Q2 2023 – April to June) across all helplines operated by ISWAN. Seafarers contacted ISWAN’s helplines from across the maritime sector, from shipping to the cruise and superyacht industries. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/22/seafarers-reporting-diverse-mental-health-challenges-to-iswans-helplines/
4. Russia considers export duty on oil products of $250/T from Oct. 1 – sources. Russia’s government is considering imposing export duties on all types of oil products of $250 per metric ton – much higher than current fees – from Oct. 1 until June 2024 to tackle fuel shortages, sources told Reuters on Tuesday. The domestic fuel shortage in Russia – one of the world’s biggest oil producers – is due to maintenance work at refineries, infrastructure bottlenecks and a weaker rouble. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/22/russia-considers-export-duty-on-oil-products-of-250-t-from-oct-1-sources/
5. Twenty two partners support emission reductions on Rotterdam-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore , the Port of Rotterdam Authority and 20 partners in the Green & Digital Shipping Corridor are working to reduce 20% to 30% of emissions from international shipping by 2030. This was agreed at the third Green Corridor workshop, held this week in Rotterdam https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/09/22/partners-support-emission-reductions-on-rotterdam-singapore-green-and-digital-shipping-corridor/
6. Nexans contracts cable layer newbuild at Ulstein. French cabling specialist Nexans has returned to Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein with a contract on the construction of a large DP3 cable laying vessel. The vessel, an ST-297 CLV design by Skipsteknisk, will be an updated version of the Nexans Aurora, delivered in 2021. https://splash247.com/nexans-contracts-cable-layer-newbuild-at-ulstein/
7. Blanked sailings fail to halt plummeting spot indices. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) fell another 4% today, the key box spot index remaining stubbornly below 1,000 points at 911.71 points. Likewise, Drewry’s World Container Index, another composite spot indicator, fell 5.2% to $1,479.48 per feu, albeit it remains 4% higher than average 2019, pre-pandemic rates. https://splash247.com/blanked-sailings-fail-to-halt-plummeting-spot-indices/
8. Russia’s Diesel Exports Ban Is Risky For Moscow And World Alike. With the northern hemisphere winter approaching and global diesel markets already tight, Russia has banned exports of the fuel that’s used for transportation, heating and industrial processes. Many analysts expect the halt to be temporary, but others see it as another example of Moscow weaponizing energy exports, as its invasion of Ukraine enters a 20th month. https://gcaptain.com/russias-diesel-exports-ban-is-risky-for-moscow-and-world-alike/
9. Impeding Migrant Rescues At Sea Is ‘Gesture Of Hate’ Pope Francis said on Friday that migrants who risk drowning at sea “must be rescued” because doing so was “a duty of humanity” and that those who impede rescues commit “a gesture of hate.” Francis, 86, spoke at an inter-religious prayer service before a monument dedicated to those lost at sea. Earlier, the city’s archbishop, Cardinal Jean Marc Aveline, an Algerian-born Frenchman, criticized politicians who block NGOs and their ships from saving drowning people. https://gcaptain.com/impeding-migrant-rescues-at-sea-is-gesture-of-hate/
10. Baltic index posts third straight weekly gain on capesize strength The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index rose to a more than four-month peak on Friday and registered its third consecutive weekly gain on higher rates for capesize vessels. The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose by 24 points, or 1.5%, to 1,593 – highest level since May 11. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+posts+third+straight+weekly+gain+on+capesize+strength