InterManager Daily News 26.10.2023.

1. Columbia Group expands manning agency network with CSM Vietnam The Columbia Group has opened a new manning agency, Columbia Shipmanagement Vietnam , adding to its worldwide network of owned manning agencies.The establishment of CSM Vietnam satisfies Columbia’s long-standing ambition to tap into the developing Vietnam seafarers’ market with direct access. Whilst CSM has been employing Vietnam seafarers for years via third-party arrangements, possessing its own manning agency in Vietnam for this purpose marks a crucial step for Columbia’s far-reaching initiatives in Vietnam and Asia, more generally. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/10/24/columbia-group-expands-manning-agency-network-with-csm-vietnam/
2. NYK launches sixth LNG-Fueled pure car and truck carrier NYK’s sixth LNG-fueled pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), Sumire Leader, has started its transportation service for Mazda Motor Corporation (Headquarters: Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture; Representative Director, President, and CEO: Katsuhiro Kago), arriving at the port of Hiroshima on Oct 17 and the port of Nakanoseki (Yamaguchi Prefecture) on Oct 18. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/10/24/nyk-launches-sixth-lng-fueled-pure-car-and-truck-carrier-2/
3. HFW continues to support BIMCO on shipping industry decarbonisation Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has continued to support BIMCO in helping the shipping industry navigate complex new carbon intensity (CII) regulations and work towards decarbonisation.https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/10/24/hfw-continues-to-support-bimco-on-shipping-industry-decarbonisation/
4. Cool Co and Huaxia Financial Leasing agree sale and leaseback financing for newbuild vessels Cool Company and Huaxia Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. announced that they had entered into sale and leaseback financing arrangements (the “Sale and Leasebacks”) for the Kool Tiger and Kool Panther newbuild vessels scheduled to deliver to CoolCo in the second half of 2024 from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in Korea. Reference is made to the press release published by CoolCo on June 28, 2023 regarding the announcement that the Company had exercised its option to acquire the newbuild vessels and had received a commitment for the related debt financing. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/10/24/cool-co-and-huaxia-financial-leasing-agree-sale-and-leaseback-financing-for-newbuild-vessels/
5. Tankers International welcomes new pool partner Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and additional vessel from TRF One VLCC, owned and operated by Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), a subsidiary of state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), has joined the VLCC pool, while another vessel from KPC is expected to join later this month. Meanwhile, existing pool partner Transportation Recovery Fund (TRF) has added another vessel – the Eco Seas – to the specialist VLCC Scrubber Pool. This brings the total fleet size to 66.https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2023/10/24/tankers-international-welcomes-new-pool-partner-kuwait-petroleum-corporation-and-additional-vessel-from-trf-2/
6. Tuvalu warns of fraudulent ship registry website The Government of Tuvalu has sent a letter to the secretary general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in which it stated that a fraudulent website was offering shipping registry services on behalf of the island nation. The letter, received by the IMO last week, warned that the Tuvalu Ships Registry was not managed by Samuelu Telavi as per the claims on the fraudulent website. https://splash247.com/tuvalu-warns-of-fraudulent-ship-registry-website/
7. Several missing after cargo ship sinks off German coast A general cargo ship has sunk following a collision of two vessels some 22 kilometres southwest of the island Heligoland in the German North Sea. Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said that the 2001-built, 3,360-dwt general cargo ship Verity sunk after colliding with the 2009-built, 38,069-dwt bulk carrier Polesie which is still buoyant and has 22 people on board. https://splash247.com/several-missing-after-cargo-ship-sinks-off-german-coast/
8. Port of Los Angeles Reports Increase in September Cargo Volumes The Port of Los Angeles has announced a rise in cargo volumes for the month of September, following in the footsteps of its neighboring Port of Long Beach.The Port of Los Angeles on Monday reported handling 748,440 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in September, representing a 5.4% improvement compared to the same period in 2022. Notably, imports saw a significant increase of 14%, while exports experienced a remarkable jump of 55%. https://gcaptain.com/port-of-los-angeles-reports-increase-in-september-cargo-volumes/
9. Maersk Sued Over 2021 Cargo Loss Danish shipping line Maersk is facing a $5.8 million lawsuitover the loss of containers from the Maersk Eindhoven in 2021. The lawsuit was filed last by the insurer for retail giant Target, Starr Indemnity & Liability Company, in the Southern District of New York. It seeks damages for the loss of 57 containers carrying Target goods.https://gcaptain.com/maersk-sued-over-2021-cargo-loss/
10. Baltic index falls on muted capesize demand. The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell for a third straight session on Monday, pressured by weaker rates in the capesize segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell by 29 points, or 1.4%, to 2,017, its lowest in a week. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+falls+on+muted+capesize+demand