InterManager Daily News 04.01.2024.

1. Clean-up begins after Maersk loses shipping containers in North Sea Debris has washed up on beaches along Denmark’s North Sea shoreline after a Maersk container ship lost boxes overboard during Storm Pia, just before Christmas. Maersk confirmed it became aware of the incident on 22 December, and is still investigating. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/01/03/clean-up-begins-after-maersk-loses-shipping-containers-in-north-sea/
2. China aims to build more than half the world’s cleaner-fuel ships by 2025 China has set itself the goal of producing more than half of the world’s ships powered by cleaner fuels by 2025, in guidelines published by the industry ministry on Thursday.It did not give any estimates of the number of ships involved. But the guidelines said China would build morevessels powered by lower-carbon fuels such as methanol and liquefied natural gas, part of Beijing’s push to become carbonneutral by 2060. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/01/03/china-aims-to-build-more-than-half-the-worlds-cleaner-fuel-ships-by-2025/
3. WAF VLCC rates drop to near two-month lows amid Christmas fixing lull Freight rates for Very Large Crude Carrier voyages loading in West Africa have fallen to near their lowest levels since the end of October, with sources citing ample tonnage lists in the major global loading zones, lower export volumes from the Persian Gulf and a slowdown in activity levels due to the Christmas holidays. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/01/03/waf-vlcc-rates-drop-to-near-two-month-lows-amid-christmas-fixing-lull/
4. Freight rates quadrupled amid Red Sea shipping chaos The logistics crisis originating from the Red Sea is posing a year-end threat to the global economy. Yemeni rebels supporting the Palestinian armed group Hamas persist in attacking civilian ships in the Red Sea, obstructing the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe. Consequently, international freight rates have surged, and previously stable international oil prices are experiencing fluctuations. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/01/03/freight-rates-quadrupled-amid-red-sea-shipping-chaos/
5. Singapore crosses record three Billion Gross Tonnage in annual vessel arrival tonnage The Port of Singapore registered a record three billion gross tonnage[1] (GT) in annual vessel arrival tonnage. The three billion GT mark was crossed with the arrival of the 8,628 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), 98,799 GT Singapore-flagged containership, ONE OLYMPUS, at the Pasir Panjang Terminal on 25 December 2023. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/01/03/singapore-crosses-record-three-billion-gross-tonnage-in-annual-vessel-arrival-tonnage/
6. New IMarEST chief appointed The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) has announced the appointment of Chris Goldsworthy as its new chief executive, replacing Gwynne Lewis who is retiring, having been in the position since 2020.Goldsworthy had been technical director at Hong Kong’s Tamar Ship Management prior to the IMarEST posting. https://splash247.com/new-imarest-chief-appointed/
7. Master and chief engineer kidnapped off Equatorial Guinea The Tuvalu-registered 13,000 dwt Hana I tanker was boarded 45 nautical miles south of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea on January 1 with the ship’s captain and chief engineer kidnapped.“The vessel was observed transiting at 11kn, before rapidly coming to adrift, the vessel then appeared to drift for 80 minutes before going underway. At the time of the incident, the vessel had an estimated 4.7m freeboard,” an update from security consultants Ambrey noted. https://splash247.com/master-and-chief-engineer-kidnapped-off-equatorial-guinea/
8. Red Sea Attacks Continue as Containership Reports Nearby Explosions British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Tuesday that a Malta-flagged container ship reported seeing three explosions towards its port quarter, 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Yemen’s Mocha.The vessel master was heard over VHF, calling a coalition warship, the firm added. https://gcaptain.com/red-sea-shipping-attacks-continue-2/
9. Baltic index steady as lower rates for smaller vessels counter capesize gains The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk sea freight index was mostly unchanged on Tuesday after a climb in capesize rates was countered by declines for all other vessel classes.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was down 1 point, or 0.1%, at 2,093. But the index ended 2023 with a 38% gain. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+steady+as+lower+rates+for+smaller+vessels+counter+capesize+gains
10. Hapag-Lloyd researches sailing container ship The Hamburg-based shipping company, Hapag-Lloyd, has launched an R&D study into the potential of wind power as a possible means of decarbonising its fleet, the lead researchers said in an interview on Monday (December 4, 2023). Shipping causes round 2.6 per cent of global CO2 emissions, according to the German Ministry for the Environment. If feasible, the company would aim for net-zero emissions by 2045. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Hapag-Lloyd+researches+sailing+container+ship