InterManager Daily News 19.02.2023.

1. TotalEnergies announces positive appraisal of the Cronos Gas Discovery in Block 6 offshore Cyprus TotalEnergies announces the successful completion of the drilling and production test of the Cronos-2 appraisal well, in Block 6, offshore Cyprus. TotalEnergies holds a 50% interest in Block 6, alongside with Eni (50%, operator).The Cronos-2 well confirmed the lateral extension of the Cronos-1 discovery drilled in August 2022. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/02/16/totalenergies-announces-positive-appraisal-of-the-cronos-gas-discovery-in-block-6-offshore-cyprus/
2. Greece’s Star Bulk to avoid Red Sea after attacks on its ships Greece-headquartered Star Bulk will halt sailings through the Red Sea after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis attacked two of its ships in recent days, the group’s CEO said.The Houthis have targeted commercial vessels with drones and missiles in the Red Sea since mid-November in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/02/16/greeces-star-bulk-to-avoid-red-sea-after-attacks-on-its-ships/
3. CMB Nv launches its mandatory public takeover bid on Euronav NV CMB NV (“CMB”) announces that on February 13, 2024 the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (the “FSMA”) approved the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) regarding the previously announced mandatory public takeover bid by CMB on all shares in Euronav NV (“Euronav” or the “Target”) that are not already directly or indirectly owned by CMB or its affiliates (the “Bid”). https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/02/16/cmb-nv-launches-its-mandatory-public-takeover-bid-on-euronav-nv/
4. Dry Bulk Market: The 14-day moving average of loaded daily volumes in the Capesize South Atlantic exceeded the 1 million tons demand benchmark In the third week of February, Capesize Brazil to North China rates experienced an upturn, surpassing the $20 per ton mark. However, with the Chinese Lunar New Year already celebrated, the sentiment regarding freight rates remains uncertain, leaving observers to wonder if there will be a softening in prices. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/02/16/dry-bulk-market-the-14-day-moving-average-of-loaded-daily-volumes-in-the-capesize-south-atlantic-exceeded-the-1-million-tons-demand-benchmark/
5. Navigating Change: A Timeline of recent & future progress at the Panama Canal It’s no secret that the accelerating implications of climate change have had economic, social and environmental impacts worldwide, including waterways such as the Panama Canal, the Rhine River, the Amazon and the Mississippi. Last year, drought limited the capacity of daily transits through the Canal to ensure both the best possible service for our customers and an adequate water supply for the Panamanian people. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2024/02/16/navigating-change-a-timeline-of-recent-future-progress-at-the-panama-canal/
6. Orix in $2bn deal to take over Osaka’s largest shipowner Japanese financial services company Orix Corporation has bought Osaka’s largest shipowner, Santoku Senpaku, in a deal valued at $2bn.The deal, expected to go through by the end of next month, will see 67 ships, predominantly bulk carriers plus some car carriers and container vessels, change hands. https://splash247.com/orix-in-2bn-deal-to-take-over-osakas-largest-shipowner/
7. Oil from capsized vessel off Tobago makes it way back to Venezuela Illicit oil shipped from Venezuela at the end of last month is making its way back home albeit in the form of a 170 km long slick.On the morning of February 7, local authorities detected an oil slick spewing from a capsized vessel off the west coast of Tobago. The slick quickly hit the southwest shoreline of the Caribbean island with a national emergency declared and thousands of volunteers helping in the subsequent clean-up. https://splash247.com/oil-from-capsized-vessel-off-tobago-makes-it-way-back-to-venezuela/
8. Liner bosses discuss potential for nuclear Speaking yesterday at a press conference hosted by the World Shipping Council, a liner lobby group, Jeremy Nixon and Rolf Habben Jensen, the CEOs of Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Hapag-Lloyd, respectively, discussed a range of environmental issues while also unveiling a new green fuel pricing mechanism proposal that has been submitted to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). https://splash247.com/liner-bosses-discuss-potential-for-nuclear/
9. China Asserts No Restricted Zones Around Taiwanese Islands After Two Killed There are no off limits or restricted areas for fishing around a group of Taiwanese islands close to China’s coast and Beijing reserves the right to take further measures after two Chinese nationals died near the islands, the government said. https://gcaptain.com/china-asserts-no-restricted-zones-around-taiwanese-islands-after-two-killed/
10. Port of Antwerp Disrupted by Belgian Farmers’ Protests Operations at the port of Antwerp, one of Europe’s biggest container ports, were seriously impacted on Tuesday as hundreds of farmers on tractors blocked the roads around the port to demand better pay and working conditions, officials said. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Port+of+Antwerp+Disrupted+by+Belgian+Farmers%E2%80%99+Protests