1. Seaspan Ferries partners with Corvus Energy for Blue Whale ESS field trial
Seaspan Ferries Corporation is proud to announce that it has reached an agreement with Corvus Energy, of Bergen, Norway and Vancouver, Canada, for the first delivery of Corvusâ Blue Whale ESS, to be installed onboard one of their cargo ferries. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/02/19/seaspan-ferries-partners-with-corvus-energy-for-blue-whale-ess-field-trial/
2. IMO launches a year of action for seafarers
IMO has chosen to make 2021 a year of action for seafarers, who are facing unprecedented hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, despite their vital role as key workers for global supply chains. The World Maritime Theme for 2021, âSeafarers: at the core of shippingâs futureâ seeks to increase the visibility of seafarers by drawing attention to the invaluable role they play now and will continue to play in the future. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/02/19/imo-launches-a-year-of-action-for-seafarers/
3. Wakashio, a storybook for children by Anita Bacha
Wakashio was empty of cargo but had an estimated 200 tons of diesel and 3,800 tons of heavy fuel oil on board. Little by little, with the strength of the heavy waves, cracks arose in its hull. Fuel oil started to spill on the turquoise blue sea of the coastal district, Mahebourg. In no time, the oil spill reached its shores, destroying marine life, seaweeds, and corals. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/02/19/wakashio-a-storybook-for-children-by-anita-bacha/
4. âMini CFOâ version of Carnival CFO Shaquille OâNeal debuts to promote short cruise offerings
Known for his larger-than-life personality as Carnival Cruise Lineâs Chief Fun Officer (CFO), Shaquille OâNeal now has a tiny sidekick, âMini CFO,â who makes his debut in a creative new digital marketing campaign to promote the lineâs short cruise offerings. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/02/19/mini-cfo-version-of-carnival-cfo-shaquille-oneal-debuts-to-promote-short-cruise-offerings/
5. Asia â Europe container freight rates fall economy concerns
Container shipping spot freight rates on the Asia-North Europe trade, which were at an all-time high at the beginning of the year, declined 2.7% last week â a further sign that the recent exponential growth has levelled off. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/containers/asia-europe-container-freight-rates-fall-economy-concerns
6. Full steam ahead for shipping stocks
Speaking at a Capital Link webinar Omar Nokta, from Clarksons Platou, summarized the current market as: âShipping stocks have been on a tear the past few weeksâŠwe havenât seen this type of volume and interest across the board.â This draws a contrast to pockets of interest in a particular sector- such as tankers in April 2020, when floating storage pulled vessels out of the market, or LNG tankers in late 2020 as cold weather hit Asia. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/opinions-analysis/full-steam-ahead-shipping-stocks
7. Seafarer shortages loom if crew change crisis persist, warns MAJ
âIf seafarers are not available to operate the ships, those vessels will simply lay alongside idle. Does the world need that now?â, he challenged, warning that the shipping industry needs to demonstrate to world leaders the vital role crew play in the supply chain. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/seafarer-shortages-loom-if-crew-change-crisis-persist-warns-maj
8. UK Hails Biggest Drug Bust as Cocaine Worth $250 Million Found in Shipment of Bananas from Colombia
British police have seized over 2 tonnes of cocaine in one of the countryâs largest ever drug busts after they discovered 184 million pounds ($258 million) worth of the illegal drug packed into banana crates which had been shipped from Colombia.
https://gcaptain.com/uk-hails-biggest-drug-bust-as-cocaine-worth-250-million-found-in-shipment-of-bananas-from-colombia/
9. Baltic Index Notches Second Weekly Gain On Higher Vessel Rates
The Baltic Exchangeâs main sea freightindex notched its second weekly gain in a row, aided by strongdemand for all vessel segments, even as it eased on Friday onlower capesize rates. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates forcapesize,panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities,dropped 72 points, or 4.1%, to 1,698, but firmed 26.8% this week. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+notches+second+weekly+gain+on+higher+vessel+rates
10. Piraeus Container Terminal â Strike Announcement February 23-24, 2021
Please be informed that the Panhellenic Crew Union of Towage & Salvage decided to launch a 48-hour strike at the port of Piraeus in Greece as from Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 at 00:01 hours until Wednesday, February 24th, 2021 at 24:00 hours local time. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Piraeus+Container+Terminal+â+Strike+Announcement+February+23-24%2C+2021
