1. Columbia Shipmanagement and Seatrans agree strategic shipmanagement tie-up
Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) has continued its recent expansion by agreeing a strategic partnership with the highly respected Norwegian ship owner and operator Seatrans AS. The joint venture company will be named Stödig Ship Management AS and will operate out of Seatrans’ offices in Bergen Norway. All Seatrans’ staff will remain employed in the company. Welcoming the move, Mark O’Neil, President and CEO of CSM, said: “In Columbia Shipmanagement we recognise the particular expertise and skill sets associated with managing ships in the hard chemical trades and other special tonnage markets. Stödig Ship Management has that expertise which we can build upon with existing and new client opportunities. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/05/05/columbia-shipmanagement-and-seatrans-agree-strategic-shipmanagement-tie-up/
2. „ Covid hasn’t stopped us growing” says Norden
NORDEN’s new Dubai team wins customers and market share despite launching in the midst of the pandemic. Six-months after launch, NORDEN’s new Dubai team is seeing strong growth in the Indian Ocean and Middle East region; and is winning new customers and market share despite having launched during a pandemic. Yehia Ghazzawi, who joined NORDEN as Head of Dry Cargo Middle East last summer, said the team was extremely busy thanks to a very strong dry cargo market. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/05/05/covid-hasnt-stopped-us-growing-says-norden/
3. “Benchmark study ranks top performers in Dry Bulk”
For the third year running Maritime Advisors, Liengaard & Roschmann have published their “Vesselindex Performance Report”, ranking the listed dry bulk companies based on their TCE performance. In a year 2020 which was characterized by a high level of volatility it is noticeable that 17 companies managed to outperform the general market as defined by the Baltic Indices. US listed Pangaea Logistics claims top spot for the third year in a row, competing against 24 other listed Dry Bulk companies on their Time Charter Earnings (TCE) for 2020. https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2021/05/05/benchmark-study-ranks-top-performers-in-dry-bulk/
4. Georgia Ports Authority Details Capacity Expansion Plans for Port of Savannah
The Georgia Ports Authority has reported record volumes of 3.9 million TEUs in its fiscal year to date numbers covering the period July 2020 to March 2021, for a 15 percent increase from the same period the previous year. The numbers were released at the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference (GFTC) where port officials detailed plans to expedite the completion of more than 1.4 million additional twenty-foot equivalent containers of annual capacity to handle the increasing throughput at the Port of Savannah. https://gcaptain.com/georgia-ports-authority-details-capacity-expansion-plans-for-port-of-savannah/
5. U.S. Trade Deficit Hits Record in March
The U.S. trade deficit jumped to a record high in March amid roaring domestic demand, which is drawing in imports, and the gap could widen further as the nation’s economic activity rebounds faster than its global rivals. Manufacturers lack the capacity to satisfy the surge in demand because of resource constraints and bottlenecks in the supply chain. Inventories are very lean. Demand is being driven by a rapidly improving public health situation and massive government aid to households and businesses to cushion the blow from the COVID-19 pandemic. https://gcaptain.com/u-s-trade-deficit-hits-record-in-march/
6. Indian seafarers face fresh challenges as Covid epidemic overwhelms the country
Concerns over the availability of vaccines and waiting time are adding to the job uncertainty of seafarers. Shipowners have begun insisting on hiring crew who are vaccinated ahead of joining ships on their next contract, as new variants of the Covid-19 virus wreak havoc in one of the top suppliers of seafaring manpower. India’s incidence of Covid infections has touched a new world record of over 350,000 new positive cases over the past 24 hours. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/indian-seafarers-face-fresh-challenges-covid-epidemic-overwhelms-country
7. Shipping companies, organisations back seafarer Covid emergency relief fund
As the Covid crisis in India continues to rise with over 400,000 cases, worsening the global crew change crisis the International Seafarers Relief Fund has been set up with a target to raise $1m. The fund has been set up by Seafarers’ Charity (formerly Seafarers UK) supported by The Mission to Seafarers, ISWAN, Sailors’ Society and other charities and already received pledges of support from Anglo-Eastern, Ardmore Shipping, Cargill, Hafnia, IRI (Marshall Islands Flag), MSC, Pacific Basin and V.Group. https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/shipping-companies-organisations-back-seafarer-covid-emergency-relief-fund
8. Lack of Continuous Monitoring An Issue in Shipyard Fire -NTSB
The April 16, 2020, fire aboard the Iron Maiden at the Allied Shipyard caused $900,000 in damage, and no injuries were reported. While the fire caused extensive damage throughout the generator room, the NTSB found fire pattern and damage indicating the fire started near the forward bulkhead. Because the battery charger, alarm panel and generator push button start-stop panel were in the area of fire ignition identified by fire investigators, an electrical short from one of these components may have been the source of the fire. However, the exact location of the source of the fire could not be identified by fire investigators. https://www.marinelink.com/news/lack-continuous-monitoring-issue-shipyard-487366
9. Baltic Index Gains As Capesize Rates Soar To Highest Since 2010
The Baltic exchange’s main sea freight index rose on Tuesday, led by the highest capesize vessel rates in nearly 11 years. The Baltic dry index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels ferrying dry bulk commodities, added 104 points, or 3.4%, to a near 11-year peak of 3,157.The capesize index rose 284 points, or 5.8%, to 5,180, its highest level since June 2010. In April, the index recorded its strongest performance since June last year, propelled mostly by rising iron ore demand from China. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Baltic+index+gains+as+capesize+rates+soar+to+highest+since+2010
10. NextGEN Holds First Meeting To Push Maritime Decarbonization
IMO-Singapore NextGEN project aims to facilitate collaboration and information sharing across maritime decarbonization initiatives. The IMO-Singapore NextGEN aims to build partnerships between stakeholders in the public and private sectors, not only in the shipping industry and ports but also private and development banks, and academia. The NextGEN project, which aims to bring together decarbonization initiatives in the maritime sector, has held its first meeting, bringing together multiple stakeholders from across the global shipping community and?the maritime value chain who have an interest in cutting greenhouse gas emissions from shipping and tackling climate change.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/NextGEN+holds+first+meeting+to+push+maritime+decarbonization
