Most Bunker Sales in Singapore are Low-sulphur Fuels -BIMCO
Low-sulphur fuels accounted for 84% of total February sales in Singapore, slightly up from 83% in January. The sale of low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) made up the largest component at 71.5%, with marine gas oil (MGO) accounting for 12.5%, BIMCO reports.Total bunker sales in February fell 16% to 3.9 million metric tons compared with January, reflecting lower demand for shipping as the coronavirus paralyzed…
SCHOTTEL to Propel St. Lawrence Seaway Tug
German propulsion manufacturer SCHOTTEL said it has been selected to equip a newly built harbor tugboat for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) with medium-sized azimuth thrusters. The vessel is under construction at the U.S. shipyard Washburn & Doughty in Maine. The HT-60, the smallest in the harbor tug series developed by the Seattle-based naval architecture firm Glosten, is scheduled for delivery in 2021.Craig Middlebrook…
Tanker Rates Fall, but Storage Demand Stays Firm
After a frantic week that sent crude oil freight rates to record highs amid a bookings bonanza to ship Saudi oil to the world, rates are now easing as charterers balk at the nosebleed charges and await Saudi volume plans for April, shipping sources said."Sentiment remained softer today," said one ship broker while pointing to another day of limited chartering activity.At least nine very large crude…
US to Deploy Hospital Ships for Coronavirus Response
Two U.S. Navy hospital ships are being prepared to aid shoreside medical facilities that could become overrun by the coronavirus pandemic, the Pentagon's chief spokesman said.The USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy will be deployed "as needed to assist potentially overwhelmed counties with acute patient care" as part of the Defense Department's response to the pandemic, Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the defense secretary for public affairs…
Remote Working: Tips for Shipping Companies to Sustain Business During the Coronavirus Pandemic
As companies globally are increasingly shifting to remote working to help stop the spread of Coronavirus, Hanseaticsoft has put together a series of tips to help shipping companies keep their business and workforce agile.Some of the biggest companies in the world including Oracle, Apple, Google and Amazon have already restricted travel and asked employees to work remotely[i]. With the situation changing daily shipping companies need to prepare as much as they can to minimize business disruption.
Cape Town Ships Cleared After Negative COVID-19 Tests
Test results from the individuals suspected to be the first cases of COVID-19 in any South African seaport have all come back negative, Transnet National Ports Authority has confirmed.Earlier this week two vessels, the general cargo vessel MV Corona and the cruise ship AIDAmira, were held off port limits outside the Port of Cape Town. The cruise liner was later allowed to dock but its roughly 1,700…
World's Largest Semi-Sub Crane Vessel to Arrive in Port of Rotterdam
Port of Rotterdam is set to welcome Heerema's Sleipnir, the world's largest semi-submersible crane vessel, which is set to arrive at the port on Saturday, March 21, where it will be made ready for a North Sea decommissioning project.Named after the Norse God Odin's eight-legged stallion, the vessel stands at 220 meters long, 102 meters wide, can accommodate 400 employees, and weighs 119,000 tons and is the first such unit powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Staten Island Ferries: A "New York State of Mind"
It takes a thick skin to live in New York City, let alone to run its Staten Island Ferry service. James C. DeSimone, Deputy Commissioner, Ferry Division, New York City Department of Transportation, has been charged with running the ferry service for the last 16 years. We met with him for his insights on the challenges of keeping the iconic ferry running safely and efficiently.Jim DeSimone has led a maritime life, with his time equally split between the private and public sectors.
China Iron Ore Recoups Losses Amid Stimulus Hopes
China's iron ore futures erased earlier losses to end flat on Thursday, regaining support as miner Vale SA said it may temporarily halt activities at its Malaysian distribution center as a safety measure against the coronavirus pandemic.Iron ore's most-traded contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange steadied at 678 yuan ($95.76) a tonne, after tumbling 5.8% earlier in the session.On the Singapore Exchange, the front-month iron ore contract trimmed losses to just 0.3% in afternoon trade from 4.
Israel's Biggest Seaport Operating Fully
TEL AVIV - Israel's largest seaport in the southern city of Ashdod is fully operational, with containers being unloaded at a similar pace to a year ago despite the global outbreak of coronavirus, the port's chairwoman said.Some 97% of cargo to Israel, by weight, arrives by ship and the government has assured the country there will be no shortages of essential products.There are currently 25 ships at the port and since the start of 2020 some 200…
COVID-19: South Africa Bans Cruise Ships
South Africa banned all passenger vessels from its ports on Wednesday due to the coronavirus outbreak, leaving tourists on a cruise ship docked in Cape Town in limbo following tests for possible COVID-19 cases on board.The MV AidAmira's more than 1,700 passengers and crew have been unable to leave the ship since Monday, after a crew member on a cargo ship who shared a plane with six passengers on the liner showed symptoms of the coronavirus.Port authorities quarantined the Italian-flagged AidAmi
Rewrite the Rules: The Path to Zero Emissions
With social media updates and conference agendas addressing the subjects of climate change, emissions reductions and alternative fuels, it’s a wonder we are not climbing the Himalayans in search of the Jedi Master that will provide us with the magic potion. Yoda’s blessing with a calming breath, “You have chosen wisely.”Government emissions intervention started with a move to reduce energy and fuel consumption measured in greenhouse gas (GHG)…
Santos Port Operating Normally Amid Coronavirus
Latin America's largest port in Santos in Brazil will maintain regular operations, port operators said after meeting with dock workers and authorities on Wednesday to discuss measures to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.In a statement sent to Reuters, Regis Prunzel, president of operators group Sopesp, said a crisis committee was created with representatives from all stakeholders at the port, where most of Brazil's coffee…
Antwerp XL Rescheduled for September
A new autumn edition of Antwerp XL will now run at Antwerp Expo, September 15th-17th. “Following the news on March 10 that the World Health Organization revised…
Waterfront Conference Postponed
The annual Waterfront Conference previously scheduled for May 12 has been postponed and will be rescheduled later in the year in accordance with COVID-19 governmental guidance.
Survitec Names Krisanda Executive Chairman
Survitec appointed Ron Krisanda as Executive Chairman for its worldwide life-saving equipment business. In this newly created role, he will lead both the Survitec Board of Directors and the Executive Management Team.Krisanda's business experience includes roles as Chairman, President, CEO and COO across various global manufacturing and service businesses. Most recently, he was CEO of Quality Metalcraft - Experi-Metal, Inc.
"Ship-Spotter" of the Day
Barry Parker, contributor to Maritime Reporter & Engineering News and MarineNews magazines, is – like many people around the world – sequestered and working from home. He is our designated “ship spotter” for the day.In the maritime business, most of us have been adept at working from home (or from remote locations). Still, with the precautions being taken to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid 19)…
BP to Store Jet Fuel at Sea as Glut Looms
BP has provisionally chartered a 60,000 tonne tanker to store jet fuel at sea starting this week, trading sources said on Wednesday, after a collapse in demand from the aviation sector due to the coronavirus pandemic led to a huge glut.Asian jet fuel refining margins and European jet fuel prices dropped this week to record lows as several airlines drastically cut their flights schedules.BP has provisionally booked Stena Polaris to store jet fuel for 40 to 60 days starting March 20 to March 22 at
Norwegian Salmon Breeder Buys New Workboat
Shortly after the delivery of a ProZero 8m Full Cabin to Havkar Drift AS in Norway, another Norwegian fishfarmer has also purchased a vessel from Tuco Marine's ProZero workboat series.The new ProZero 8m Full Cabin is equipped for, and will be used as, a fast and flexible workboat for fish farming and passenger transport. The boat has been delivered to Egil Kristoffersen after successful sea-trials at the ProZero yard…
BIMCO Revises 2020 Forecast
The coronavirus pandemic is impacting global shipping demand for 2020 negatively. The speed of the virus spread makes it difficult to assess the full consequences. Nevertheless, we see a need to update our 2020 forecast to make some of this massive uncertainty tangible.What is going on in addition to the coronavirus pandemic?Geopolitical tensions that made the OPEC+ alliance break down, has subsequently made the crude oil tanker spot freight market erupt.