Maritime Industry Top News
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.
Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Suspends Operations
German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) announced Wednesday it has suspended operations, following the recommendations of the German government to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.Alex Gregg-Smith, Managing Director of Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, said, "We are taking these measures to provide the best possible protection for the people working at our shipyard. It is…
Darley Named LR Marine and Offshore COO
Lloyd’s Register (LR) said it has named Mark Darley as Marine & Offshore (M&O) Chief Operating Officer.Darley, who joined LR on graduation as a marine surveyor 20 years ago, is currently M&O President for North Asia and has held leadership positions in the UK, South Asia and the Americas. He will continue to be based out of Shanghai, close to the heart of LR’s core new construction business in North…
Seaspan Marine Transportation Names Wortman CFO
Seaspan Marine Transportation said it has appointed Linda Wortman as Chief Financial Officer.Wortman brings to this position more than 25 years of accounting and finance experience. She joined Seaspan in 2008 as Controller, Marine and was promoted to Vice President, Corporate Finance, Accounting in 2016. Her responsibilities were expanded to include Seaspan’s Corporate Supply Chain Management and Risk and Insurance functions in 2017.
Seaspan Shipyards Maintains Operations
Seaspan Shipyards said its operations remain up and running as the Canadian shipbuilder continues to closely watch the fast-developing COVID-19 situation.Seaspan, which operates shipyards in Vancouver and Victoria on Canada's west coast, noted it is following the guidance and direction of public health and government authorities, and added that it has not received a recommendation or directive to shut down operations in B.C.
Baltic Index Rises On Higher Capesize Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index rose on Wednesday, after seven straight sessions of losses, on stronger demand for capesize vessels.The Baltic index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax vessels that ferry dry bulk commodities, gained 17 points, or 2.8% to 629.The capesize index was up by 85 points at -204, its highest since Feb. 6.Average daily earnings for capesizes…
Five PSV Charters for Solstad Offshore in UK
Norway-based offshore support vessel operator Solstad Offshore has secured contracts and extensions for five of its platform supply vessels in the UK Sector of the North Sea.The longest term charters of the five have been awarded to Solstad Offshore by its Equnior's UK subsidiary Equinor UK Limited. Equinor has extended contracts for the platform supply vessels Sea Frost and Normand Skipper."Both vessels have been supporting Equinor's operations since July 2017 and January 2019 respectively.
Rotterdam Cargo Lags Due to Coronavirus
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest, expects the flow of goods over the whole of 2020 to be "clearly below 470 million tonnes last year" as the coronavirus epidemic spreads across the continent, spokesman Leon Willems said on Wednesday.The outbreak of the virus in China had been seen cutting 2 million tonnes off monthly goods traffic. The impact will be far greater as Europe's economy is hit, Willems…
Shell Books Supertanker to Store Crude Oil at Sea
Royal Dutch Shell has booked a supertanker to store 2 million barrels of oil at sea to park mounting global stocks, shipping sources said on Wednesday.Shell declined to comment.The sources said Shell had booked a very large crude carrier (VLCC), which can store up to 2 million barrels of oil, for a five-month charter.
Opinion: Maritime Freedom & the Global Commons
“Freedom” – the absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic governmentIt has been decades since international relations in the world order dictated true competition for sea control, sea lines of communication, access to world markets, and diplomatic partnerships. However, it is becoming increasingly alarming that nations such as Iran, China and Russia seek to accumulate/consolidate power and re-define international maritime norms…
COVID-19: Maritime and Coastguard Agency Issues "Unprecedented Exemption" for Car Ferry
MCA grants temporary ability for Red Funnel passengers to remain in vehicles on select crossingsRed Funnel worked with the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to identify exceptional solutions to support the government’s social distancing guidance in response to COVID-19 and respond to passengers’ requests to remain in vehicles during crossings.“We’d like to thank the MCA for working with us to identify solutions to allow our passengers this option during this exceptional time…
Indonesia Revokes Rule Requiring Domestic Ships for Some Exports
Indonesia's government will revoke rules requiring exporters of coal and palm oil to use domestic shipping companies for shipments, Coordinating Minister for Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan told reporters on Wednesday.Indonesia, the world's biggest thermal coal exporter, issued regulations in 2018 requiring its coal and palm oil exporters to use domestic shipping companies, which were…
Today in Maritime History: Grounding of the Supertanker Torrey Canyon
On the world stage, the grounding of the supertanker TORREY CANYON on Pollard’s Rock in the Seven Stones reef between Cornwall and the Scilly Isles is more significant…
USCG Advises on Minimizing Novel Coronavirus at Sea
The Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy has published an update March 16, 2020 to MSIB: Novel Coronavirus – Update (Change 2)An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may affect mariners and maritime commerce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Interim Guidance for Ships on Managing Suspected Coronavirus Disease…
Sakashita Takes the Helm at ClassNK
Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as President & CEO as well as a Representative Director of classification society ClassNK, effective March 18, 2020. Current Senior Executive Vice Presidents Tetsuya Kinoshita, Junichiro Iida, and Dr. Toshiyuki Shigemi will continue in their present roles on the team, joined by Hirofumi Takano and Taira Narisawa as Executive Vice President.Koichi Fujiwara has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors…
South Africa Quarantines Two Ships
South Africa is holding the cruise liner MV AIDAmira and a cargo vessel off Cape Town after a crew member on board one of the ships showed signs of the coronavirus…
Baltic States Send Ships for Stranded Citizens
Estonia and Latvia will send ships to bring back hundreds of their citizens stranded on the border between Germany and Poland, following Warsaw’s decision last week to shut its borders in response to the coronavirus outbreak, officials said.The three Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have criticized Poland for preventing their citizens in transit from returning home.Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki came under fire over the move during a coronavirus videocall of all 27
COVID-19 and Supply Chain Implications for Ocean Shipping
Only 10 days ago, reports indicated that China cargoes were returning to pre-coronavirus levels, and there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel. Today, however, a barrage of new headlines has underscored the impact on the rapidly changing global supply chain, including in the United States. In addition to the aggressive spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), new economic developments indicate a decreased trend in global manufacturing.
Maersk Suspends Crew Changes
The widespread coronavirus outbreak has led the world's largest container carrier to suspend crew changes aboard its entire fleet of operated vessels until April 14, a Maersk spokesperson confirmed to MarineLink.The full statement from A.P. Moller - Maersk is below:With the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extraordinarily fast-paced closing of borders and cancellations of airline services…
Port of Virginia Providing Berth Space for Cruise Ships
The Port of Virginia said it has opened its doors to cruise ships idled by the coronavirus pandemic.Since the outbreak of the virus and the cruise industry’s voluntary suspension of U.S. operations, empty cruise ships have been seeking temporary berth opportunities at multiple ports, with Florida taking the greatest share of the vessels. For a cruise ship, it is more economical to idle at a port rather…
