CAB 286 September 2020
CAB 286 September 2020
SEPTEMBER 2020
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Maritime Knowledge Centre (MKC)
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Table of Contents
IMO NEWS & EVENTS ............................................................................................................................ 2
UNITED NATIONS ................................................................................................................................... 5
CASUALTIES............................................................................................................................................ 7
ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 11
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ........................................................................................................... 13
HEALTH & SAFETY ............................................................................................................................... 14
IMO ......................................................................................................................................................... 16
LAW & POLICY....................................................................................................................................... 20
MARINE TECHNOLOGY ........................................................................................................................ 27
MARITIME EDUCATION & TRAINING .................................................................................................. 29
MARITIME SAFETY ............................................................................................................................... 30
MARITIME SECURITY ........................................................................................................................... 31
MIGRANTS ............................................................................................................................................. 33
NAVIGATION & COMMUNICATIONS.................................................................................................... 36
PIRACY ................................................................................................................................................... 38
PORT STATE CONTROL ....................................................................................................................... 39
PORTS & HARBOURS ........................................................................................................................... 41
REGULATIONS ...................................................................................................................................... 44
SALVAGE ............................................................................................................................................... 44
SEAFARERS .......................................................................................................................................... 45
SEARCH & RESCUE ............................................................................................................................. 50
SHIP RECYCLING ................................................................................................................................. 52
SHIPBUILDING & SHIPREPAIR ............................................................................................................ 53
SHIPPING ............................................................................................................................................... 54
RESEARCH ............................................................................................................................................ 65
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim expressed his sincere condolences to the Canadian
Government, Mr. O’Neil’s remaining family, and the condolences of the entire IMO membership
and staff.
“It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Mr. O’Neil, who was a great friend
and mentor who made a huge personal contribution to securing globally applicable safety,
security and environmental standards,” Mr. Lim said. Mr. O’Neil was Secretary-General of IMO
from 1990 to 2003.
“Mr. O’Neil was a truly great Secretary-General whose actions and initiatives had a great and
lasting impact on the work of the Organization. I, personally, always valued his guidance and
advice, as well as his friendship and leadership. Mr. O’Neil left a lasting legacy on the
Organization. He was committed to the universality of IMO and oversaw a significant increase ~
in membership. He encouraged wide and effective participation in the Organization from all
stakeholders in the maritime sector,” Mr. Lim said.
“Above all, Mr. O’Neil was dedicated to enabling developing States to adopt and implement IMO
instruments, through his active pursuance of new sources of extrabudgetary funding. And he
worked tirelessly to strengthen the relevance and capacity of IMO’s educational institutes, the
World Maritime University and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute.”
During Mr. O’Neil’s tenure, the Organization adopted a number of new treaties and responded to
global issues such as maritime security and piracy.
Mr. O’Neil personally acted to request the IMO membership address key safety issues, including
the safety of bulk carriers and of large passenger ships. He established a team of experts to look
into ro-ro safety, following the tragic sinking of the Estonia ro-ro ferry. All of these led to
significant improvements in maritime safety standards.
Protecting the environment was also paramount for Mr. O’Neil. He oversaw the adoption in 1997,
of the Protocol to the MARPOL Convention, to include a new Annex VI on Prevention of Air
Pollution from Ship – now expanded to include energy efficiency requirements – and revisions of
the MARPOL Convention to accelerate the phase out of single hull tankers. His passion for
protecting marine biodiversity laid the foundation for the development of measures to prevent the
spread of potentially harmful aquatic species in ships’ ballast water – which would later, in 2004,
be adopted as a new IMO treaty on ballast water management.
The introduction of the mandatory International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the key
1997 revisions to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, were amongst other landmark achievements made
by IMO under Mr. O’Neil’s stewardship.
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Mr. O’Neil’s leadership led to the development of an
entirely new regime for the security in the maritime field, the International Ship and Port Facility
Security Code, which was adopted in less than one year, demonstrating the Organization’s ability
to nimbly respond to emerging threats.
Mr. O’Neil was elected Secretary-General of the IMO for a first term of Office beginning in 1990, a
second term beginning in 1994, a third term beginning in 1998 and a further two-year term from
2002 to 31 December 2003. He was the second longest serving Secretary-General of IMO.
Mr. O’Neil graduated in civil engineering from the University of Toronto in his native Canada in
1949 and served in various positions with the Federal Department of Transport. He was
particularly closely associated with the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority.
Mr. O’Neil was Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard from 1975 to 1980 and then became
President and Chief Executive Officer of the St. Lawrence Authority, a position he held until
joining the IMO. However, his links with IMO go back to 1972, when he represented Canada at
the IMO Council. He became Chair of the IMO Council in 1980 and was re-elected four times.
In 1991, Mr. O’Neil became Chancellor of World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden and Chair
of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.
Mr. O’Neil was a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario and of the
American Society of Civil Engineers. He was Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) University of Malta,
Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) Nottingham Trent University, Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa)
Memorial University of Newfoundland and Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) Korea Maritime
University.
In 1992, Mr. O’Neil was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 1994 he was elected
Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering and fellow of the Institute of Logistics and
transport (formerly the Chartered Institute of Transport), United Kingdom and awarded The
Admirals’ medal, Canada. In 1995 he was awarded the NUMAST Award (National Union of
Marine Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers), United Kingdom; the SEATRADE Personality
of the Year Award; the Professional Engineers Ontario Gold Medal and was made Commandeur,
Ordre National des Cèdres, Lebanon and Member of the Order of Canada.
In 1996, Mr. O’Neil was made a member of the Engineering Alumni Hall of Distinction at the
University of Toronto and in 1997 he was awarded the Silver Bell Award of the Seamen’s Church
Institute, new YorkNew York. In 1998 he was awarded the CMA Commodore Award (Connecticut
Maritime Association), United States, the Orden “Vasco Nuñez de Balboa” en el Grado de Gran
Cruz, Panama and the ”Dioscuri” Prize, Lega Navale Iitaliana, Agrigento, Italy. In 1999 he was
awarded the Vice Admiral “jerry” Land Medal of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine
engineers, United States and in 2000 the Halert C. Shepheard Award, United States.
Amongst other honours, in 2001 he was awarded the Medal for Distinguished services to the
Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Colombia and in 2002 the CITIS (Communication & IT in
Shipping) Lifetime Achievement Award, United Kingdom, the Golden Jubilee Medal, Canada and
the “15 November 1817 Medal, Uruguay and was made a Freeman of the Worshipful Company
of Shipwrights (Honoris Causa), United Kingdom. In 2003, he was awarded the Order of Merit of
the Merchant Marine, Venezuela. Mr. O’Neil was awarded the IMO International Maritime Prize
for 2003.
Mr. O’Neil died on 29 October 2020. He leaves behind his wife, Mrs. Olga O’Neil, children and
grandchildren.
7th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from
Ships - 19-23 October.
UNITED NATIONS
Kickstarting economies without COVID-19 plan, ‘a recipe for disaster’: Tedros. UN News.
31 August 2020. Available from: [Link] Eight months
into the COVID-19 pandemic, countries want to “get their economies going again”, the head of the
World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, advising on the measures that governments,
communities and individuals should take, to do so safely.
United in Science report: Climate Change has not stopped for COVID19. World Meteorological
Organization (WMO). 9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
release/united-science-report-climate-change-has-not-stopped-covid19 Greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to increase.
Quiet corridors but a full programme at virtual UNGA75: five things you need to know.
UN News. 9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The 75th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session, begins on 15 September and this year, due to the
ongoing global pandemic, it will be unlike any other in the organization’s three quarters of a century
of existence.
Countries must ‘get their hands dirty’ to stem COVID and prevent future pandemics.
UN News. 14 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended a world embroiled in chaos, unleashing catastrophic health,
social and economic consequences along with irreparable harm to humanity, according to UN-
backed report published on Monday.
Exclusive Interview: Short-sighted and ‘stupid mistake’ not to support affordable COVID
vaccine for all, says Guterres. UN News. 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The march of COVID-19 which has “put us
on our knees”, should be a lesson in humility for world leaders, and a lack of solidarity on the part of
some richer nations towards developing countries, means we will all pay a heavy price, the UN chief
has told UN News, in an exclusive interview ahead of the new General Assembly session.
One million people share hopes and fears for future with the UN. UN News.
21 September 2020. Available from: [Link] The results
are in from a massive, unprecedented crowd-sourcing survey of international opinion, launched in
January 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
Secretary-General Highlights Seafarers’ Essential Role in Supply Chain, Calls for Enhanced
Sustainability, on World Maritime Day. UN News. 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The theme of this year’s World Maritime
Day — sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet — has gained extraordinary resonance as
shipping has continued to transport more than 80 per cent of world trade, including vital medical
supplies, food and other basic goods that are critical for the COVID-19 response and recovery.
Ahead of biodiversity summit, UN officials call for action to preserve the natural world.
UN News. 28 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Top UN officials working to preserve the natural world are urging “action now” ahead of a crucial
biodiversity summit this week, where world leaders will reaffirm their commitment to the cause.
United Nations Summit on Biodiversity. United Nations. 30 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The United Nations Summit on
Biodiversity will be convened by the President of the General Assembly on 30 September 2020, at
the level of Heads of State and Government under the theme of “Urgent action on biodiversity for
sustainable development.”.
CASUALTIES
Was The Deliberate Sinking Of The Mauritius Oil Spill Vessel, Wakashio, An International
Crime? Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 29 August 2020. Available from:
[Link]
vessel-wakashio-an-international-crime-heres-what-the-law-says/ On Monday 24 August 2020, the
front section of the 300-meter-long iron-ore transporter, the Wakashio, was deliberately sunk, as
dramatic video was released of the sinking with cheering heard in the background.
3 Dead In Mauritius As Wakashio Support Vessel Sinks In Coral Lagoon Towing Oil Barge.
Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 31 August 2020. Available from:
[Link]
as-oil-barge-overturns/ Video taken by local fishermen on 1 September morning revealed the oil
barge drifting unattached along the coast of Mauritius.
Capesize Bulker “Wakashio” Aground off Mauritius (Update 8). Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
1 September 2020. Available from: [Link] MOL deplores
any incident of oil pollution and continues to offer support to all involved in the response.
Wakashio disaster takes another tragic turn with sinking of a tug. Sam Chambers. Splash
[Link]. 1 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
another-tragic-turn-with-sinking-of-a-tug/ The Wakashio disaster in Mauritius took another tragic
turn last night when a number of port authority employees died after a tug sank following a collision
with a barge that was transporting oil from the grounded Japanese bulk carrier.
Disaster looms as fragile floating storage unit takes on water off Venezuela. Gary Dixon.
TradeWinds. 1 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
water-off-venezuela/2-1-867096 Nabarima already has three metres of water in its lower deck - and
1.3m barrels of crude on board.
Livestock carrier goes missing with 43 crew onboard. Grant Rowles. Splash [Link].
2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
crew-onboard/ Japan’s coastguard is searching for 2002-built livestock carrier Gulf Livestock 1 after
receiving a distress call from the vessel early this morning.
Sole survivor says livestock carrier capsized after losing power. Dale Wainwright and
Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 3 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
losing-power/2-1-868483 Japan’s coast guard is reported to have rescued one man from the
livestock carrier that went missing in a storm on Wednesday.
Cargo ship with 43 crew and 6,000 cows sank off Japan in typhoon: survivor. France 24.
3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
crew-and-6-000-cows-sank-off-japan-in-typhoon-survivor A cargo ship carrying 43 crew and about
6,000 cows sank at sea after transmitting a distress signal during a typhoon off Japan, according to
a survivor rescued by the country’s coast guard.
Crew evacuates laden VLCC off Sri Lanka as fire erupts. Sam Chambers. Splash [Link].
3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
as-fire-erupts/ The crew of the laden Panamanian-flagged New Diamond VLCC have evacuated into
life rafts off Sri Lanka after a fire in the engine room escalated.
Warships join fight to put out blaze on oil tanker off Sri Lanka. Aljazeera. 3 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
on-oil-tanker-off-sri-lanka/ New Diamond, travelling from Kuwait to Paradip, is carrying cargo of
270,000 tonnes of crude and 1,700 tonnes of diesel.
Related to the press release under the title ‘Fire breaks out on Panama-flagged New Diamond
oil tanker’ issued on 03rd September 2020 at 1800 hrs. Sri Lanka Navy. 4 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] The Sri Lanka
Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy, Sri Lanka Ports Authority
are currently working together to control the fire that erupted after an explosion of a boiler in the main
engine room of MT New Diamond, an oil tanker sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point
east of Sri Lankan seas, around 8.00 a.m. on 03rd September 2020.
Sri Lanka navy says no real risk of spill on stricken supertanker. Arjuna Ranawana and Waruna
Karunatilake. Reuters. 4 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
tanker-blast/sri-lanka-tows-supertanker-away-from-coast-after-fire-idUSKBN25V0EE There is no
real risk of a spill from a fully loaded supertanker that caught fire off the east coast of Sri Lanka, a
senior official in the Indian Ocean nation’s navy said on Friday.
Rushing To Remove Wakashio Oil Will Cause ‘Irreversible Damage’ To Mauritius Warn
Oil Spill Veterans. Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 4 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
cause-irreversible-damage-to-mauritius-warn-oil-spill-veterans According the US embassy in
Mauritius, up to 300,000 gallons are now believed to have been spilled into Mauritius’ coral
lagoon along some incredibly rare and unique coastline in the midst of a global biodiversity
hotspot.
New Diamond blaze under control as VLCC towed out to sea. Harry Papachristou. TradeWinds.
5 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
blaze-under-control-as-vlcc-towed-out-to-sea/2-1-869845 A multinational flotilla of 17 ships and
an air force helicopter managed to contain a blaze on a VLCC in the Indian Ocean.
Timing of ill-fated live export voyage questioned by Seafarer’s Union, Veterinary Association.
TVNZ (New Zealand). 5 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
zealand/timing-ill-fated-live-export-voyage-questioned-seafarers-union-veterinary-association
New Zealand’s Veterinary Association is also raising concerns, saying the welfare of all animals
leaving our shores is paramount.
Red Sea tanker disaster looms as Yemen’s warring parties fail to act. Middle East Eye.
5 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
warring-parties-un-bicker Two weeks after the United Nations revealed an engine room leak nearly
caused an economic and environmental catastrophe, the Safer has yet to be inspected.
Fire onboard MT New Diamond completely doused. Sri Lanka Navy. 6 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] The MT New
Diamond crude oil tanker was transporting 270,000 metric tons of crude oil from the port of Meena
Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Port of Paradip in India when a fire broke out aboard in the eastern seas
of Sri Lanka on 03rd September 2020 at around 0800 hrs.
Bravery of sailors, coastguards pay dividends. Maneshka Borham. Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka).
6 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
coastguards-pay-dividends The nearly three-day battle to douse the fire on a crude oil tanker in Sri
Lanka’s Eastern seas has been brought under control following a strenuous fire-fighting effort by Sri
Lankan sailors and the Indian coast guards yesterday.
Related to the press release under the title ‘Fire onboard MT New Diamond completely
doused’ issued on 06th September 2020 at 1830 hrs. Sri Lanka Navy. 7 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] Sri Lanka Navy
and other damage control teams were able to bring the fire onboard the crude oil tanker MT New
Diamond under control by 3.00 p.m. yesterday (06th September 2020).
Related to the press release under the title ‘Fire onboard MT New Diamond completely
doused’ issued on 07th September 2020 at 1800 hrs. Sri Lanka Navy. 8 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] Ships, aircraft and
tugs belong to the Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy and other
stakeholders are continuing their damage control operations to suppress the fire resulted by adverse
weather, onboard the MT New Diamond again.
Crewman missing after explosion tears open Vietnamese tanker. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds.
8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
after-explosion-tears-open-vietnamese-tanker/2-1-871166 A seafarer has been reported missing
after a massive blast tore the hull of a tanker apart in Vietnam.
Sri Lankan navy tows stricken tanker away from coast, Indian plane sprays trailing slick.
Waruna Karunatilake and Arjuna Ranawana. Reuters. 9 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
coast-indian-plane-sprays-trailing-slick-idUKKBN2600H4 The Sri Lankan navy towed a stricken
supertanker away from the Indian Ocean island’s east coast on Wednesday, while an Indian Coast
Guard plane sprayed chemical dispersants on a long oil slick that trailed in its wake.
Panama: Before Grounding, Wakashio Deviated from Course to Pick Up Cell Signal for
Birthday Celebration. Mike Schuler. gCaptain. 9 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
signal-birthday-celebration/ The Panama Maritime Authority has officially joined the investigation
into the grounding of the MV Wakashio in Mauritius, revealing new details about the final voyage.
Sri Lankan navy tows fire-stricken tanker to sea as wind strengthens. Nidhi Verma. Reuters.
10 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
tows-fire-stricken-tanker-to-sea-as-wind-strengthens-idUKL4N2G71I6 The Sri Lankan navy has
towed a fire-stricken supertanker further out to sea to keep it off the coast of the Indian Ocean
island after the wind picked up strength and changed direction, a spokesman said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka navy plugs leak on fire-hit supertanker. Waruna Karunatilake. Reuters.
12 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
idUKKBN2630T8 The Sri Lankan navy said on Saturday it had sealed an inlet on the fire-stricken
New Diamond oil supertanker that was leaking fuel oil and sparking fears of an environmental
disaster.
New Diamond: No leakages found, say Indian Coast Guard. Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka).
14 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
leakages-found-say-Indian-Coast-Guard/108-195831 The Indian Coast Guard, Sri Lanka Navy and
commercial divers today conducted a joint underwater inspection of the MT New Diamond oil tanker
for sealing underwater openings in any.
Crew rescued as burning cable-layer sinks off South Korea. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds.
14 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
burning-cable-layer-sinks-off-south-korea/2-1-874392 All 60 crew members have been rescued
after their cable-layer caught fire and sank off South Korea.
Stricken tanker’s captain to face charges in Sri Lanka. France 24. 16 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
in-sri-lanka Sri Lanka will file negligence and pollution charges against the Greek skipper of an oil
tanker that leaked fuel off the island nation’s coast after a week-long fire, authorities said.
Japan to send investigation team to Mauritius over oil leak. Kyodo News (Japan).
18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
[Link] Japan will send an accident investigation
team to Mauritius to look into the cause of an oil leak from a Japanese bulk carrier that ran aground
off the Indian Ocean island nation in July, the country’s transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said.
Passengers evacuated as leaking ropax grounds off Finland. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds.
21 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
evacuated-as-leaking-ropax-grounds-off-finland/2-1-878347 All 200 passengers have been
evacuated from a Viking Line ropax that started taking on water and grounded off Finland on
Sunday.
Traumatised families need answers three weeks on from Gulf Livestock 1 disaster, says
maritime charity Sailors’ Society. 22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
[Link]/news/traumatised-families-need-answers The charity, along with other maritime welfare
organisations, is due to meet with the families of the seafarers later this week to offer them mental
health and practical support.
Expert: Loads left cargo ship unstable when it overturned. Russ Bynum. ABC News (US).
22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ship-unstable-overturned-731708 A U.S. Coast Guard analysis found that a cargo ship overturned
after departing a Georgia seaport because of unstable loading that left its center of gravity too high,
making the vessel susceptible to rolling over, an expert told officials investigating the shipwreck.
Documentary unveils new evidence in Estonia ferry disaster. France 24. 28 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
estonia-ferry-disaster Nordic leaders said on Monday they would examine evidence from a new
documentary that could shatter the official explanation of how 852 people died in a 1994 ferry
sinking in the Baltic Sea.
Container Fire on Ship Off India Highlights Ongoing Danger. Maritime Executive.
28 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ship-off-india-highlights-on-going-danger For the second time in a month, the Indian Coast Guard
has been called upon to assist in fighting a fire aboard a commercial ship at sea.
Mauritius oil spill and its aftermath. Chitisha Gunnoo. World Ocean Initiative (WOI).
29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
aftermath/ On July 25th the island of Mauritius declared a state of environmental emergency after
a grounded vessel began leaking tonnes of oil, spreading dark slicks into the Indian Ocean.
Ansip: MS Estonia hole discovery cause enough for new sinking investigation.
ERR News (Estonia). 29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
estonia-hole-discovery-cause-enough-for-new-sinking-investigation Former prime minster and
current MEP Andrus Ansip (Reform), whose administration oversaw a 2006 report on the official
version of the sinking of the MS Estonia, told ERR that that report made no mention of a collision
with a submarine as a possible cause of the disaster.
The Gulf Livestock 1 disaster tells the story of the Philippines and shipping. Alan Weedon.
ABC (Australia). 29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
30/livestock-1-missing-crew-filipino-families-search/12688692 The live export ship, the Gulf
Livestock 1, was travelling north-west in the East China Sea when it capsized in rough seas
due to Typhoon Maysak.
ENVIRONMENT
Deep-Sea Mining: How to Balance Need for Metals with Ecological Impacts. Daniel Ackerman.
Scientific American. 31 August 2020. Available from:
[Link]
ecological-impacts1/ Slashing humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels will require billions of kilograms of
metal: a single wind turbine can contain more than a metric ton of copper, and electric car batteries
demand heaps of cobalt, nickel and manganese.
Extreme summer impacts ice shelves and glaciers. World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ice-shelves-and-glaciers The summer of 2020 will leave a deep wound in the cryosphere, with a
major impact on ice shelves and glaciers in the Northern hemisphere.
Oil spills damaging our most vulnerable environments. Amy McLellan. Marine Professional.
3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
radar/item/5771-oil-spills-damaging-our-vulnerable-environments When the Wakashio ran aground
in July, spilling oil onto the pristine Mauritius shoreline, it was an environmental disaster the small
island state did not have the resources to cope with in time.
The blue recovery and the delayed ocean ‘super’ year. World Ocean Initiative (WOI).
7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ocean-super-year/ In the latest World Ocean Initiative webinar, speakers expressed optimism
about using the pandemic pause to make progress on ocean sustainability, biodiversity and climate
change.
Where does the heat go? World Meteorological Organization (WMO). 7 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] The first comprehensive
assessment of where the Earth’s excess heat is accumulating has been released by the
Global Climate Observing System, co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization,
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission-UNESCO, International Science Council and
United Nations Environment Programme.
The State of Ocean Governance in the Western Indian Ocean Region. United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP). 16 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
region The State of Ocean Governance in the Western Indian Ocean Region, developed by
the Nairobi Convention in partnership with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association,
reviews the status and trends in ocean governance in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) and identifies
key gaps, challenges, and opportunities in relation to global norms and best practices. Report
Arctic Sea Ice Loss: World Leaders Must Arrest Arctic Climate Change Impacts. Clean Arctic
Alliance. 22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
sea-ice-loss-world-leaders-must-arrest-arctic-climate-change-impacts/ Reacting to news of the
Arctic summer sea ice minimum reaching its second lowest extent in the 42-year satellite record
on September 15, and to recent reports of a polar heatwave, Greenland ice sheet’s loss of million
tonnes of ice per day, the collapse of the Spalte glacier and Milne Ice Shelf, and the Arctic’s shift to
a new climate, the Clean Arctic Alliance today called on world leaders to take urgent action to slow
Arctic warming.
World Maritime Day calls for a Sustainable Blue Economy. World Meteorological
Organization (WMO). 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
24 September celebrates World Maritime Day, with the theme for 2020 “Sustainable shipping for
a sustainable planet” providing an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Africa can revive 2020 as an ocean super-year. Timothy Walker and Denys Reva. Institute for
Security Studies (ISS). 24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
can-revive-2020-as-an-ocean-super-year Four high-level United Nations meetings and a web of
international conventions on biodiversity, sustainable development and climate change were meant
to secure agreement among states on better ocean policies.
Saudi Arabia warns UN of oil in Red Sea near abandoned tanker.. Arab News (Saudi Arabia).
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Saudi
Arabia has warned the UN Security Council that an “oil spot” has been sighted in a shipping lane 50
km west of an abandoned, decaying oil tanker off the coast of Yemen.
UN chief and UK premier announce December climate summit. UN News. 24 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] With the COVID-19 pandemic having
disrupted plans to hold the annual international UN climate meeting - known as the COP - this year,
the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom have
announced that they will instead co-host a “landmark global event” on 12 December, the fifth
anniversary of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
Guidelines for the Assessment of Environmental Flows in the Western Indian Ocean
Region. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 25 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
western-indian-ocean-region Sustainable management of rivers is essential to maintaining
livelihoods, health, biodiversity, economic and food security, and more in the Western Indian
Ocean region and beyond.
The oceans are out of balance — and that means stronger storms and threats to marine life.
Jeff Berardelli. CBS News (US). 29 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
When you think of the changing climate, the first thing that likely comes to mind is extreme weather
swirling about in the atmosphere.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Fish invasions follow Panama and Suez canal expansions. EurekAlert! 1 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] World
maritime trade grows each year, aided by canal waterways that connect oceans and reduce
shipping time, energy consumption and carbon emissions.
South Africa aims to stop marine litter at its source. United Nations Environment Programme.
4 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
stop-marine-litter-its-source The coast of South Africa’s Kwazulu-Natal province looks like it was
pulled from a postcard, with wide, sandy beaches stretching for some
600 kilometres.
Would The Use Of Chemical Dispersants In Mauritius Oil Spill Be Considered An Ecocide?
Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 13 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
mauritius-oil-be-considered-ecocide/ An oil slick appeared in one of Venezuela’s national parks at
the end of July (and reports of yet another Venezuelan oil spill are coming in on 9 September), the
oil supertanker fire off the coast of Sri Lanka on 3 September as well as the major oil spill in
Mauritius starting 6 August in the heart of a global biodiversity hotspot.
Ocean Trash: Putting a Price Tag on “Cleaning up Tuna Nets and Flip Flops” on the Aldabra
Atoll. Marine Technology News. 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Following a five-week
clean-up on Aldabra Atoll, one of Seychelles’ UNESCO World Heritage Site, where 25 tons of marine
plastic litter was removed, researchers at Oxford University have estimated that the cost to clean up
the entire island is approximately $4.68 million, requiring 18,000 hours of labour.
Five Glaring Issues With The Oil Spill Response In Mauritius Today. Nishan Degnarain. Forbes.
18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
glaring-issues-with-the-oil-spill-response-in-mauritius-today The evidence in a major international
crime appears to be disappearing.
Exercise simulating oil spills at seas held successfully. Jonathan Shkurko. Cyprus Mail.
18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
spills-at-seas-held-successfully/ Cyprus is in a position to deal with oil spill incidents at sea, both
at state and private level, Deputy Minister of Shipping Vassilis Dimitriades said on Friday during a
scheduled exercise off the coast of Zygi-Vasiliko.
Arab ministers warn of oil spill disasters in the Red Sea. Arab News (Saudi Arabia).
21 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Arab ministers have warned of oil spill disasters in the Red Sea and called on international and
regional bodies to maintain maritime security in the area.
More Mysterious Dark Substances Seen In Ocean Around Mauritius After Oil Spill.
Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
in-ocean-around-mauritius-after-oil-spill The giant puzzle surrounding the Mauritius oil spill keeps
getting bigger almost two months on, as more pieces are added, and fewer questions are answered.
ICES highlights risks associated with ships’ scrubber discharge water. International Council for
the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). 24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
and-events/news-archive/news/Pages/[Link] Recommendations to tackle the
emerging global problems associated with ships’ scrubber discharge water is the focus of ICES
latest Viewpoint: Scrubber discharge water from ships – risks to the marine environment and
recommendations to reduce impacts
Face coverings recommended on cargo ships by new WHO guidance. Nautilus International.
2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
coverings-recommended-on-cargo-ships-by-new-who-guidance/ Face coverings and pre-boarding
screening are among new measures being recommended by the World Health Organization in
interim guidance for cargo ships.
Video Testimony: Master defends COVID-19 Command Decisions for protecting Crew. Human
Rights at Sea (HRAS). 3 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
decisions-for-protecting-crew/ Former Master of the MV Tomini Destiny, Captain Rajnish Samuel
Shah, has authorised the release by Human Rights at Sea of his personal testimony in defence of his
command decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic for the protection the health, safety and
security of his crew during unloading operations off the Port of Chittagong, Bangladesh in late March
2020.
Thousands of port workers won’t need Covid-19 tests. Radio New Zealand. 8 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
covid-19-tests Of the up to 6000 workers, 1000 will be tested every fortnight under the new border
regime that began this week.
6 crew members on cargo ship docked in Metro Vancouver test positive for COVID-19.
Yvette Brend. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). 8 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
after-reports-of-covid-19-cases-on-cargo-ships-1.5715846 Six of 23 crew members on a bulk carrier
anchored off Metro Vancouver have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Public Health
Agency of Canada.
CLIA and its Cruise Line Members Announce Mandatory Core Elements of Health Protocols.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). 21 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
members-announce-mandatory-core-elements-of-health-protocols CLIA, which represents 95% of
global ocean-going cruise capacity, announced today the adoption of mandatory core elements of a
strong set of health protocols to be implemented as part of a phased-in, highly controlled resumption
of operations.
Government urged to provide reagents for testing seafarers. New Kenyan. 24 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
According to CEO Mombasa Ocean Agency Idd Mussa, the results take almost a whole week since
they have to be taken to Kilifi, which is delaying crew changes leading to job losses.
Seafarers on Remote Island Quarantined with COVID-19 and No Medicine. Maritime Executive.
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
remote-islands-quarantined-with-covid-19-and-no-medicine Far from the world’s attention in the
middle of the Bay of Bengal, a health emergency is unfolding for seafarers in the Andaman Islands.
Oldendorff confirms 17 crew members test positive on baby cape off Australia.
Dale Wainwright and Gary Dixon. TradeWinds. 28 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
cape-off-australia/2-1-882458 German bulker operator says it is very concerned about seafarers
on bulker at Port Hedland.
Plans underway to evacuate crew as virus cases grow on cargo ship moored off Western
Australia. Sarah Swain. 9 News (Australia). 28 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
grow/4a0069aa-d004-48b2-a3a17eb44e4 Plans are underway to get a replacement crew
on board a cargo ship off the WA coast, after an outbreak of COVID-19 on board.
Greek cruise return suffers blow as coronavirus breaks out on TUI ship in Aegean Sea.
Harry Papachristou. TradeWinds. 28 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
breaks-out-on-tui-ship-in-aegean-sea/2-1-882775 The risks of resuming cruiseship operations amid
the coronavirus pandemic have become evident after an outbreak on a vessel that was supposed to
kick-start the business in Greece.
Australia sends troops to help contain virus on ore ship near Port Hedland. Paulina Duran and
Melanie Burton. Reuters. 29 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Australian
defence personnel are being deployed to Port Hedland, one of the world’s largest iron ore loading
ports, to help contain a coronavirus outbreak on a bulk carrier that last changed crews in the major
seafaring city of Manila.
Coronavirus outbreak on Patricia Oldendorff off Port Hedland sparks fears over cargo ship
rules. Jacob Kagi. ABC (Australia). 29 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
ship-call/12712578 Stricter rules around international ship crews entering Australian waters are
needed following the serious outbreak on board the Patricia Oldendorff manganese carrier off the
Pilbara coast, the WA Government says.
TUI cruise ship docks in Piraeus, repeat COVID test for 12 crew negative. Angeliki Koutantou.
Reuters. 29 September 2020. Available from: [Link] A cruise ship carrying about
920 passengers docked at Piraeus port near Athens early on Tuesday and a repeat test for 12 of
its crew members was negative for the coronavirus, a Greek health ministry official said.
IMO
Mauritius Consulate slams UN shipping agency IMO over handling of oil spill.
CapeTalk (South Africa). 1 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
handling-of-oil-spill Mukhtar Joonas, the Consul General of Mauritius in Cape Town, says the
IMO failed to urgently respond to the oil spill as it unfolded early in August.
Q&A: Star Bulk CEO says alt fuels attractive for IMO. Luis Gronda. Argus Media.
2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ceo-says-alt-fuels-attractive-for-imo In this interview, Norton discusses where the company stands
in meeting the IMO 2030 GHG goals, how the IMO’s sulphur regulation has affected bunkering
operations and more.
The International Maritime Organization’s proposed Arctic heavy fuel oil ban: Likely
implications and opportunities for improvement. International Council on Clean
Transportation (ICCT). 2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
HFO-ban-IMO-2020 In February 2020, at the seventh session of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO)’s Pollution Prevention and Response Sub-Committee, delegates agreed
on draft text of a ban on the use and carriage for use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in the Arctic.
White Paper Fact Sheet
Clean Arctic Alliance Slams Proposed Arctic Shipping Regulation as Full of Dangerous
Loopholes. Clean Arctic Alliance. 3 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
regulation-as-full-of-dangerous-loopholes/ Responding to the release of a new White Paper:
The International Maritime Organization’s Proposed Arctic Heavy Fuel Oil Ban: Likely Impacts And
Opportunities For Improvement by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Clean
Arctic Alliance Lead Advisor Dr Sian Prior said: “Now it’s clear the IMO’s proposed ban on HFO use
in the Arctic is a ban in name only”.
Loopholes in Arctic heavy fuel oil ban defer action to the end of the decade. Chloé Farand.
Climate Home News. 3 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
2029-research-finds/ In concessions to Russia, the International Maritime Organisation has watered
down draft rules to protect the Arctic from oil spills and black carbon pollution.
IMO’s Arctic heavy fuel oil ban ‘in name only’, green groups complain. Max Tingyao Lin.
TradeWinds. 3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
arctic-heavy-fuel-oil-ban-in-name-only-green-groups-complain/2-1-868942 Environmental groups
have lashed out at the International Maritime Organization’s proposed ban on heavy fuel oil (HFO)
in the Arctic, saying the regulation would be “in name only” due to a large number of waivers and
exemptions.
Arctic shipping study exposes flaws in planned fuel ban. Sam Morgan. EurActiv.
3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
study-exposes-weaknesses-of-planned-fuel-ban/ A proposed ban on polluting ship fuel in Arctic
waters would only eliminate 5% of the most harmful climate-busting emissions due to a raft of
waivers and exemptions, a new study warned on Thursday (3 September).
Synergy disappointed by IMO during crisis with stranded seafarers. Tomas Kristiansen.
ShippingWatch. 3 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The IMO and other decision-makers
have not done their job well enough to avoid the severe and escalating crew change crisis
around the world.
Kitack Lim demands solution for stranded seafarers as soon as possible. Søren Pico.
ShippingWatch. 9 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] In a letter to all IMO member states, the UN
and other organizations, Secretary General Kitack Lim calls for more action for stranded seafarers.
Watch An IMO ‘Expert’ Give Mauritius The Worst Advice Ever. John Konrad. gCaptain.
10 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
worst-advice-ever/ Today video emerged of a town meeting where Sommerville provides advice
to local authorities. Advice which one maritime expert calls “utterly ridiculous”.
IMO In Hot Water Following Mauritius Oil Spill And Botched Wakashio Salvage Operation.
Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
spill-and-botched-wakashio-salvage-operation/ Saying this has not been the finest hour for the
global shipping regulator, the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) would be
a significant understatement.
IMO-Singapore Webinar Charts Ways Forward for Decarbonisation of Shipping. Maritime and
Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 17 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
8920 At the “Future of Shipping: Decarbonisation” webinar jointly organised by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) and Singapore today, leaders from maritime administrations and
industry came together to share insights on decarbonisation for shipping in the new normal
post-COVID-19.
Singapore backs IMO to lead global green agenda for shipping. Sam Chambers.
Splash [Link]. 18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
to-global-agenda-for-shipping/ In the week where European politicians voted in favour of going their
own way when it comes to regulating shipping’s emissions, a webinar convened by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) and Singaporean authorities yesterday preached the positives of a
global, collaborative approach to the industry’s biggest long-term challenge.
Why Isn’t Panama Paying Its Fair Share Of 20% Of All Global Shipping’s Carbon Emissions?
Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 20 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
20-all-global-shippings--carbon-emissions/ Going into 2020, there were 61,100 large vessels in the
world - mainly large ocean-going container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers.
Container lobby warns: European quotas will complicate IMO’s climate work.
Katrine Grønvald Raun. ShippingWatch. 20 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The EU’s efforts to include shipping in
the Emissions Trading System are far from helpful, says the CEO of the World Shipping Council.
Sustainability Takes Center Stage for World Maritime Day. Maritime Executive.
23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
takes-center-stage-for-world-maritime-day This year, the IMO has selected sustainability as its
focus for World Maritime Day, centring its message on “sustainable shipping for a sustainable
planet.”
Does The IMO ‘Intend’ To Do Nothing At All? John Konrad. gCaptain. 23 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] In the fifteen years of running gCaptain, we
have reached out to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), several times and even travelled
to their beautiful London headquarters to stop by (uninvited) and introduce ourselves.
Oman celebrates World Maritime Day. Muscat Daily (Oman). 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Oman will
celebrate World Maritime Day, observed annually on September 24, at a time when the ASYAD
Group is aiming to achieve growth and business continuity while keeping the sustainability of
marine life high on its agenda.
Is anyone listening to the World Maritime Day sermon? Richard Meade. Lloyd’s List.
23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
Maritime-Day-sermon When even divine intervention fails to move the dial on industry issues it’s
time to take stock of the underlying problems that are hurting shipping’s prospects and undermining
the progressive moves towards true sustainability.
World Maritime Day 2020. Ambassador Carlos Salinas. Manila Times. 23 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
day-2020/770919/ Last September 19, the third Saturday of September, was International Coastal
Cleanup Day.
World Maritime Day: Commissioner Vălean calls for support and safe return of seafarers.
European Commission. 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The pandemic has
brought many challenges for seafarers, who come from all over the world.
6 Things Global Citizens Should Know About World Maritime Day 2020. Sophie Partridge-Hicks.
Global Citizen. 24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
maritime-day-shipping-pandemic/ Every year on Sept. 24, World Maritime Day is observed to
recognize the importance of the marine environment, the effects of the shipping industry on oceans,
and the safety of seafarers who spend months away from home.
World Maritime Day brings call to help stranded seafarers. Paula Wallace. DCN - Daily Cargo
News (Australia). 24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
day-brings-call-to-help-stranded-seafarers/ The International Maritime Organization has declared
that 2020’s World Maritime Theme is “Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet”.
On World Maritime Day, calls grow to detain ships in order to stop the humanitarian crisis at
sea. Sam Chambers. Splash [Link]. 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
humanitarian-crisis-at-sea/ An influential group of unions has called for ships to be detained in ports
if seafarers have been onboard longer than international treaties allow.
World Maritime Day: COVID-19 Crisis And The Importance Of Shipping. NDTV (India).
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
theme-importance-of-marine-ecology-and-seafarers-2300243 Happy World Maritime Day 2020:
Union Minister for Shipping today greeted seafarers and praised their “professionalism and sacrifice”
amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Maritime Day 24 September 2020. Didier Dogley. Seychelles Nation. 24 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] ‘Sustainable shipping for a
sustainable planet’ is the theme chosen to mark this year’s World Maritime Day being celebrated
today, September 24.
How Hong Kong can help make shipping more sustainable. Richard Hext. South China
Morning Post. 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
more-sustainable The theme of this year’s World Maritime Day, on September 24, is sustainable
shipping for a sustainable planet”.
Impact of 2020 changes blurred by Covid-19. Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA).
September 2020. Available from:
[Link] It is barely four
years since the IMO adopted the CE Delft report and set 1 January 2020 as the date for reducing
the global sulphur cap in marine fuels from 3.5% to just 0.5%.
U.S. Seizure of Three Websites Used by Iranian Front Company that Was Shipping Fuel on
Four Tankers to Venezuela. US Department of Justice. 28 August 2020. Available from:
[Link]
fuel-four-tankers-venezuela The Justice Department today announced the seizure of three websites
used by three front companies: Mobin International, Sohar Fuel, and Oman Fuel, who arranged a
multimillion dollar fuel shipment by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated
foreign terrorist organization, that was bound for Venezuela.
Troubled waters: Greek-Turkish escalations in the Mediterranean. France 24. 28 August 2020.
Available from: [Link]
in-the-mediterranean Tensions have been mounting in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days with
announcements of military exercises in the area emerging from a slew of countries.
Sanctions as a Tool to Protect Human Rights at Sea. Human Rights at Sea (HRAS).
29 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
to-protect-human-rights-at-sea/ Human Rights at Sea, in concert with the international law firm HFW
LLP, today issues a new Insight Briefing Note concerning the July release by the UK Government of
the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020. Insight Briefing Note
Robert Maersk Uggla hits out at month-long refugee crisis on the Maersk Etienne.
Splash [Link]. 3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
hits-out-at-month-long-refugee-crisis-on-the-maersk-etienne/ Robert Maersk Uggla, the CEO of A.P.
Moller Holding, has today decried the “terrible precedent” set by European governments for their
failure to handle a refugee case onboard one of Maersk Tankers’ vessels.
Is a Shipping Carbon Levy on the Way? Nikos Roussanoglou. Hellenic Shipping News.
3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
levy-on-the-way/ In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Intermodal said that “the imminent global
shift towards eco-friendliness has caused divide among the shipping community because there is
no outlined, clear-cut way via which shipowners can start approaching the future IMO targets.
Pacific talks ocean, climate change action with United Kingdom. Pacific Community (SPC).
3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
release/2020/09/pacific-talks-ocean-climate-change-action-with-united-kingdom Climate action and
oceans realities for the Pacific have been the focus of a just-ended virtual tour of the region by the
United Kingdom’s Minister for Pacific and the Environment, Lord Zac Goldsmith.
Why SADC should ratify Maritime Labour Convention. Moses Amweelo. Southern
Times (Namibia). 5 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) is an International Labour Organisation convention
(number 186), established in 2006 as the fourth pillar of international maritime law.
Impact of coronavirus on the UK’s freight and maritime sectors examined. UK Parliament
Transport Committee. 7 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
coronavirus-on-the-uks-freight-and-maritime-sectors-examined/ The Transport Committee
explores how the pandemic has affected freight transported by road, rail, air and sea and how
the Government can support the logistic sector’s recovery.
European Commission cannot help stranded migrants aboard Maersk Tankers ship.
Trine Vestergaard and Louise Wendt Jensen. ShippingWatch. 7 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The European Commission does not have
the legal jurisdiction to enter the conflict about which country should accept the 27 migrants that are
stuck aboard a Maersk Tankers ship.
Iran tests US resolve as tanker trio ‘heads to Venezuela’. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds.
8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
as-tanker-trio-heads-to-venezuela/2-1-870910 Another round of Iranian oil shipments to Venezuela
has been identified, in what analysts see as a test of how the US will react.
UK Replaces Shipping Minister After Seven Months in Job. Ship & Bunker. 8 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
seven-months-in-job Kelly Tolhurst, who only became shipping minister in February , will now take
up a post in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Bangladesh declares seafarers key workers. Sharar Nayel. Safety at Sea. 8 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
The government of Bangladesh has declared seafarers as ‘key workers’ to facilitate the movement
of seafarers and crew change during COVID-19, taking into consideration the important role they
are playing to keep supply chains intact.
Jutta Paulus ahead of vote: Carbon quotas could be pushed back one year.
Katrine Grønvald Raun. ShippingWatch. 9 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Next week the EU Parliament will vote
on German MEP Jutta Paulus’ MRV report, including whether shipping should be placed under the
EU Emission Trading System.
Coast Guard to hold public hearing for Golden Ray capsizing incident. United States Coast
Guard. 9 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The U.S. Coast Guard,
National Transportation Safety Board, Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator,
and the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal are scheduled to conduct a formal public hearing starting
Monday at the Marshes of Glynn Library (Brunswick-Glynn County) in Brunswick, Georgia, to
consider evidence related to the capsizing of the motor vessel Golden Ray.
Operation Irini inspects a vessel for suspected violation of the UN arms embargo on Libya.
Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI. 10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
libya/ Operation EUNAVFOR MED Irini boarded and inspected the Merchant Vessel Royal Diamond
7 early in the morning for suspected violation of the UN arms embargo on Libya.
EU ETS Discussion Paper. World Shipping Council. 10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
A brief examination of a potential EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) applied to maritime shipping
should the EU elect to use the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Regulation scope of
application that includes extraterritorial voyages.
Liners strike out at EU’s green shipping plans. Jason Jiang. Splash [Link].
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
plans/ Washington-based container shipping lobbying group, the World Shipping Council (WSC),
has published a paper highlighting serious concerns for maritime trade and global efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions if the European Union proceeds as planned and expands its emissions
trading system (ETS) to include international shipping.
Maritime union outlines urgent case for reform at Senate inquiry into Australian shipping.
Maritime Union of Australia. 11 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
shipping Maritime Union of Australia national secretary Paddy Crumlin outlined the case for
major industry reform at a public hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional
Affairs and Transport inquiry into Australian shipping.
MOL Announces Initiatives aiming for recovery of Environmental Damage from the Wakashio
Incident, and to Contribute to the Mauritian Community. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Mitsui O.S.K.
Lines, Ltd. today announced to provide long-term contributions to the environment and the society of
Mauritius with the support and cooperation of experts and organizations with specialized knowledge
of environmental restoration and protection, and working closely with the government of Japan.
Mitsui OSK to spend $9.4 mln on Mauritius clean-up after oil spill. Yuka Obayashi and
Aaron Sheldrick. Reuters. 11 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Japan’s
Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd said on Friday it would spend about 1 billion yen ($9.42 million) on measures
to help Mauritius, including the clean-up of the island’s mangrove forests and contribution to an
environmental recovery fund.
The Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security. US Department of State.
12 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
and-port-security/ Over the past two years, the United States has built an increasingly fruitful
security relationship with the Republic of Cyprus.
Guidelines for trawling in Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman prepared. Tehran Times (Iran).
13 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
trawling-in-Persian-Gulf-Sea-of-Oman-prepared The Department of Environment (DOE) in
cooperation with the Fisheries Organization has developed the guidelines for trawling in the
Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, the DOE deputy chief for marine ecosystems, has stated.
Post Covid-19 maritime economic development: low hanging fruit for the Eastern Cape.
South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). 14 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
fruit-for-the-eastern-cape/ The Covid-19 pandemic that’s engulfed the world since about the end
of 2019, killing as many as nine hundred thousand people so far and forcing periodic national
lockdowns, may have had a truly devastating impact on the world’s economy – the world’s maritime
economic sector that’s an essential lifeblood to world trade included – but it has also presented
opportunities to refocus priority areas for economic development.
Shippers balk at EU carbon market plan. Sam Morgan. EurActiv. 14 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
plan/ The shipping industry has railed against plans to expand the EU carbon market to the maritime
sector ahead of a crucial vote in the European Parliament on Tuesday (15 September) that risks
putting lawmakers on a collision course with shippers.
Sri Lanka has potential to become one of world’s leading maritime hubs – President tells
Officials. Government of Sri Lanka. 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
president-tells-officials/ President tells Officials President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka
can use its unique locational advantage to become one of the world’s leading maritime hubs.
UKHO launches new innovation programme to support development of the Blue Economy.
UK Hydrographic Office. 16 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
development-of-the-blue-economy The UK Hydrographic Office’s ADMIRALTY Marine Innovation
Programme will help start-ups and innovators develop solutions to support safe, secure and thriving
oceans.
Global and African Leaders Welcome Launch of GCA Africa as “Historic Moment to
Accelerate Adaptation” on the Continent. African Development Bank. 16 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
welcome-launch-gca-africa-historic-moment-accelerate-adaptation-continent-37862 Hosted by the
African Development Bank at its headquarters in the Ivorian capital Abidjan, GCA Africa will work
with partners across the continent to scale and accelerate adaptation action that protects African
communities from the impacts of climate change.
US Sanctions 101. Watson Farley & Williams LLP. 16 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] This article is the first in a seven-part series
on the application of US sanctions to the shipping community.
International transport and supply chains key to COVID-19 recovery: UN agencies. United
Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). 17 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
agencies Eight UN organizations urge governments to take a risk-based approach to restoring
maritime, air, and inland connectivity with minimal restrictions.
State of the Union: Questions & Answers on the 2030 Climate Target Plan.
European Commission. 17 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The Commission has
presented today its 2030 Climate Target Plan, consisting of: a Communication on Stepping up
Europe’s 2030 Climate Ambition; an accompanying Impact Assessment; an EU-wide Assessment
of National Energy and Climate Plans; and an amended proposal on the draft European Climate
Law to incorporate the new 2030 emissions reduction target.
Ship banned for AUD $118,000 in unpaid crew wages. Australian Maritime Safety
Authority (AMSA). 17 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
community/news-and-media-releases/ship-banned-aud-118000-unpaid-crew-wages The Australian
Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has today banned the Panama-flagged bulk carrier AC Sesoda for
deliberately underpaying its crew by more than AUD $118,000, which the ship’s operator attempted
to conceal from authorities.
Eastern Mediterranean: Turkey must immediately end illegal drilling activities. European
Parliament. 17 September 2020. Available from: [Link] MEPs condemn Turkey’s
actions in the Greek and Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone and express full solidarity with the two
member states.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines pays $253K for violating anti-pollution laws. California Air Resources Board.
18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
violating-anti-pollution-laws Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has paid $253,300 in penalties to the California
Air Resources Board for violating the Ocean-Going Vessel At-Berth Regulation.
Bye bye bilaterals: UN general assembly to embrace Zoom diplomacy. Patrick Wintour.
The Guardian. 19 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
zoom-diplomacy Diplomats and foreign ministers are slowly emerging from their Covid-induced
hibernation, but the 75th United Nations general assembly – supposedly a display of the world’s
connectedness – will largely be an exercise in remote Zoom diplomacy.
Pacific seeks changes to law of the sea. Fiji Times. 22 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] A Regional Conference on
Securing the Limits of the Blue Pacific focussed on the legal options, institutional responses to
the impact of sea-level rise on baselines and the context of international law.
UN At 75: How the Law of The Sea Has Shaped A More Fair and Equal Society.
Michael W. Lodge. In-Depth News. 22 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
a-more-fair-and-equal-society In his address to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in
July 2020, reflecting on what kind of UN we need at the 75th anniversary, the Secretary-General of
the UN called for strengthened and renewed multilateralism, geared towards the overarching goals
of peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.
Marina hosts 2020 National Maritime Week. Yashika F. Torib. Manila Times. 23 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
2020-national-maritime-week/770922/ The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) spearheaded this
year’s National Maritime Week in celebration of the milestones that the multi-sectoral industry has
accomplished for the past year.
Pacific small islands and ‘Big Ocean’ nations at UN Assembly make the case for climate
action, shift to clean energy. UN News. 25 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Facing constant threats from climate change and
wary of the possible spread of COVID-19 to their shores, Pacific Island leaders on Friday touted their
own environmental action plans and called for more aggressive climate action from other nations,
including rapid shifts toward clean energy.
Israel to hold US-mediated talks with Lebanon on sea border. Joseph Krauss. Associated Press.
26 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
mediterranean-sea-united-states-c7524b206cfbcdab151e50ba15f0b166 Israel will hold rare talks
with Lebanon next month in an effort to resolve a longstanding maritime border dispute, an Israeli
official said Saturday.
‘Govt’s aim to transform SL as world’s busiest shipping base’. Daily News (Sri Lanka).
28 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
transform-sl-world%E2%80%99s-busiest-shipping-base%E2%80%99 The Government’s aim is to
transform Sri Lanka as the busiest shipping base in the world helping to get a better contribution from
it to the countries’ GDP, said Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary, Prof. Admiral Jayanath Colombage.
How the Pacific is starting the voyage towards decarbonisation. Global Maritime Forum.
28 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
starting-the-voyage-towards-decarbonisation The island micro-nations of the Pacific are positioned
in the most vulnerable region to climate change.
MARINE TECHNOLOGY
DNV GL’s remote in-water ship surveys using ROV mark a world first. DNV GL.
31 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
surveys-using-rov-mark-a-world-first-184199 The world’s first in-water remote ship surveys using
a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) have been completed by leading classification society, DNV GL.
Autonomous shipping: do we know what we’re talking about? Paul Berrill. TradeWinds.
1 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
shipping-do-we-know-what-were-talking-about-/2-1-856544 Despite consensus that small coastal
craft will be the first to self-sail, there is still a way to go in finding common definitions before global
regulations can be set.
Partnering on the Digital Ship: Inside Denmark’s ShippingLab. Tom Mulligan. MarineLink.
3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
denmarks-481425 Denmark’s ShippingLab project is a three-year initiative that commenced its work
in March 2019 with the aim of developing the first fully commercially operational, fully digital,
autonomous and environmentally friendly ship.
U.S. Navy Invests $40M in Large Unmanned Vessel Development. Maritime Executive.
6 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
large-unmanned-vessel-development The U.S. Navy has taken a significant step forward in its
accelerated (and controversial) push to deploy unmanned naval vessels.
CLIA Releases 2020 Environmental Technologies and Practices Report. Cruise Lines
International Association (CLIA). 10 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
CLIA, the leading voice of the global cruise industry, released today the Global Cruise Industry
Environmental Technologies and Practices Report produced by Oxford Economics.
Environmental Commitment, Innovation, and Results of the Cruise Industry Infographic
Testing begins on an autonomous ‘Mayflower’ ship ahead of its Atlantic voyage. Sam Shead.
CNBC (US). 11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
[Link] A robot-powered boat that was due
to cross the Atlantic this month has been forced to delay its voyage until next April after the virus
caused complications in its development.
France demonstrates its autonomous shipping prowess. Sam Chambers. Splash [Link].
16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
shipping-prowess/ Paris-headquartered class society Bureau Veritas and the French flag have
developed a new compliance approach for SeaOwl’s remote operations known as ROSS, which
stands for Remotely Operated Services at Sea.
Supporting the ships of the future. UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency. 16 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
The Mayflower Autonomous Ship will attempt to recreate the original voyage of the Mayflower across
the Atlantic Ocean 400 years ago.
This new technology can save whales from ship collisions. Morgan Visalli. World Economic
Forum. 17 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
technology-can-save-whales-from-ship-collisions/ A pillar of warm air and vapour bursts out of the
ocean, reaching three storeys into the sky. It is an exhalation from the blowhole of a blue whale – the
largest animal to ever exist, and yet a species hunted nearly to extinction by commercial whaling.
California Whales Are Being Killed by Ships, but AI Might Be Able to Save Them. Hannah
Osborne. Newsweek. 17 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
california-shipping-system-1532611 An artificial intelligence system is about to start listening
out for whale calls along busy shipping lanes to help prevent collisions with vessels.
HMM may explore autonomous ships, trans-Atlantic trade. Kim Link-Wills. Freight Waves.
23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
autonomous-ships-trans-atlantic-trade HMM said it will use data collected at its newly opened
fleet control center in part to explore the commercial viability of autonomous ships.
Kongsberg digital develops cloud-based simulators for maritime industry, with funds from
innovation Norway. Kongsberg. 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
based-simulators-for-maritime-industry-with-funds-from-innovation-norway/ Kongsberg Digital
develops cloud-based simulation technology to support advanced operational studies, research
and education in the maritime industry.
New Tool Helps Evaluate Risk of Illegally-Caught Fish Passing Through Port. Peter Horn and
Dawn Borg Costanzi. Pew Charitable Trusts. 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
risk-of-illegally-caught-fish-passing-through-port A new interactive tool from The Pew Charitable
Trusts can help maritime and fisheries authorities and seafood buyers determine where in the world
illegally-caught seafood is most likely to enter the market.
Are remote ship surveys safe? Craig Eason. [Link]. 25 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] ITF and IUMI question continued use of
remote surveys as Covid-19 restrictions impact crew welfare and fatigue.
‘Robo-ships’ offer lifeline for Japan’s shorthanded industry. Hellenic Shipping News.
29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
for-japans-shorthanded-industry/ A group of 40 Japanese shipping companies, shipbuilders and
technology companies aims to have remote-control vessels ply Japanese waters as early as 2025,
a potential life preserver for a greying industry suffering from a chronic labour shortage.
How Europe is turning to tech to help clean up the shipping industry. Denis Loctier. Euronews.
29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
to-tech-to-help-clean-up-the-shipping-industry International shipping is a large and growing
source of greenhouse gas emissions.
Royal Navy in Solent training exercise with UK Border Force over migrants crossing Channel.
Millie Salkeld. Portsmouth News (UK). 1 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
over-migrants-crossing-channel-2958642 Vessels and crews have been training in the Solent
to ‘evaluate’ how patrol boats may be deployed to assist the UK Border Force in the Channel.
The future of maritime training – micro and just-in-time learning. Marcus Hand. Seatrade
Maritime News. 16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
operations/future-maritime-training-micro-and-just-time-learning Micro-learning and just-in-time
training could change the paradigm of maritime education and training, although there are challenges
to their introduction, according to a senior executive from Thome Group.
CMU seeks to cement position as institution of choice. Peta-Gay Hodges. Jamaica Information
Service. 17 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
institution-of-choice/ The Palisadoes Park-based Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), which is
celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is looking to cement its position as a preferred institution
for higher learning.
Maritime Skills Commission publishes Labour Market Intelligence Report. Chrissie Clarke.
Maritime UK. 18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
centre/news/news-maritime-skills-commission-releases-labour-market-intelligence-report/
The Maritime Skills Commission (MSC) has published its Labour Market Intelligence Report to help
identify skills gaps in the maritime sector. Labour Market Intelligence Scoping Report - August 2020
Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute sets sail. Kyriacos Kiliaris. Financial Mirror (Cyprus).
20 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
and-maritime-institute-sets-sail/ The Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI) prepares to set
sail as it aspires to become the driver behind the island’s sustainable blue growth through knowledge
and innovation.
Learning Through a Pandemic. Philip Teoh. Maritime Executive. 21 September 2020. Available
from: [Link] No industry was
prepared or spared when COVID-19 hit the world, bringing closures of production, businesses,
borders and ports along with untold suffering and deaths for millions.
COVID Academy. Lisa Overing. Maritime Executive. 29 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Going to school to maintain
seafarer credentials for licensing requirements has changed.
MARITIME SAFETY
The perils of uncleared hazardous cargo. Najib Shah. CNBC-TV18 (India). 31 August 2020.
Available from: [Link]
[Link] The recent explosion in hanger 12 at the Port of Beirut which resulted in large
scale damage to life and property, has had reverberations across the globe.
Marine insurers fear crew crisis will lead to more ship casualties. Adam Corbett. TradeWinds.
14 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
fear-crew-crisis-will-lead-to-more-ship-casualties/2-1-874416 Marine insurance executives are
expecting the growing mental fatigue and stress experienced by the 300,000 seafarers trapped
at sea in the crew-change crisis will result in increased casualties.
Five global cargo groups collaborate to raise container safety standards. Lee Hong Liang.
Seatrade Maritime News. 15 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
[Link]/containers/five-global-cargo-groups-collaborate-raise-container-safety-standards Five
international freight transport and cargo handling organisations are collaborating on the adoption and
implementation of safety practices throughout the global supply chain.
KSrelief calls on international community to take immediate action on safer oil tanker issue.
Rawan Radwan. Arab News (Saudi Arabia). 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and
Relief Centre (KSrelief) has called on the United Nations and wider international community to take
‘urgent and immediate action’ to contain the risk of the explosion or sinking of the Safer oil tanker
the charity said in a release issued Monday.
New industry safety coalition aims at a zero incident future. Luci Hine. TradeWinds.
15 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
coalition-aims-at-a-zero-incident-future/2-1-875646 A coalition of industry companies aimed at
improving the safety of the shipping industry and helping protect seafarers has unveiled its ambition
of a zero incident future.
Covid corner-cutting will lead to deaths, ‘environmental catastrophe’ – new shipping report.
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 20 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
new-shipping-report ITF has issued a stark warning that if temporary short cuts adopted in the
industry during the Covid-19 pandemic continue or become permanent, then there will be a rise
in shipping accidents and environmental disasters. Beyond the Limit: How Covid-19 corner-cutting
places too much risk in the international shipping system
How the FSO Safer is an impending danger to the Red Sea and Yemen. Saeed Al-Batati.
Arab News (Saudi Arabia). 21 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Until the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized
Yemen’s western port city of Hodeidah in late 2014, foreign and local experts had been regularly
visiting a 45-year-old oil tanker moored in the Red Sea.
Education key to container packing concerns. James Baker and Janet Porter. Lloyd’s List.
21 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
concerns The latest effort to prevent containership fires has been launched by the newly formed
Cargo Integrity Group.
Montrose ‘ready to hit ground running’ on latest Gulf mission. Royal Navy. 22 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] A new crew have taken charge of the Royal Navy’s most
important warship in the Gulf, ready to safeguard shipping in the region.
UK must put safety before cost in emergency towing cover. Nautilus International.
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
put-safety-before-cost-in-emergency-towing-cover/ A new report into shipping safety risks in UK
waters highlights the ‘extreme paucity’ of emergency cover in several key areas.
Container losses: The Swedish Club identifies the catalysts. Swedish Club. 29 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
club-identifies-the-catalysts The Swedish Club, provides an overview of statistics, an insight into
specific cases, and with the help of experts, delivers hands-on advice for preventing such losses.
Container focus: Preventing the loss of containers at sea
Sustained focus on domestic ferry safety. John Ingleton. Cruise & Ferry. Autumn/Winter 2020.
Available from: [Link] Interview
with Heike Deggim, Director, Maritime Safety Division, IMO.
MARITIME SECURITY
Gray Page warns bunker industry of potential threat posed by environmental activism.
Manifold Times (Singapore). 7 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
environmental-activism/ James Wilkes, Managing Director of Gray Page, a specialist maritime
consulting group in investigating cargo theft, hijacking and piracy, warned against environmental
activism posing a risk to the bunkering industry during his presentation at the Petrospot organised
Global Bunkering Summit 2020 event on Thursday (2 September).
Militia ‘intimidates’ cargoship crew by firing live rounds in Libyan port. Gary Dixon.
TradeWinds. 8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
intimidates-cargoship-crew-by-firing-live-rounds-in-libyan-port/2-1-870947 Armed guards at the
Libyan port of Ras Lanuf have fired live rounds and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in a bid to
deter a general cargoship from loading scrap metal.
The Challenge of COVID-19 for Floating Armories. Lydelle Joubert. Maritime Executive.
8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
covid-19-for-floating-armories The outbreak of COVID-19 threatened these supply lines and affected
crew serving these ships.
Shipowners wary of boiling waters in the Eastern Mediterranean. Terry Maclister. TradeWinds.
9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
boiling-waters-in-the-eastern-mediterranean/2-1-871380 Friction between Turkey and Greece over
drilling rights, reflects the dangers to shipping posed by geopolitics in an age of rising nationalism.
Beirut blast bears witness to lawlessness of world’s oceans. Radio France Internationale (RFI).
10 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
witness-lawlessness-worlds-oceans Packed with hazardous material explodes after apparently
being abandoned for years by its owner in Beirut’s port.
India joins the Djibouti Code of Conduct as Observer. Government of India. 16 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
[Link]?dtl/32977/India+joins+the+Djibouti+Code+of+Conduct+as+Observer DCOC/JA is a
grouping on maritime matters comprising 18 member states adjoining the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the
East coast of Africa and Island countries in the IOR. India joins Japan, Norway, the UK and the US as
Observers to the DCOC/JA.
Coast Guard releases new plan to protect global maritime security by combatting Illegal,
Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing. United States Coast Guard. 17 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] Today
the Coast Guard released a new strategy to enhance global safety, security, and stewardship of
the maritime domain by combatting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Strategic Outlook
UNODC resuming in-person Maritime Law Enforcement capacity building with Kenya Coast
Guard. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). 18 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP) has been
continuing capacity building through virtual means, such as hosting an online Prosecutor’s Network
forum, a Maritime Terrorism roundtable event and has recently launched a monthly online session
on legal matters pertaining to the Law of the Sea.
“We are here to de-escalate and reassure merchant shipping”. European Maritime Surveillance
Mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH). Hellenic Shipping News. 22 September 2020. Available
from: [Link]
shipping/ Just appointed, the new command team of the European Maritime Awareness mission in
the Strait of Hormuz speaks about its current position and intentions.
Tonne of cocaine found hidden in fruit at the Port of Dover. BBC News. 23 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] About a tonne of cocaine
with a street value of approximately £100m has been found hidden in a shipment of fruit.
Experts: Maritime Industry Remains Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks. John Grady. US Naval
Institute News. 28 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
maritime-industry-remains-vulnerable-cyber-attacks While handling 90 percent of the global
economy daily, maritime industry ashore and afloat remains increasingly vulnerable to cyber
disruptions and attacks from “neerdowells and bad actors” that threaten financial markets and
the country’s national security, the head of the Maritime Administration said last week.
CMA CGM confirms cyber attack. Sam Chambers. Splash [Link]. 28 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
suffers-brief-outage/ CMA CGM has confirmed it has become the latest liner to suffer a cyber attack
today.
Silence from CMA CGM about cyber attack confounds observers. Søren Pico and Trine
Vestergaard. ShippingWatch. 29 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] It has now been 24 hours
since CMA CGM promised an update on the cyber attack it is currently battling.
MIGRANTS
UN agencies call for urgent disembarkation of hundreds rescued in the Mediterranean.
UN News. 29 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
Hundreds of rescued migrants and refugees currently on board three vessels in the Central
Mediterranean, some of whom have been stuck at sea for weeks, must be brought to shore
immediately, two UN agencies said on Saturday.
Boat carrying nearly 370 migrants reaches Italy’s Lampedusa. France 24. 30 August 2020.
Available from: [Link]
italy-s-lampedusa A fishing boat carrying nearly 370 migrants landed overnight on the Italian
island of Lampedusa, the country’s news agencies reported on Sunday, as a nearby humanitarian
ship carrying another 350 people sought a port of disembarkation.
Hundreds of migrants still dying in Med five years since 2015. BBC News. 31 August 2020.
Available from: [Link] Five years since the 2015
migrant crisis, hundreds of people are still dying in the Mediterranean.
Record 400-plus migrants cross Channel in one day. BBC News. 2 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] More than 400
migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats - a record for a single day.
Sea-Watch 4 is allocated a port of safety 11 days after first rescue. Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF). 2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
rescued-mediterranean-migrants Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), together with Sea-Watch, has
been back at sea in the central Mediterranean since 15 August, on board the ship the Sea-Watch 4.
Migrants trying to reach Europe pushed to deadly Atlantic. Renata Brito. Associated Press.
2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Migrants and asylum-seekers are increasingly crossing a treacherous part of the Atlantic Ocean to
reach the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago near West Africa, in what has become one of the
most dangerous routes to European territory.
A commercial ship saved 27 migrants, but now the EU has abandoned it at sea. Daniel Trilling.
The Guardian. 4 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
malta-european On 4 August, the Maersk Etienne, a chemical tanker making its way across the
Mediterranean, rescued 27 migrants about 70 nautical miles north of the Libyan coast.
Malta pressured to disembark migrants stranded on oil tanker for more than a month.
Laura Calleja. Malta Today. 6 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
anded_on_oil_tanker_for_more_than_a_month International organisations, including the UNHCR,
say the government is in breach of international law by denying disembarkation to 27 migrants who
were rescued by a commercial vessel more than a month ago.
Shipping and the law on rescuing migrants. David Osler. Lloyd’s List. 6 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
on-rescuing-migrants With Maersk Etienne off-hire for a month after rescuing 27 migrants at the
request of Malta’s SAR centre, top shipping law firms outline the issues surrounding the case.
Malta denies responsibility for migrants aboard Maersk ship. Katrine Grønvald Raun and
Ida Jacobsen. ShippingWatch. 7 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The situation aboard Maersk
Etienne is not Malta’s responsibility, the country’s prime minister Robert Abela asserted Sunday.
ICS, UNHCR and IOM call on States to end humanitarian crisis onboard ship in the
Mediterranean. International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). 7 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
end-humanitarian-crisis-onboard-ship-in-the-mediterranean ICS, the International Chamber of
Shipping, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration are
calling for the immediate disembarkation of 27 rescued people trapped onboard a cargo ship.
Inaction has been fatal, says UNHCR, as dozens of Rohingya refugees perish at sea.
UN News. 7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Dozens of Rohingya refugees are believed to have died in the Andaman sea after spending
more than 200 days afloat, owing to a “collective unwillingness” of countries to take them in,
the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.
Malta: Illegal tactics mar another year of suffering in central Mediterranean. Amnesty
International. 8 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
in-central-mediterranean/ The Maltese government has resorted to dangerous and illegal measures
for dealing with the arrivals of refugees and migrants at sea, which are exposing countless people to
appalling suffering and risking their lives, Amnesty International revealed today in a report. “Waves
of impunity: Malta’s human rights violations Europe’s responsibilities in the Central Mediterranean”
Denmark in dialog with Tunisia about fate of migrants aboard Maersk ship. Trine Vestergaard.
ShippingWatch. 8 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The Danish government believes that
Tunisia is responsible for the 27 migrants that have now been stranded aboard Maersk Etienne
for more than a month off the coast of Malta.
V. Group Comment on Maersk Etienne Situation. Hellenic Shipping News. 9 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
situation/ The situation on board the Maersk Etienne calls for politicians and governments to
take immediate responsibility.
Politicians cast doubts on final destination for migrants on tanker vessel. Trine Vestergaard.
ShippingWatch. 11 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Opposing assessments make several
politicians bring Malta into play as a possible destination for the 27 migrants stranded on board
Maersk Etienne.
Migrants from Maersk Etienne moved to NGO ship. Trine Vestergaard. ShippingWatch.
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
After 38 days aboard tanker Maersk Etienne, the 27 rescued migrants have now been moved
safely to an NGO ship, inform both Danish Shipping and Maersk Tankers in separate statements.
Migrants land in Sicily after ‘longest standoff in European maritime history’. Lorenzo Tondo.
The Guardian. 13 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
european-maritime-history The odyssey of 27 migrants stranded onboard a tanker for 38 days
has finally come to an end, as the passengers were finally allowed to disembark in Sicily in what
has been described as ‘‘the longest standoff in European maritime history”.
Two dozen migrants feared drowned off Libya’s coast. Aljazeera. 15 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
off-libyas-coast/ A boat carrying refugees and migrants bound for Europe has capsized in the
Mediterranean Sea off Libya’s coast, leaving at least two dozen people dead or missing, the UN
migration agency said.
Marseille official says ready to welcome migrant boat heading for France. France 24.
23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ready-to-welcome-migrant-boat-heading-for-france The deputy mayor of Marseille said the southern
French city would welcome the Alan Kurdi after the NGO-run rescue boat announced on Wednesday
that it was sailing to France with 125 migrants on board.
After France refused rescue ship to dock, refugees reach Sardinia. Aljazeera.
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
refused-rescue-ship-to-dock-refugees-reach-sardinia A ship with 125 rescued refugees and
migrants on board reached the Italian island of Sardinia on Thursday, the aid organisation
Sea-Eye said, adding the fate of its survivors remains unclear.
Fleeing chaos and hardship, Lebanese have begun braving perilous seas. Steve Hendrix
and Nader Durgham. Seattle Times (US). 26 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
braving-perilous-seas/ For years, Ibrahim Lisheen watched as refugees from neighbouring Syria
passed through this Mediterranean port city, boarding smugglers’ boats for risky crossings to
Europe.
Over 90 Haitian migrants abandoned in Colombian waters. Luis Jaime Acosta. Reuters.
30 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
90-haitian-migrants-abandoned-in-colombian-waters-idUKK More than 90 Haitian migrants were
abandoned at sea by human traffickers as they tried to reach Panama from Colombia as part of
their journey to the United States, Colombia’s navy said on Tuesday.
In Just 20 Years, Ships Could Cross an Open Arctic Ocean. Mia M. Bennett. Maritime Executive.
6 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ships-could-cross-an-open-arctic-ocean Sailing via the North Pole was impossible until the 1950s.
Migrant crisis has ships going off radio and rerouting near Malta. Tomas Kristiansen.
ShippingWatch. 9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The protracted migrant crisis aboard Maersk Etienne now has Danish Shipping calling upon
politicians and industry association to change the conventions and rules currently in use when
merchant vessels rescue migrants.
Turkey’s Oruc Reis survey vessel back near southern shore, ship tracker shows.
Ali Kucukgocmen and George Georgiopoulos. Reuters. 11 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Turkey’s seismic research vessel
Oruc Reis returned to waters near the southern province of Antalya on Sunday, data showed, a
move Greece said was a positive first step in easing tensions over offshore natural resources.
Vanderbilt scientists awarded NSF grant to examine the future of international shipping in the
Arctic Ocean. Marissa Shapiro. Vanderbilt University (US). 11 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
future-of-international-shipping-in-the-arctic-ocean/ As the Arctic Ocean becomes less icy as a result
of a warming climate, it could prove to be a viable—and more convenient — shipping route for global
logistics companies.
The Harbour Master – Ensuring Safe Navigation. The Gleaner (Jamaica). 15 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
navigation In the shipping industry, the harbour master has a statutory role for the safety of harbours
and port areas and for the conduct of vessels within those areas.
Gulf Livestock 1: Hopes pinned on satellite technology. Katie Todd. Radio New Zealand.
16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
hopes-pinned-on-satellite-technology Friends and family of two missing stock handlers hope satellite
technology can find signs of life in the South China Sea, two weeks since the Gulf Livestock 1,
carrying 43 crew and nearly 6000 cattle capsized in a typhoon.
Why was Wakashio’s crew sailing desperately in search of a signal? Adam Corbett.
TradeWinds. 21 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
wakashio-s-crew-sailing-desperately-in-search-of-a-signal-/2-1-877501 One of the most surprising
aspects of the grounding of a bulker off Mauritius was the revelation that it sailed close to the coast
because the crew were searching for a mobile phone or internet connection.
Bridging the gap between seafarers, their families. CNN Philippines. 23 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
[Link] Being a seafarer can be risky. The perils of the job can cause worry to their
families.
New tool alerts ships when whales are near. But will they slow down? Claudia Geib. Mongabay.
23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
when-whales-are-near-but-will-they-slow-down/ In August, whale-watchers witnessed something
remarkable off the coast of California: 30 blue whales, the largest animal that has ever lived and a
typically solitary species, all feeding in the same small area.
PIRACY
2 South Koreans reportedly kidnapped from fishing vessel off Ghana. Yonhap News
Agency (South Korea). 29 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
A Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked in waters 200 kilometers southeast of the coastal
city of Tema on Friday (local time), according to Dryad Global, a London-based maritime security
consultancy, and Seoul officials.
‘Maximum alert’: warning of new piracy threat from armed Nigerian group. Gary Dixon.
TradeWinds. 4 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
armed-nigerian-group/23 The piracy reporting body Maritime Domain Awareness for Trade — Gulf
of Guinea (MDAT-GoG) said it had received information from military sources that an armed group
from Rivers State is planning an attack against vessels in Zone D, particularly off Cameroon and
Equatorial Guinea.
CTF 151 and Djibouti hold talks to combat piracy in the region. Combined Maritime
Forces (CMF). 8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
08/ctf-151-and-djibouti-hold-talks-to-combat-piracy-in-the-region/ The Turkish-led Combined Task
Force 151 (CTF 151) held a recent engagement with the commanders of the Djibouti Marine
Nationale and Coastguard.
Two crew kidnapped from reefer vessel off Lagos. Jason Jiang. Splash [Link].
9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
off-lagos/ The 1992-built reefer vessel Water Phoenix was boarded by pirates off Lagos on Tuesday
and two of the crew are believed to have been kidnapped.
Pirates kidnap two Russians from refrigerator ship in Gulf of Guinea. TASS Russian News
Agency. 9 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Pirates
kidnapped two Russians from the refrigerator ship Water Phoenix, the Russian embassy in
Nigeria has confirmed.
‘Piracy on PH waters could affect crew change plans’. Yashika F. Torib. Manila Times.
16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
business/piracy-on-ph-waters-could-affect-crew-change-plans/768458/ A recent increase in theft,
robbery, and piracy on board ships in the ports of Manila and Batangas could possibly “derail” the
country’s plan to become a major crew change hub.
Ship owner engaged in talks with pirates who abducted Russian sailors in May. TASS
Russian News Agency. 18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Previously, human right ombudsman in Sevastopol Pavel Butsay told TASS that the pirates, who
abducted Russian citizens in the Gulf of Guinea, called their families and demanded ransom,
threatening to kill the sailors.
CEMLAWS Reveals Alarming Trends Of Piracy Incidents In Gulf Of Guinea. Dryad Global.
23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
trends-of-piracy-incidents-in-gulf-of-guinea The Executive Director of the Centre for Maritime Law
and Security (CEMLAWS) and a Retired Naval Captain, Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, has revealed alarming
trends in its new report concerning the dark shades of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, indicating an
exponential spread of attacks across the Gulf, where Ghana was not spared.
Kenya new crew change hub thanks to ITF. International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
31 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
thanks-itf On day one of Kenya’s new Covid-19 safe crew change guideline implementation, Betty
Makena Mutugi, International Transport Workers’ Federation inspector (ITF) in Kenya, set her alarm
for 4am to make sure she was at Mombasa’s port by 6am.
Crew change crisis: a global perspective. Neil Godfrey. Seatrade Maritime News.
7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
crisis-global-perspective While much about Covid-19 is yet to unfold, it’s reasonable to assume that
the pandemic’s most profound and poignant legacy in the shipping industry is the crew change crisis.
Singapore establishes Crew Facilitation Centre and safe crew change fund. Anne Kalosh.
Seatrade Cruise News. 8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
crewing/singapore-establishes-crew-facilitation-centre-and-safe-crew-change-fund The Maritime and
Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) enhanced measures to further secure safe port operations and
facilitate crew change.
Companies must take crew change opportunities in the UK and elsewhere - ITF. International
Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 12 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
elsewhere-itf The repatriation of seven Myanmar crew members from a Korean-owned vessel via
the United Kingdom shows that crew change is still possible during the crew change crisis, but it
requires the determination of the seafarers’ employers.
Foreign flagged ships detained in the UK during August 2020. UK Maritime & Coastguard
Agency. 14 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ships-detained-in-the-uk-during-august-2020 The Maritime and Coastguard Agency announced
today that nine foreign flagged ships remained under detention in UK ports during August 2020
after failing port state control (PSC) inspection.
Actions Taken By The AMP For Seafarers During Covid-19. Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).
Hellenic Shipping News. 16 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
The Republic of Panama, through the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), supports all seafarers
without distinction of nationality when making crew changes in vessels of all kinds, belonging to
the Panamanian Registry as well as registered with other flags in our territorial waters, in frank
collaboration with the member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
SG-STAR Fund: First global tripartite initiative to support countries for crew change.
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF). 17 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
crew-change The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the International Maritime
Employers’ Council (IMEC) have jointly contributed US$500,000 to the Singapore Shipping Tripartite
Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund to support countries that adopt best practices for crew change.
Philippines cuts port charges by 50% for vessels to facilitate crew change. Sharar Nayel.
Safety at Sea. 17 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
cuts-port-charges-by-50-for-vessels-to-facilitate-crew-change/ As an effort to facilitate seafarers’
well-being during the pandemic period, the Philippines has cut some port charges by 50% for
vessels calling at the port of Capinpin for crew change.
90 ships, 900 seafarers to divert to PH per month for crew change. Raymond Carl Dela Cruz.
Philippine News Agency (PNA). 18 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] A Japanese mariner’s group on Friday said that about
90 of its member vessels and 900 seafarers will be diverted to the Philippines for crew changes.
Crew changes at India’s Vizhinjam port stalled by local agent. Shirish Nadkarni. Seatrade
Maritime News. 18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
operations/crew-changes-indias-vizhinjam-port-stalled-local-agent Crew changes on ships at
Vizhinjam port, on the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, have been stalled by the muscle
power displayed by a local steamer agent, which has set up its own association to carve out a
monopoly on the activity.
ESC and GSA appeal to authorities to facilitate crew changes. European Shippers’
Council (ESC) 21 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
release-esc-and-gsa-appeal-to-authorities-to-facilitate-crew-changes/ As representatives of
cargo owners, we appeal to the authorities – the International Maritime Organization, the European
Commission, and national governments - to urgently facilitate crew changes so that supply chains
can remain intact through the crisis.
Further extension of STCW certificates issued by Singapore. Maritime and Port Authority of
Singapore (MPA). 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
26c9-4458-878d-ad9f1df0050c The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Infocomm Media
Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, some
seafarers face challenges in renewing their certificates issued under the International Convention
on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended, the
STCW Convention.
China to gradually open up ports for crew changes. Jason Jiang. Splash [Link].
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
crew-changes/ China is going to open up a number of ports soon for ship crew changes as the
country eases entry restrictions for foreign nationals.
Detain ships to stop humanitarian crisis at sea say Unions. Nautilus Federation.
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
stop-humanitarian-crisis-at-sea-say-unions/ An influential group of unions has called for ships to
be detained in ports if seafarers have been onboard longer than international treaties allow.
Nautilus Federation message to the maritime industry on crew change crisis
Coronavirus outbreak among Patricia Oldendorff crew in Port Hedland prompts call for new
‘green lane’ system. Laura Birch, Karen Michelmore and Susan Standen. ABC (Australia).
30 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
coronavirus-cluster-prompts-maritime-union-warning/12716512 The WA Government will push
for tighter crew restrictions in the Philippines, after it was revealed officers from the ill-fated Patricia
Oldendorff were allowed to quarantine at home in Manila before boarding the Australia-bound vessel.
The Missing Links in Africa’s Ports Connectivity. Brian Gicheru Kinyua. Maritime Executive.
28 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
africa-s-ports-connectivity Since Africa is home to many developing countries, including 16 which
are landlocked, it is faced with immense pressure to improve its connectivity to global trade.
One Hundred Container Ports 2020. Lloyd’s List. 30 August 2020. Available from:
[Link] Welcome to the
2020 edition of Lloyd’s List One Hundred Ports, tallying up the annual container throughput figures of
the world’s elite port facilities.
UN-ECLAC port report reveals effects of COVID-19 on Latin American and Caribbean ports.
Ricardo J. Sánchez and Eliana P. Barleta. Port Economics. 1 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
american-and-caribbean-ports/ The throughput of containerized cargo in Latin American and
Caribbean ports remained static in 2019, registering an increase of only 0.04% compared to the
previous year, according to the Port Report launched today by ECLAC.
Seaport expansion costs will greatly exceed sea-level rise adaption costs through 2050.
[Link]. 2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Seaport footprints will need to expand by up to 3,689 square kilometers (1,424 square miles)
worldwide in the next three decades to cope with the combination of sea-level rise and rising
demand, according to a new study published in Earth’s Future, a peer-reviewed scientific journal
focusing on climate change and future sustainability.
Don’t forget maritime: ports keen to explore options for testing at borders. British Ports
Association. 7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
maritime-ports-keen-to-explore-options-for-testing-at-borders The British Ports Association
represents 86% port traffic including all the UK’s international passenger ports. In the case of ferry
travel often passenger movements supplement freight services making them more viable for carriers
to operate.
Beirut blast: Maritime industry failings cannot be overlooked. Tanya Blake. Safety at Sea.
8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
failings-cannot-be-overlooked/ To date, there have been more than 200 people killed, 5,000 people
injured, and an estimated 300,000 people left homeless as a result of the devastating explosion of a
port warehouse in Beirut on 4 August 2020, although figures vary and are updated daily.
Huge fire at Beirut port brought under control. Timour Azhari. Aljazeera. 10 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
control/ A towering inferno at Beirut’s port caused widespread panic in the Lebanese capital, just two
days after another fire was put out at the site of an enormous explosion that killed nearly 200 people
last month.
Trading community urges president to reopen sea ports for passenger traffic. GhanaWeb.
10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
reopen-sea-ports-for-passenger-traffic-1056823 The Ghanaian trading community is calling on the
President, Nana Akufo-Addo to announce officially, the opening of the sea borders, whilst relying on
measures and protocols put in place by the regulatory agencies to effectively manage all
arrangements to curb the importation and spread of COVID-19 in Ghana.
Port master is captain of her career. Sowetan Live (South Africa). 11 September 2020. Available
from: [Link]
The Port of East London’s Sharon Sijako is one of three women captaining a commercial harbour in
South Africa.
The vast potential of AI – Port and Maritime working group sets to work. Port of Rotterdam.
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
releases/the-vast-potential-of-ai-port-and-maritime-group-sets-to-work Artificial Intelligence (AI)
can be used in a huge array of technological applications within this sector.
Green light for a deeper fairway at the Port of Gothenburg. Port of Gothenburg.
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
releases/green-light-for-a-deeper-fairway-at-the-port-of-gothenburg/ On Thursday, Gothenburg
City Council passed a resolution to grant more than 1,2 billion kronor (€120,000,000) to finance
the Skandia Gateway project, which is aimed at deepening the fairway leading into the Port of
Gothenburg.
Khalifa Port expansion on track for completion in first quarter of 2021. Deena Kamel.
The National (United Arab Emirates). 12 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
quarter-of-2021-1.1076463 The expansion of Khalifa Port Logistics, South Quay and Abu Dhabi
Terminals is set to be completed next year despite the “challenging economic conditions” triggered
by the Covid-19 pandemic, Abu Dhabi Ports said yesterday.
COVID19 Port Barometer Half Year Report: reverse in port worker availability in world
ports during recent weeks. Ports surveyed experience delays in investments. World Ports
Sustainability Program (WPSP). 16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
IAPH publishes half-year report of its COVID-19 Port Economic Impact Barometer Future
Barometer to incorporate new features, with global tracker in development.
IAPH-WPSP Port Economic Impact Barometer Half Year Report
NRDC and Partners Sue L.A. to Protect Communities from Port Pollution. Gonzalo E.
Rodriguez. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). 16 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
pollution The Port of L.A. didn’t just violate the law—it violated its commitments to millions of
residents who live under the choking pollution emitted by its operations.
Abu Dhabi Ports plans to halve emissions through digitalisation. Jennifer Gnana.
The National (United Arab Emirates). 17 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
through-digitalisation-1.1078755 Abu Dhabi Ports plans to halve its emissions through a smart
container initiative that will use solar power to reduce energy use.
East Coast Ports Get More Shipping Volumes as Trade Routes Change. Hellenic Shipping
News. 18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
shipping-volumes-as-trade-routes-change/ The trade rift with China and a boost in e-commerce are
changing the way cargo comes into the U.S., with a greater share of goods flowing into East Coast
seaports rather than the traditional gateways on the West Coast.
Further enhancements to crew change for cargo ships in the port of Singapore. Maritime and
Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). 22 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
fc61-41aa-9840-b05cc1726069 For crew changes to take place safely, MPA continues to expect
all owners, agents, ships and individuals to ensure that the COVID-19 preventive measures are
followed strictly.
Release of containers at Port of Antwerp will be digitalized. Port of Antwerp. 3 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
be-digitalized Port of Antwerp is taking the next step in the development of a digitally secured port.
Sniffer drone deployed in the strait of Pas-de-Calais to monitor ship emissions. European
Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
[Link] With the aim of tightening control over
ship emissions in French waters, the Ministry of the Sea is deploying on a trial basis a sniffer drone
in the strait of Pas-de-Calais, the world’s busiest area for ship movements.
Coinciding with 44th IMO FAL Committee meeting, IAPH launches global ports questionnaire
on electronic data exchange. International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH).
29 September 2020. Available from: [Link] The International
Association of Ports and Harbors announces the launch of a global questionnaire of the world’s ports
as part of its commitment to support the wide-ranging adoption of secure electronic data exchange.
REGULATIONS
Q&A on Ballast Water Management. Safety at Sea. 3 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Understanding and complying with
ballast water management (BWM) requirements remain a major hurdle for many shipowners and
operators.
Sulfur cap to force faster phaseout of old ships. Genivi Factao. Manila Times.
9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
business/sulfur-cap-to-force-faster-phaseout-of-old-ships/766403/ The Maritime Industry Authority
(Marina) said the implementation of regulations on capping sulfur content in marine fuel would force
shipowners to retire their old vessels faster than before.
How IMO 2020 turned into the Y2K of ocean shipping. Greg Miller. Freight Waves.
25 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
the-y2k-of-ocean-shipping Trade tsunami from IMO 2020 fuel rule never materialized.
SALVAGE
Environment risk highlighted as governments fail to invest in salvage. Adam Corbett.
TradeWinds. 10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
invest-in-salvage/2-1-870151 UK study says public funding for emergency salvage vessels cannot
be justified as maritime disasters continue to pollute the seas.
Navy and members from Salvor board MT New Diamond for inspection. Sri Lanka Navy.
10 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Sri Lanka Navy and other damage control teams, through their continuous missions, have
successfully doused the re-ignited fire triggered by adverse weather onboard MT New Diamond
on 07th September.
Salvage team working to stop fuel leak from fire-hit supertanker. Waruna Karunatilake and
Nidhi Verma. Reuters. 11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
tanker-blast/salvage-team-working-to-stop-fuel-leak-from-fire-hit-supertanker-idUKKBN2620YY
A salvage team is still trying to plug a fuel leak from the fire-stricken New Diamond oil supertanker,
Sri Lankan Navy spokesman Indika de Silva said on Friday.
Salvors Complete Dive Inspection of Fire-Damaged VLCC New Diamond. Maritime Executive.
13 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
dive-inspection-of-fire-damaged-vlcc-new-diamond The fire-damaged tanker New Diamond is
“stable and safe” at a position about 50 nautical miles off the coast of Sri Lanka, the Indian Navy
reported Sunday.
Controversial Mauritius Ship Involved In Operation To Tow Broken Sri Lanka Oil Supertanker.
Nishan Degnarain. Forbes. 26 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
operation-to-tow-broken-sri-lanka-oil-supertanker/ The Panama - flag oil supertanker that had an
explosion off the coast of Sri Lanka earlier this month, the MT New Diamond, is being helped by a
controversial support vessel that led the operation to deliberately sink a large, Japanese iron ore
vessel Wakashio in the coastal waters of Mauritius last month.
SEAFARERS
Coronavirus: Floating facilities turned into centre to house seafarers. Cheryl Tan.
Straits Times. 29 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
facilities-turned-into-centre-to-house-seafarers Three floating facilities at the Tanjong Pagar
Terminal, that previously used to house foreign workers, will be converted into a centre to house
seafarers, such as crew in between ship transfers, from Tuesday.
Most crew from insolvent CMV have been repatriated. Anne Kalosh. Seatrade Maritime News.
31 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
insolvent-cmv-have-been-repatriated Most crew from Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which went
into administration in July, have been repatriated, a UK official said.
MARINA issues 1-year extension to expiring STCW certificates. Philippine News Agency (PNA).
1 September 2020. Available from: [Link] The Maritime Industry
Authority (MARINA) has extended anew the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping
(STCW) certificates of Filipino seafarers as a temporary measure amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
COVID-19: Nigeria Repatriates Over 500 Seafarers. Shulammite ‘Foyeku. Ships & Ports.
2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
500-seafarers/ More than 500 seafarers have been repatriated to their various countries from
Nigeria in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, an official of the International
Transport Workers Federation (ITF) informed SHIPS & PORTS.
MARINA extends ‘seafarer’s books’ validity anew amid Covid-19. Philippine News
Agency (PNA). 2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has granted a one-year extension to expiring Seafarer’s
Record Books (SRB) and Seafarer’s Identification and Record Books (SIRB) to help Filipino
seafarers amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
No easy way home for seafarers delivering goods to Canadian ports during pandemic.
Morgan Lowrie. CTV News (Canada). 6 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
during-pandemic-1.5094390 Resig Calanog’s walk around Montreal’s port is only the second time
in nine months he’s been on solid ground.
Seafarers stranded in Malindi after Korean employer goes missing. Kenya Broadcasting
Corporation (KBC). 6 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
in-malindi-after-korean-employer-goes-missing/ The seafarers, who work in a crab-fishing vessel
christened Ahadi 001, claimed that their employer Yang Xian together with the two others
disappeared on Monday after the vessel docked at the Malindi Jetty and their efforts to contact
them had hit a snag.
Life at sea: The plight of Filipino seafarers. Paolo Barcelon. CNN Philippines. 8 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
The body found off Japan had been identified as one of the 37 Filipino seafarers still missing from a
capsized cargo ship.
Philippine fishermen stranded at sea by pandemic: ‘We think about jumping overboard’.
Ana P. Santos. Los Angeles Times. 8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Anthony Medina’s daughter was 5 months old when he left the Philippines and set sail for the Indian
Ocean in December 2018 on an odyssey where his livelihood collided with a pandemic that has kept
him adrift at sea and exiled from home.
Coronavirus ‘worst crisis for seafarers in 200 years’, says international maritime charity.
Sailors’ Society. 9 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Sailors’ Society says
coronavirus is the worst crisis seafarers have faced in its 200-year history, with ‘overwhelming’
numbers turning to the charity for help since the pandemic began.
‘Out of sight, out of mind’ approach to crews has to end. Nusrat Ghani MP. Lloyd’s List.
9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The attitude that many world leaders seem to have adopted, from China to India, to forget or ignore
stranded seafarers will become slightly more difficult to maintain when the supply chains that bring
food and medicine to supermarket shelves begin to shut down.
Myanmar seafarers win repatriation after refusing contract extensions. Nautilus International.
10 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
seafarers-win-repatriation-aft-refusing-contract-extensions/ Seven seafarers are being repatriated
from the UK after they refused to stay aboard their vessel and sign contract extensions due to the
crew change crisis.
KDF rescues five seamen abandoned by ship owner in Kismayu. Philip Mwakio.
The Standard (Kenya). 10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
The Ship left Mombasa in June to transport 7 tons of Khat [Miraa] to Djibouti but was later ordered
to drop Cargo at El Maan port in Saudia.
NIMASA and Seafarers’ Welfare. Eromosele Abiodun. This Day (Nigeria). 11 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
There are about 51,400 merchant ships operating all over the world, transferring goods between
places, keeping economies running.
SRI Calls for Investigation into Perfect Storm for Seafarers. Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI).
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
perfect-storm-seafarers/ The recent spate of grim casualties cannot simply be written off as bad
luck, says Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI), the international pan-industry body researching
maritime and seafarers’ law.
300,000 seafarers still stuck on ships: ‘We feel like hostages’. Mina Kaji. ABC News (US).
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
feel-hostages/story?id=72948111 Ashchaye Mohitram has not set foot on land since early March:
the 28-year-old steward said he’s one of a group of 103 Mauritian seafarers on three different MSC
ships near the port of Santos Brazil.
Gulf Livestock tragedy highlights plight of poor seafarers, Kiwis stuck abroad. John Weekes.
Stuff (New Zealand). 12 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
kiwis-stuck-abroad Shipping tragedies such as the sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 with two New
Zealanders on board are a common but almost unreported occurrence worldwide.
Stranded at Sea: ITF addressing abandonment in the Arab World. International Transport
Workers’ Federation (ITF). 13 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
A growing number of crew abandoned on ships in the Arab World without pay, food or water
are receiving assistance from the ITF Arab World and Iran Network to survive and get home.
Stranded Mauritian cruise workers finally begin journey home. Patrick Greenfield.
The Guardian. 13 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
begin-journey-home-coronavirus Dozens of Mauritian cruise ship workers who were stranded off
the coast of Brazil throughout the pandemic have finally started their journey home after desperate
appeals to return.
A practical way to deal with the shameful maltreatment of 600,000 people. Andrew
Craig-Bennett. Splash [Link]. 14 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
practical-way-to-deal-with-the-shameful-maltreatment-people/ The frequency of silly little accidents
that pop up in near miss reports and such like has increased, is increasing, it ought to be diminished
and now we are seeing spectacular big accidents as well, all with the same cause – people at sea
have been there too long; stress, boredom and fatigue amongst crew members are affecting ship
operations everywhere.
‘Repay great debt’: IMO joins forces to urge UN General Assembly to act on crew change
crisis. Matt Coyne. TradeWinds. 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
assembly-to-act-on-crew-change-crisis/2-1-874624 The IMO’s lobbying to give seafarers key worker
status is ramping up ahead of a meeting of world leaders at the UN General Assembly session that
begins on Tuesday in New York.
Abandoned Seafarers Finally Get Help After Vessel Owners Pay Them Sh630,000. Kenya News
Agency (KNA). 15 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
seafarers-finally-get-help-after-vessel-owners-pay-them-sh630000/ 15 seamen who had been left
penniless by their employer for two weeks finally accepted a lower pay than their expectations after
authorities brokered an uneasy truce between them and the vessel owner.
Duterte instructs DFA to identify, help Filipinos stranded in other countries due to COVID-19.
CNN Philippines. 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] With reports of
seafarers stuck on ships as the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of borders, President Rodrigo
Duterte directed on Monday the Department of Foreign Affairs to help Filipinos left stranded in other
nations.
A century of literary education and enjoyment for Marine Society’s ships’ library service.
Nautilus International. 15 September 2020. Available from: [Link] This year
marks the centenary of the Marine Society’s ships’ library service: Lenka Pospisil tells the story of
the service from the first dispatch of hardback books to the SS Aeneas in 1920 to today’s multilingual
digital library app.
Imbalances seen amid crew change crisis. Vincent Wee. Lloyd’s List. 15 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
amid-crew-change-crisis Crew changes are possible and can be made safe but everybody involved
needs to step up to their responsibilities for it to work, while the public must be made more aware of
the essential role of seafarers in their daily lives.
Crew costs to rise 10 – 15% this year due to Covid-19: Drewry. Marcus Hand. Seatrade Maritime
News. 15 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
operations/crew-costs-rise-10-15-year-due-covid-19-drewry Crewing costs are expected to rise in
the region of 10 – 15% this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic according to consultants Drewry.
UK charity thinks outside the box to bring seafarers home. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds.
18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
thinks-outside-the-box-to-bring-seafarers-home/2-1-876371 Support group founder explains how
logistics logic and the principles of container movement can be applied to the global crew crisis.
127 stranded Filipino seafarers await repatriation — DFA. CNN Philippines. 18 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] The Department of
Foreign Affairs is working to bring home 127 seafarers stuck on ships abroad due to the COVID-19
pandemic, according to Undersecretary Brigido Dulay.
All at sea: Stranded ship crews are shipping’s hidden Covid crisis. Olivia Pho.
Business Times (Singapore). 19 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
covid-crisis Gus, an Egyptian national, has been stuck at sea for longer than 12 months and just
wants to go home.
Captain claims he was suspended for protecting crew from COVID-19 exposure.
Gabriella Twining. Safety at Sea. 19 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
19-exposure/ Captain Rajnish Shah claimed his flag state endorsement was suspended on 8 June
for measures he took to protect his crew from exposure to COVID-19.
Imagine being stranded at sea for 18 months. That’s still the reality for many seafarers amid
COVID-19. Margi Van Gogh. World Economic Forum. 21 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
reality-for-many-seafarers-amid-covid-19/ The world over we have experienced the unprecedented
impacts of Covid-19, with millions of lives and livelihoods disrupted.
Seafarers are facing a Covid-driven humanitarian crisis. Udai Rao. Hindu BusinessLine (India).
21 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
facing-a-covid-driven-humanitarian-crisis/[Link] Thousands of mariners are unable
to sign off from their ships, causing considerable mental agony to them and their families.
Guidelines on seafarers protection during pandemic issued. Ferdinand Patinio. Philippine News
Agency (PNA). 22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) has issued guidelines that would
assure the protection and benefits of Filipino seafarers during unfortunate situations in their
deployment or repatriation due to Covid-19 related reasons.
What changes would you like to make to the Maritime Labour Convention? Jason Jiang.
Splash [Link]. 23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
you-like-to-see-the-maritime-labour-convention/ The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), known
as the seafarers’ bill of rights, is due to be amended in April next year with all suggestions from
signatories to the bill due in at the Geneva headquarters of the International Labour Organization
(ILO) by October 1.
Prayers urged for 300,000 seafarers stranded owing to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Hattie Williams. Church Times (UK). 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
seafarers-stranded-owing-to-covid-19-travel-restrictions The Liverpool Seafarers Centre has
urged churchgoers to continue to pray for seafarers who are still stranded on open water owing
to coronavirus travel restrictions.
Unilever, Consumer Giants Push Suppliers to Rescue Seafarers. K. Oanh Ha. Bloomberg.
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
giants-push-for-seafarers-to-get-off-ships Unilever Plc and Procter & Gamble Co. are among
consumer companies urging world leaders to resolve the plight of more than 300,000 seafarers
stuck on commercial vessels, where forced labor and deteriorating working conditions threaten
to disrupt the global supply chain.
“There’s hope,” Bello tells kin of missing seafarers. Government of the Philippines.
24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
missing-seafarers/ Just in time when they desperately needed it, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
gave hope to grieving families of Filipino seamen who went missing in heavy seas near Japan early
this month.
Relief sought for ship workers stuck at sea. Scott Tong. Market Place (US). 24 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
Some 300,000 people who work on commercial vessels — the kinds that carry food and health and
hygiene products, among other things — are stuck on their ships, unable to get off due to COVID-19
measures.
Coronavirus makes ‘modern slaves’ of ship crews, UN told. Deutsche Welle (Germany).
25 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
55047956 Long trapped on ships by COVID-19 travel curbs, 400,000 seafarers are desperate
for crew changes, a special UN meeting has been told.
COVID-19 and red tape is keeping thousands of mariners stuck at sea. Euronews.
25 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
is-keeping-thousands-of-mariners-stuck-at-sea Another COVID-19 problem that the U.N. is trying to
solve: how to help more than 300,000 merchant mariners who are trapped at sea because of
coronavirus restrictions.
COVID-19: MUI collaborates with UN body to help Indian seafarers stranded on ships.
New Indian Express. 27 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
[Link] Against the backdrop of the COVID-19
pandemic leaving around four lakh global seafarers, including thousands of Indians, stranded on
ships, India’s oldest union of merchant navy officers MUI has collaborated with the United Nations
to assist these sailors.
Vatican appeals for safe passage home for stranded seafarers under pandemic. Robin Gomes.
Vatican News. 28 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
city/news/2020-09/[Link] It is
estimated that more than 300,000 seafarers and marine personnel are currently stranded at sea,
due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
DFA welcomes home stranded seafarers from China. Government of the Philippines.
29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
welcomes-home-stranded-seafarers-from-china “Despite existing restrictions on the disembarkation
of seafarers in China and the difficult conditions under which this special flight was mounted, the
Department of Foreign Affairs remains committed to its promise of bringing our kabayan seafarers
home.
Crewing crisis: Just how many seafarers are affected? Declan Bush. Lloyd’s List.
29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Movement of ships, changing port and state regulations, cancelled flights and lack of a global
seafarer registry makes it ‘practically impossible’ to accurately estimate the number of crew working
beyond their contracts.
Third crewman from cattle ship rescued on lifeboat off Japan. Roslan Khasawneh and
Akiko Okamoto. Reuters. 5 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
A third crewman from a ship that capsized this week off Japan with more than 40 crew and a cargo
of cattle on board was found alive on Friday after he was spotted by a search plane, Japan’s
coastguard said.
Search resumes as final moments emerge of stricken livestock carrier off Japan.
Sam Chambers. Splash [Link]. 7 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
The Japanese Coast Guard resumed aerial search operations for missing crewmembers
of the Gulf Livestock 1 today after a typhoon-hit weekend made search and rescue operations
impossible.
Sea rescue missions face additional hurdles following changes in German shipping law.
InfoMigrants. 7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
rescue-missions-face-additional-hurdles-following-changes-in-german-shipping-law According to the
German news magazine Spiegel, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
is about to make work for the sea rescuers and human rights activists operating in the Mediterranean
Sea more difficult by introducing new safety regulations.
Maritime charity says legal duty to assist craft in peril is being ignored. David Osler.
Lloyd’s List. 8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Human Rights at Sea claims that some vessels knowingly refuse to join search and rescue efforts
because of commercial disincentives.
Coast guard resumes search for missing cattle ship crew off Japan. Mari Yamaguchi.
Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). 8 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
[Link] Japanese Coast Guard ships have resumed searching for a livestock
ship and its 40 missing crew members off Japan’s southern islands after the efforts were suspended
due to a typhoon.
European Maritime Social Partners call for EU to coordinate talks on a swift and solidary
solution for the rescued persons on board the Maersk Etienne. European Community
Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). 8 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
solidary-solution-rescued he European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the
European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) wrote to EU Vice President Margaritis Schinas and
Commissioner Ylva Johansson, voicing their grave concern about the humanitarian crisis on board
the oil tanker Maersk Etienne.
Search for missing freighter continues; no new survivors found. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora.
Philippine News Agency (PNA). 9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The Japanese Coast Guard has continued its sea and aerial search for the missing Gulf Livestock 1
and its 40 crewmembers in the East China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed
Tuesday night.
Gulf Livestock 1: Search for crew of capsized cattle ship called off. Radio New Zealand.
10 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
search-for-crew-of-capsized-cattle-ship-called-off The ship, the Gulf Livestock 1, sent a distress call
from the west of Amami Oshima island in south-western Japan last Wednesday as Typhoon Maysak
lashed the area with strong winds and heavy seas.
‘Just want them home’ - Families of Kiwis missing from livestock ship beg for Govt’s help.
Jared McCulloch. TVNZ (New Zealand). 12 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
ship-beg-govts-help The families of two Kiwis missing from the cattle ship which sank off the
coast of Japan are pleading with the New Zealand Government to do more to search for their sons.
COSCO MALAYSIA rescues four from sailboat off Tampa Port, Florida. COSCO Shipping
Corporation Limited. 14 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
malaysia-rescues-four-from-sailboat-off-tampa-port-florida/ On September 13th, the Captain and
crew of the COSCO SHIPPING Lines container ship COSCO MALAYSIA rescued a sailboat crew
in distress in the Gulf of Mexico, 130 nautical miles west of Port Tampa Bay, Florida.
Thousands mobilise in bid to try and save the 40 missing men from the Gulf Livestock 1.
Sam Chambers. Splash [Link]. 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
livestock-1/ Thousands of people around the world are joining together to get more nations involved
in the search operation for the missing 40 crew from the, which sank in the East China Sea off
southern Japan 13 days ago.
Shipowner calls for search of remote islands to find Gulf Livestock 1 survivors. Gary Dixon.
TradeWinds. 16 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
gulf-livestock-1-survivors/2-1-876413 Dubai shipowner Gulf Navigation is urging South China Sea
nations to search uninhabited islands in a bid to find 40 seafarers missing after the sinking of a
livestock carrier.
Detainment of fifth search and rescue ship in five months condemns people to die at sea.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). 20 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
Misuse of maritime law is providing a smoke-screen for a political decision to prevent rescue ships
from saving lives in the Mediterranean, declares Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), as the Sea-Watch
4 becomes the fifth NGO ship to be immobilised by Italian port authorities in less than five months.
How rescuing drowning migrants became a crime. Daniel Trilling. The Guardian.
22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
drowning-migrants-became-a-crime-iuventa-salvini-italy As patrol boats with flashing blue lights
surrounded the Iuventa, just outside the port of Lampedusa on the evening of 1 August 2017, its
crew were more annoyed than alarmed.
SHIP RECYCLING
Ship Recycling Activity Picks Up, Then Slows Back Down. Nikos Roussanoglou. Hellenic
Shipping News. 3 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
recycling-activity-picks-up-then-slows-back-down/ Demolition activity has failed to maintain the gains
of the past couple of weeks, which came as a result of higher pricing, which enticed ship owners to
allocate more tonnage for scrap.
Reconciling the Hong Kong Convention and the European push for regulation. Craig Jallal.
Container Shipping & Trade. 21 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
content-hub/recycling-webinar-60936 EU-flagged vessels now have to be recycled in EU-approved
yards, none of which are the Hong Kong Convention-compliant yards in southeast Asia. webinar.
EU countries looking for shortcut to India for end-of-life cargo ships. Niklas Krigslund.
ShippingWatch. 23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
EU member states are exploring the possibility of making a special deal with India and similar
countries to scrap end-of-life vessels on the beaches of South Asia.
Eimskip under scrutiny in Iceland – sold vessels ended on the beaches of India.
Christian Carlsen and Søren Pico. ShippingWatch. 28 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Iceland’s authorities have reported
Eimskip for violating environmental regulations after the shipping company sold two vessels to
new owners, which subsequently shipped them to India to be scrapped.
Momentous occasion for Alang; Iconic aircraft carrier ‘Viraat’ set for dismantling. New Indian
Express. 29 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
[Link] It is an emotional and momentous occasion
for Alang on Monday, as the dismantling of the world’s longest serving warship, INS Viraat, will begin
here three years after it was decommissioned by the Indian Navy.
Using data analysis to inform hull coating decisions. Martyn Wingrove. Maritime Optimisation &
Communications. 22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
hub/using-data-analysis-to-inform-hull-coating-decisions-61015 Verifying hull performance and
gathering oceanographic data will help owners define their antifouling strategies and reduce fuel
costs.
The CMA CGM JACQUES SAADE joins the fleet: the first 23,000 TEU container vessel in the
world to be powered by liquefied natural gas. CMA CGM. 22 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
teu-container-vessel-in-the-world-to-be-powered-by-liquefied-natural-gas The joining of the fleet
of the CMA CGM Jacques Saadé was marked by a first-of-its-kind digital naming ceremony that saw
the shipyard’s representatives in Shanghai and CMA CGM Group’s management in Marseille share
an emotional landmark moment in their common history.
Samsung Heavy gets nod for ammonia-fuelled ships from Lloyd’s Register. Nam Kwang-sik.
Yonhap News Agency (South Korea). 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries
Co. said Thursday that it has received the go-ahead for its ammonia-powered ships from Lloyd’s
Register, a British quality assurance and risk management company.
Kongsberg digital enters into strategic partnership with world leading engine manufacturer
MAN, collaborating on project with Höegh Autoliners. Kongsberg. 24 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] In order to accelerate the rate of digitalization in the maritime
industry and secure greater value for customers on both sides, Kongsberg Digital and MAN are
now formalizing the MoU from October 2019 and entering into a strategic digitalization partnership.
Greeks back in Korea for tanker orders. Sam Chambers. Splash [Link]. 30 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] Greek owners are
back in South Korea with tanker orders.
SHIPPING
CMA CGM has set a climate target but the path to get there is unknown. Søren Pico.
ShippingWatch. 31 August 2020. Available from:
[Link] France’s CMA CGM is the latest
shipping major to declare a target of CO2 neutrality by 2050, although, according to the shipping line,
it is too early to say how this will be achieved.
Storm brews over EEDI minimum power requirements. The Motorship. 1 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
eedi-minimum-power-requirements In severe sea states, EEDI’s minimum power requirements
potentially create a risk that a ship may not be able to make enough way through the water to
maintain steerage “and then you are in trouble,” warned Philip Holt, a naval architect at MAN
Energy Solutions.
New collaboration between academia and industry partners defines sustainability criteria for
marine fuels. Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI). 1 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
partners-defines-sustainability-criteria-for-marine-fuels/ The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) and
Copenhagen Business School (CBS) Maritime today announce a new partnership under the Green
Shipping Project.
Layoffs and managerial change prepare Maersk to embark on the 20s. Tomas Kristiansen,
Niklas Krigslund and Christian Carlsen. ShippingWatch. 1 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] There will be both layoffs and
changes to management when Maersk launches its new strategic plan, aimed at optimizing
the group’s efficiency and competitiveness.
Merchant Navy Day on 3 September will see Red Ensigns flown across the UK. Seafarers UK.
2 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
september-will-see-red-ensigns-flown-across-the-uk-2/ Local authorities and councils across the
UK are responding to Seafarers UK’s annual call to support the charity’s ‘Fly the Red Ensign for
Merchant Navy Day’ campaign.
The Getting to Zero Coalition sees momentum building around shipping’s decarbonization.
Global Maritime Forum. 3 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
around-shippings-decarbonization More than 200 representatives from Getting to Zero Coalition
members convened virtually this week for the Coalition’s second biannual working session with the
objective of advancing the ambition of having commercially viable zero emission vessels operating
along deep sea trade routes by 2030.
Carnival Corp. surpassed its carbon reduction goal in 2019, aims higher. Anne Kalosh.
Seatrade Cruise News. 3 September 2020. Available from: [Link] During 2019,
Carnival Corp. & plc achieved a 29.1% reduction in CO2e intensity relative to its 2005 baseline,
additional progress on top of reaching its original goal of a 25% reduction in carbon intensity in 2017.
How the coronavirus pandemic has given shipping clarity. Matthieu de Tugny. Splash [Link].
4 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
given-shipping-clarity/ Shipping is operating within a new normal; even before Covid-19 triggered an
unprecedented social and economic change, we were already dealing with the impact of IMO2020
and facing the challenges of transitioning an industry to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Maersk highlights biggest stumbling block in green transition. Niklas Krigslund. ShippingWatch.
4 September 2020. Available from: [Link] One
dilemma currently stands as the biggest challenge facing the shipping industry’s green transition,
says Maersk’s head of fleet technology.
Covid-19 curbs’ rising threat to shipping and global supply chains. Jamie Smyth and Thomas
Hale. Straits Times. 5 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
19-curbs-rising-threat-to-shipping-and-global-supply-chains-0 The closure of international borders,
flight caps and quarantine procedures owing to Covid-19 pose a grave threat to global shipping
supply chains and the welfare of seafarers, the head of Australia’s maritime safety authority has
warned.
Shipping Agents at Sharp End of COVID Crewing Crisis. Maritime Executive. 5 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
crewing-crisis The personal experience of one Inchcape marine services manager based in
St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands paints a vivid picture of the current crisis and how shipping
agents are negotiating all sorts of hurdles to get exhausted and homesick crew members repatriated,
and new ones boarded.
Sustainability target an uphill task for shipping sector: conference. Baoying Ng, Parisha Tyagi
and Bilal Abdi. S&P Global Platts. 5 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
an-uphill-task-for-shipping-sector-conference The shipping industry has a steep climb ahead to meet
sustainability targets, and technology and data analytics could play a part, participants at the Digital
Container Summit 2020 virtual conference said this week.
Simmering Greek-Turkey tensions could boil over into tanker market. Gary Dixon. TradeWinds.
7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
turkey-tensions-could-boil-over-into-tanker-market/2-1-870192 Gibson Shipbrokers has raised the
possibility that escalating tensions between Greece and Turkey in the Mediterranean could hit tanker
cargo flows.
Carbon pricing key to shipping’s emissions pathway. Paul Bartlett. Seatrade Maritime News.
7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
pricing-key-shippings-emissions-pathway Collaboration between all stakeholders is essential if
the shipping industry is to come anywhere close to meeting its decarbonisation targets, as laid
out by the IMO.
DFDS Becomes Latest Shipping Company to Release Climate Action Plan. Maritime Executive.
7 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
latest-shipping-company-to-release-climate-action-plan Joining other major shipping lines, DFDS,
the European ferry and logistics company, has published its climate action plan laying out its goals
to become climate neutral by 2050.
Lockdown at sea: how Covid-19 is transforming tanker operations. Kevin Turner. Tanker
Shipping & Trade. 8 September 2020. Available from: [Link] The effects of
the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic have been devastating for just about every sector in every
economy around the world.
How the cruise industry will survive COVID-19. Charlie Bartlett. Safety at Sea. 8 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
The pandemic has significantly affected the cruise sector and damaged public perception.
Navigating through the coronavirus crisis and uncertainty: How maritime transport data can
help. Jan Hoffmann. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Official statistics on gross domestic product (GDP) and trade growth are produced with delay, gaps
and time lags.
What can Gulf countries do to help grow the use of green fuels in shipping? Lars Liebig.
The National (United Arab Emirates). 8 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
green-fuels-in-shipping-1.1074287 There is a dearth of this green fuel, despite the region’s
ambitious green targets and the global shipping industry’s pledge to cut 50 per cent of its
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, based on 2008 levels.
Coast Guard oversees first foreign vessel to bunker LNG as fuel in the U.S. United States
Coast Guard. 8 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The Swedish tankship,
Fure Ven, moored alongside Talleyrand Marine Terminal to take on LNG as fuel.
Shipping suffers wave of spills, fires, collisions and lives lost. Greg Miller. Freight Waves.
8 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
of-spills-fires-collisions-and-lives-lost A giant dry bulk ship broke in two on a reef, spilling fuel into
pristine waters.
Ship management during Covid-19: three lessons from industry leaders. Ilaria Grasso Macola.
[Link]. 9 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
[Link]/features/ship-management-during-covid19-three-lessons-from-industry-leaders/
From seafarer wellbeing to a lack of recognition from governments, the shipping industry has seen
many challenges arise in the past few months.
COVID-19: Shipping data hints to some recovery in global trade. United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). 9 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The number of ships
pulling into ports to unload and load containers rebounded in many parts of the world in the third
quarter of 2020, according to new UNCTAD calculations.
ExxonMobil’s first Marine Bio Fuel Oil. Exxon Mobil Corporation. 10 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
bio-fuel-oil ExxonMobil has completed a successful sea trial of the company’s first marine bio fuel
oil with shipping company Stena Bulk, bunkered in the port of Rotterdam.
IMO 2020: A review of the transition to VLSFOs. Gard. 10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
Many predictions were made in the run up to the imposition of the MARPOL 2020 sulphur cap,
none of which was that the transition to Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) would be smooth
sailing.
Infographic: Shipping alliances help container industry boost freight rates in coronavirus
pandemic. Paul Hickin, George Griffiths and Eamon Akil Farhat. S&P Global Platts.
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Container shipping has sailed through
the coronavirus pandemic largely unscathed, as ship-sharing alliances and supply curbs to bolster
freight rates have helped operators to offset tepid trade demand.
The Lloyd’s List Podcast: Shipping stuck in the middle of Europe’s migrant crisis. Janet Porter
and David Osler. Lloyd’s List. 11 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The shipping industry is once again
urging governments to live up to their moral and legal obligations as the political stand-off that has
seen a Maersk tanker carrying 27 rescued migrants, unable to call in any port, moves into its sixth
week.
IEA estimates zero-emission shipping to cost $6trn. Michelle Wiese Bockmann. Lloyd’s List.
11 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Maritime shipping needs an additional $6trn in investment over the next 50 years to meet
decarbonisation goals, the International Energy Agency says in its report Energy Technology
Perspectives 2020.
Major mining group BHP sets requirements for shipping in new climate strategy.
Christian Carlsen. ShippingWatch. 11 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Mining company BHP wants to
lower its carbon emissions by 30 percent in 2030, and shipping will contribute a large reduction.
Safe disembarkation of the 27 rescued persons from Maersk Etienne. Maersk Tankers.
13 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
27-people After 40 days at sea the people rescued by Maersk Etienne and transferred to charity
ship Mare Jonio have finally disembarked in Pozzallo, Sicily, where we hope they will receive the
physical and psychological care they need.
Seafarers need emergency protection following Maersk Etienne incident, says Danish
officer’s union. Nautilus International. 14 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
maersk-etienne-incident-says-danish-officers-union/ Lederne Søfart, the union for Danish maritime
officers, has called on international trade organisations to protect seafarers during sea rescues
following the Maersk Etienne incident.
Simplifying environmental reporting. Johan Conrad. BIMCO. 14 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Considering
the development in the shipping sector, several Performance Indicators and Key Performance
Indexes will be updated.
From minimum to ultra-minimum crewing. Captain Mert Daggecen AFNI. All About Shipping.
15 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
to-ultra-minimum-crewing/ The resilience of society has been tested by the effects of the Covid-19
pandemic, and the marine industry has unarguably faced more challenges than most.
EP proposal for shipping without impact assessment risks regulatory patchwork and
international trade tensions without delivering climate objectives. Edmund Hughes.
European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA). 15 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
regulatory-patchwork-and-international The proposal aims to pre-empt the conclusions of the
European Commission’s impact assessment study and undermines the ongoing negotiations at
the UN International Maritime Organisation. Implications of application of the EU Emissions Trading
System to international shipping, and potential benefits of alternative Market-Based Measures
Despite Covid-19, decarbonisation remains the industry’s biggest challenge. Offshore Support
Journal. 15 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
covid-19-decarbonisation-remains-the-industryrsquos-biggest-challenge-60898 It’s hard to imagine
a more serious challenge to the offshore oil and gas industry, or for that matter the world at large,
than the current pandemic sweeping the globe.
European Parliament votes in favour of stricter green measures for shipping. Sam Chambers.
Splash [Link]. 16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
votes-in-favour-of-stricter-green-measures-for-shipping/ The European Parliament voted yesterday
in favour of including greenhouse gas emissions from shipping in the European Union’s carbon
market from 2022, potentially one of the biggest rule changes to hit the industry for years.
Decarbonisation needs global rules, says Greek shipping minister. Cichen Shen. Lloyd’s List.
16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Ioannis Plakiotakis opposes regional approaches to the battle against climate change when speaking
at a digital shipping forum, as the European Union makes progress in its push to include shipping in
its Emissions Trading System.
Parliament says shipping industry must contribute to climate neutrality. European Parliament.
16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
room/20200910IPR86825/parliament-says-shipping-industry-must-contribute-to-climate-neutrality
On Wednesday, Parliament adopted its position on the Commission’s proposal to revise the EU
system for monitoring, reporting and verifying CO2 emissions from maritime transport (the “EU MRV
Regulation”) with 520 votes to 94 and 77 abstentions.
If we’re not using oil, what happens to all those tankers? Terry Macalister. TradeWinds.
16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
oil-what-happens-to-all-those-tankers-/2-1-875603 BP Shipping owns, operates or manages a fleet
of around 75 vessels and is one of the top 10 charterers of oil and gas tonnage in the world.
Maersk Etienne migrant conclusion must not be the end of the story. Janet Porter. Lloyd’s List.
16 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
The Maersk Etienne impasse exposed serious gaps in international law, with no clear instruction
about what happens next after anyone in difficulty at sea is rescued.
DNV GL’s CEO expects a renaissance of the maritime industry. Tanker Operator.
17 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
renaissance-of-the-maritime-industry/[Link] Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL, says he
expects to see the maritime industry go through a renaissance - a period of change but also marked
by a revival of classical ideas.
KR sets up simulation centre for LNG fuelling and bunkering in Busan. [Link].
17 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
lng-fuelling-bunkering-busan After the opening ceremony, KR and Transgas Solution signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU), in which they agreed to build an Operator Training Simulator
(OTS) system to train liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel operators and ships and for
ship-to-ship bunkering.
BIMCO introduces new PIS and KPIS to help improve performance. Johan Conrad. BIMCO.
17 September 2020. Available from: [Link] With
the release of BIMCO’s Shipping KPI version 4, expected to be released by end September, new
Performance Indicators (PIs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be introduced with the
aim to facilitate better benchmarking of operational maintenance and first aid cases.
‘Failing or close to it’: Environmental organization gives cruise industry poor report card.
Morgan Hine. USA Today. 18 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
report-card/5805383002/ The cruise industry has been dealt a report card by environmental
group Friends of the Earth that a parent might not want to tack on a refrigerator door, but the cruise
industry is pushing back.
Major Cruise Lines receive Fs from WatchDog Group. Friends of the Earth. 15 September 2020.
Available from: [Link] Friends of the Earth
released the 2020 edition of its Cruise Ship Report Card today, documenting the environmental
footprint of the cruise industry and grading 18 cruise lines and their 193 ships.
2020 Cruise Ship Report Card – Is clean cruising possible?
Ship Industry Drafts Former IMO Emissions Chief Hughes in Campaign Against EU GHG
Regulation. Ship & Bunker. 18 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
hughes-in-campaign-against-eu-ghg-regulation With the European Union’s progress towards
including shipping within its emissions trading system (EU-ETS) getting close to its endpoint,
industry body the European Community Shipwoners’ Associations has published research from
former International Maritime Organization (IMO) emissions Edmund Hughes as part of its campaign
against the plan.
The Lloyd’s List Podcast: Sustainability goes digital. Anastassios Adamopoulos. Lloyd’s List.
18 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
This week Johannah Christensen of the Global Maritime Forum gives us insight into how one of
the industry’s leading actors in the decarbonisation space sees the efforts made elsewhere in the
business, and what it hopes to tackle during its most important meeting of the year next month.
Worst shipping crisis in decades puts lives and trade at risk. K Oanh Ha, Jack Wittels,
Khine Lin Kyaw and Krystal Chia. Business Standard (Bangladesh). 19 September 2020. Available
from: [Link]
On July 25, the Unison Jasper pulled into the Australian port of Newcastle carrying 31,000 tons of
alumina bound for one of the country’s largest smelters.
Before the blast. Ian Urbina. Splash [Link]. 21 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Ian Urbina, the New York Times investigative reporter and
author of the bestseller The Outlaw Ocean, writes for Splash today, looking at last month’s Beirut
explosion and the bigger picture regarding the abandonment of ships, seafarers and cargo around
the world and the human, environmental and public safety toll this brings.
Maersk’s Henriette Thygesen aims to kick-start Danish shipping after pandemic. Gary Dixon.
TradeWinds. 21 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ferry/maersks-henriette-thygesen-aims-to-kick-start-danish-shipping-after-pandemic/2-1-878583
Danish shipowners are teaming up to help kick-start the domestic shipping sector after months of
Covid-19 restrictions.
EEDI threatens VLCCS’ future, INTERTANKO warns. The Motorship. 21 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
intertanko-warns Intertanko paints a bleak picture for tankers under current EEDI plans, in which
flaws in the IMO’s initial EEDI baseline could imperil VLCCs as a vessel type.
Cyprus shipping sees recovery, but crew-change crisis worsens – Shipping Chamber.
Andrew Rosenbaum. Cyprus Mail. 22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
[Link]/2020/09/22/cyprus-shipping-sees-recovery/ “Cyprus shipping is seeing a slow but
steady recovery, and better freight rates,” says Thomas Kazakos, Director General of the
Cyprus Shipping Chamber told the Cyprus Mail in an interview.
Clarksons: EU emissions scheme could add $4,000 per day to operating costs. Gary Dixon.
TradeWinds. 22 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
day-to-operating-costs/2-1-878636 Clarksons Platou Securities analysts have calculated that new
European Union emissions rules could add $4,000 per day to an aframax tanker’s operating costs.
“The scenario is worse; recovery will take longer”: COVID-19 impact in Latam. MundoMaritimo.
22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
recovery-will-take-longer-covid-19-impact-in-latam By end-September we will see some kind of
change in regional trends in terms of exports, due to Asia’s high volume of consumption of food
shipping out of Latin America,” says Ricardo Sánchez, Senior Economic Affairs Officer,
Infrastructure, Transport & Ports, ECLAC, who talked with MundoMaritimo about the trends
and expectations for containerized cargo during the pandemic.
FOBAS: Increase in engine cylinder wear on vessels consuming 0.50% VLSFO bunker fuel.
Manifold Times (Singapore). 22 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
0-50-vlsfo-bunker-fuel/ Fuel combustion in an engine is a complex chemical/physical reaction and
has been an area of intense research over the years.
DNV GL: Shipowners should opt for dual-fuel engines in decarbonisation drive. Max Tingyao
Lin. TradeWinds. 22 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
decarbonisation-drive/2-1-879775 Class society predicts coming decade will still be dominated by
oil-based fuels but owners should look to optimise ships’ future earnings potential.
Open Letter: Shipping industry calls for action to ensure prompt and predictable
disembarkations for persons rescued at sea by merchant vessels. ECSA, ICS, ETF and ITF.
22 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
action-ensure-prompt-and-predictable-disembarkations We are writing on behalf of the European
and International Shipowners’ Associations and European and International Seafarers’ Unions in
order to express our growing concern over developments in large scale rescues of distressed
persons in the Mediterranean.
Tugboats: The Little Giants Of Shipping. The Gleaner (Jamaica). 22 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
The tug is built to overcome much of that stress by using its ‘pushing’ and ‘pulling’ capabilities.
Let’s seek sustainability of shipping, maritime affairs. Brian Gicheru Kinyua. The Nation (Kenya).
23 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
sustainability-of-shipping-maritime-affairs-2370712 The invention of the standardised shipping
container by American businessman Malcolm McLean in the 1950s transformed shipping of goods
from a labour-intensive process due to handling of individual pieces of cargo, making most goods
unworthy of shipping overseas, to an affordable and reliable one.
Maersk acknowledges that there has been a container shortage for months.
Tomas Kristiansen. ShippingWatch. 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Maersk tells ShippingWatch
in an email that there has in recent months been a shortage of especially large forty-foot
containers in the market.
Interview: Carbon Capture May Deliver GHG Savings at Half the Cost of Ammonia
Jack Jordan. Ship & Bunker. 23 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
half-the-cost-of-ammonia Carbon capture technology may deliver greehouse gas (GHG) emissions
cuts for the shipping industry at around half the cost of using zero-carbon fuels, according to new
research from the UK.
Evaluating Carbon Capture from Marine Engine Emissions. Houlder Ltd. 24 September 2020.
Available from: [Link]
houlder-shares-results-of-study-on-decarbonising-technology/ The study analysed PMW
Technology’s advanced A3C carbon capture process which is designed to extract carbon dioxide
from marine exhaust gases by freezing, then subliming the carbon dioxide. Report Summary
Green incentives for shipping being finalised, ministry says. Annette Chrysostomou.
Cyprus Mail. 24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
incentives-for-shipping-being-finalised-ministry-says/ A series of green incentives rewarding those
actively taking steps to support the transition to a zero-carbon future is currently been finalised and
will be launched later this year, the deputy shipping ministry announced on Thursday.
Loss prevention remains a vital element in ensuring the insurability of maritime risk.
International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI). 24 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
insurability-of-maritime-risk The IUMI’s two-week online conference continued today with a
comprehensive loss prevention workshop chaired by Uwe-Peter Schieder, from German
Insurance Association and Mariella Dauphinee from Intact Insurance Company.
Dynamarkets Monitor - A potential new role for the EU in shaping global shipping norms.
Dynamar B.V. 24 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Dynamarkets-Monitor---A-potential-new-role-for-the-EU-in-shaping-global-shipping-norms
In recent weeks, European Parliament has voted to include shipping within the bloc’s carbon
dioxide (CO2) Emissions Trading System (ETS), a scheme within which polluters have to pay
for their pollution through the purchase of allowances.
Chinese shipping reacts to Xi’s ambitious carbon targets. Jason Jiang. Splash [Link].
25 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
ambitious-carbon-targets/ China’s maritime industry is expected to accelerate its energy
transformation process as the country is now targeting peak carbon dioxide emissions by
2030 and carbon neutrality by the year 2060.
Trafigura proposes carbon levy for shipping to hasten decarbonization. Surabhi Sahu.
S&P Global Platts. 25 September 2020. Available from: [Link] Trafigura, one
of the world’s largest ship charterers, Sept 25 proposed that the International Maritime Organization
introduce a carbon levy of $250-$300/mt of CO2 equivalent on shipping fuels, to make zero and
low-carbon fuels more economically viable and more competitive.
Danske Bank doubts loans for ships with climate footprints by 2030. Katrine Grønvald Raun.
ShippingWatch. 25 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] From 2030 banks will likely no longer
finance new ships that emit greenhouse gases, projects Øivind Haraldsen, global head of shipping
at Danske Bank.
Africa: SAMSA COO reviews SA’s maritime response to IMO 2020 and COVID-19.
Lesley Bankes-Hughes. Bunkerspot. 29 September 2020. Available from:
[Link]
2020-and-covid-19 ‘South African refineries have taken quite a bit of time to produce the low sulphur
fuel but we have not run into supply problems – we have adequate imports to cover the needs,’
Sobantu Tilayi, Chief Operations Officer at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA),
tells Bunkerspot.
Maersk takes cold ironing concept out to sea. Sam Chambers. Splash [Link].
29 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
to-sea/ Maersk Supply Service and Danish utility Ørsted have joined forces to test a prototype
buoy that will act as both a mooring point and a charging station for vessels.
Shell zeroes in on hydrogen and fuel cells to decarbonise shipping. Lee Hong Liang. Seatrade
Maritime News. 30 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
[Link]/environmental/shell-zeroes-hydrogen-and-fuel-cells-decarbonise-shipping Oil major
Shell has singled out hydrogen and fuel cells as playing important roles to achieving a decarbonised
shipping by 2050, while the immediate use of LNG as fuel can help to lower greenhouse gas
emissions (GHG) today.
Decarbonising Shipping: setting Shell’s course. Shell. September 2020. Available from:
[Link] When the Shell and Deloitte Decarbonising Shipping: All Hands
on Deck report was published in July 2020 I wrote that we must all get to work on moving from
“deadlock to decarbonisation”.
RESEARCH
Hanson SE and Nicholls RJ. Demand for Ports to 2050: Climate Policy, Growing Trade and the
Impacts of Sea-Level Rise. Earth’s Future. 17 July 2020. Available from:
[Link] Port infrastructure is critical
to the world’s economy and has seen major expansion over the last few decades. In the future there
are likely to be further demands for port capacity which will require additional port area while existing
ports will need upgrading in response to sea-level rise to maintain current levels of operability.
Bugnot AB, Mayer-Pinto M, et al. Current and projected global extent of marine built structures.
Nature Sustainability. 31 August 2020. Available from: [Link]
The sprawl of marine construction is one of the most extreme human modifications to global
seascapes.
Bennett MM, Stephenson SR, et al. The opening of the Transpolar Sea Route: Logistical,
geopolitical, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts. Marine Policy. 31 August 2020.
Available from: [Link] With current
scientific models forecasting an ice-free Central Arctic Ocean (CAO) in summer by mid-century and
potentially earlier, a direct shipping route via the North Pole connecting markets in Asia, North
America, and Europe may soon open.
Castellanos-Galindo GA, Robertson DR, et al. A new wave of marine fish invasions through
the Panama and Suez canals. Nature Ecology & Evolution. 1 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] Recent engineered expansions of the Panama and
Suez canals have accelerated the introduction of non-native marine fishes and other organisms
between their adjacent waters.
Burt AJ, Raguain J, et al. The costs of removing the unsanctioned import of marine plastic
litter to small island states. Scientific Reports. 10 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] In March 2019, we removed as much plastic litter as
possible from Aldabra Atoll, a remote UNESCO World Heritage Site, and estimated the money and
effort required to remove the remaining debris.
Humphries F and Harden-Davies H. Practical policy solutions for the final stage of BBNJ
treaty negotiations. Marine Policy. 25 September 2020. Available from:
[Link] The oceans are facing
a catastrophic decline in biodiversity.
Li G, Cheng L, et al. Increasing ocean stratification over the past half-century. Nature Climate
Change. 28 September 2020. Available from: [Link]
Seawater generally forms stratified layers with lighter waters near the surface and denser waters
at greater depth.
*********************************************
The CAB Cover is a photograph of the international memorial to the world’s seafarers, past, present
and future which graces the entrance to IMO Headquarters in London. The memorial, a seven-
metre high, ten-tonne bronze representation of the bow of a cargo ship with a lone seafarer on the
deck, is the work of internationally renowned British sculptor Michael Sandle.