DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2020 – 267

Number 267 *** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS *** Wednesday 23-09-2020 News reports received from readers and Internet News articles copied from various news sites.

The 5000 tons sheerlegs ASIAN HERCULES III arriving in Singapore Gul basin upon completion of another successful project offshore Malaysia Photo : Capt Jan de Bokx - Compass Marine Services © Distribution : daily to 43.100+ active addresses 23-09-2020 Page 1 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2020 – 267

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The EEMSLIFT NELLI moored at the offshore technology park in Walker on the Tyne Photo : Capt Alex © SEACAT SERVICES FIRST TO ACQUIRE ‘GREENEST CTV ON THE MARKET’ WITH TWO VESSEL ORDER FROM BAR TECHNOLOGIES Class-leading offshore energy support vessel (OESV) operator, Seacat Services, has ordered two next generation multi- hull crew transfer vessels (CTVs) from world leading naval architects, BAR Technologies, designed in partnership with Chartwell Marine, a pioneer in next-generation vessel design. With UK build and construction of the first vessel expected

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to be completed by Q1 2022, this order amplifies the collaboration between the three South Coast experts as they work to strengthen Europe’s offshore energy supply chain. The new BARTech 30 is a true game changer in green vessel design and will work in tandem with Seacat’s existing OESVs, further refining the operator’s winning formula for operational excellence. Representing a unique evolution in the make-up of the fleet, the new vessels – SEACAT COLUMBIA and SEACAT CAMBRIA - will reinforce Seacat’s commitment to the decarbonisation of the workboat sector. Cutting emissions is one of the biggest challenges facing the offshore wind and broader maritime sector amid rising global awareness of its environmental impact. Naval architects BAR Technologies and Chartwell Marine have focused instead on creating fuel efficiency through a highly optimised multi-hull design, working alongside BAR Technologies’ patented Foil Optimised Stability System (FOSS). Ultimately, this will cut CO2 emissions by up to 600 tonnes per annum if working on a 12 hour shift of operation.

SEACAT COLUMBIA and SEACAT CAMBRIA will consequently be among the first true ‘Low Emission Vehicles’ (LEVs) servicing the offshore wind market, with total emissions 30% lower than conventional CTV designs.VCrucially for Seacat, these improvements come at no sacrifice to operational performance – with FOSS, the vessel’s ability to reduce pitch and roll while lowering vertical acceleration in 2.5m wave heights will enable greater comfort during transit and improved push on performance during operations. This is of growing importance as offshore wind farms move further out to sea, requiring vessels to travel further for longer while navigating more challenging conditions. VIan Baylis, Managing Director, Seacat Services, said: “After reviewing the latest options on the market, the BARTech 30 is the first one that has met and exceeded all of our requirements, embracing efficiency gains through design, instead of relying exclusively on hybrid propulsion. Adding this vessel to our existing fleet of OESVs is a simple, effective way to get ahead on emissions reduction without interrupting our current work scope.” John Cooper, CEO at BAR Technologies, said: “Innovative vessel design and technologies are vital to supporting the offshore wind and maritime sectors. Seacat has a long history of setting the benchmark for operational best practice and we are delighted to help them continue to refine their winning formula, while creating a new fuel efficiency standard. The OEMs have consistently told us they want to reduce emissions in the supply chain, so we are proud to be delivering to brief.” Andy Page, Naval Architect and Managing Director of Chartwell Marine said: “Every step forward in vessel design and efficiency must be taken with the needs of the end user in mind. The BARTech 30 capitalises directly on operational feedback from leading firms like Seacat Services to ensure that emissions reduction is effectively realised - without being at the expense of technical capability and the service provided to offshore wind firms.” VThe BARTech 30 design has recently been awarded approval in principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), providing another class- certified, Jones Act compliant option for vessel operators looking to enter the US offshore wind space. E-commerce growth leads to rise in shipping and investments: CMA CGM chief THE head of French shipping giant CMA CGM says the future of the world's fourth-largest container line will increasingly be built on e-commerce.vChairman and chief Executive of CMA CGM, Rodolphe Saade said in a recent interview that the shipping company is bringing the logistics business it acquired last year more deeply into its operations as the carrier takes on bigger trade volumes aimed at online consumers.

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The 2006 built 8488 TEU CMA CGM LA TRAVIATA anchored at Singapore Eastern anchorage as spotted last Saturday before heading for Vungtau in Vietnam Photo : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo to view and/or download the photo ! "Clients like Amazon and Walmart are looking for one entity for all their shipment needs," he said. The company has swapped out the management of Ceva Logistics AG, the big logistics operator it acquired last year, and moved its headquarters from Switzerland to the shipping company's base in Marseilles. Mr. Saade said the moves are aimed at turning the loss-making Ceva profitable while embedding its inland distribution specialties into the shipping line's own port-to-port operations. CMA CGM is seeing signs of changing distribution patterns in the recent container import surge that hit US shores in the third quarter. "Amazon and Walmart are increasing significantly their volumes coming out of Asia to the US. People don't go to the malls with the pandemic, but they buy on the internet," he said. "These clients are increasingly asking for warehousing and last-mile services." Shipping executives and brokers estimate that up to a quarter of all container volume heading into the US from across the Pacific in recent months has been destined for e-commerce distribution centres and that demand continues to grow. CMA CGM is one of the biggest operators on trans-Pacific container lanes. The company's logistics investments are part of a broader move in the maritime sector. Companies including AP Moller-Maersk are investing in warehousing, customs clearance and truck capacity to cater to the growing demand. The Danish company said earlier this month that it will consolidate its supply-chain services by having its logistics division absorb Damco, a separate arm of the group that provides air and ocean freight forwarding, according to the Wall Street Journal. CMA CGM is betting on Ceva to fulfil that part of the supply chain. The shipping line spent US$1.65 billion last year to buy the third-party logistics operator. The loss-making company is a top-10 global freight forwarder in terms of revenue, but lags behind fellow European firms DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Supply Chain, Kuehne + Nagel International AG and Schenker AG. Mr. Saade said he expects Ceva, which lost $1 million in the second quarter, to show a profit next year. The CMA CGM group, which includes the main shipping arm with a fleet of 500 ships, made a profit of $136 million in the quarter, after a $109 million loss last year. "This year our profit is coming from shipping," Mr. Saade said. "Tomorrow, most probably it will be divided between shipping and inland logistics, maybe half and half, over the next five years." Tanker Market Volatility Could be on the Cards Until the end of 2020 The tanker market could be facing some volatile months ahead, especially in the Aframax and Suezmax segments. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Gibson said that “as with most crude tanker markets, the Aframax and Suezmax sectors have remained under pressure since June. Part of this downside is not too dissimilar to the typical seasonal weakness seen during the summer months, although in most cases the downside has been caused by a lack of crude demand and falling seaborne trade, whilst these vessels have not benefitted to the same extent as the VLCCs from floating storage demand. However, as we move closer to the 4 th quarter, these sectors may see increased volatility even if demand (and rates) are lower than previous years”.

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The 2013 built HONG KONG SPIRIT enroute from Mina al Fahl to Zhousan spotted last Saturday transiting the deepwater route in the Singapore strait with a reported draft of 21.4 mtr Photo : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo to view and/or download the photo !

According to Gibson, “this volatility may be hard to predict given that often weather-related disruption is a primary driver during the winter period. In the Mediterranean, delays through the Turkish Straits could be a key factor. During the spring/summer period, delays seldom impact freight levels in the region, however, from October onwards transit delays through the Straits typically increase, before easing down again as April approaches. In the Baltic and North Sea markets, weather could also increasingly become a factor. Delays are likely to grow as inclement weather moves into the region. However, the major upside potential is ice in the Baltic. Typically, the impact of ice can be the greatest from January to March, however the season can extend or contract depending on the severity ofthe winter. Outside of Europe, weather related delays and disruptions could also impact tonnage supply. Whilst hurricane activity in the US Gulf/Caribbean is largely expected to subside by November, winter storms and fog could impact cargo operations over the coming quarters”. Gibson added that “aside from praying for weather related disruption to drive freight volatility, shipowners might have been hoping to see higher cargo volumes lift demand into the fourth quarter. Whilst to a certain extent this is true; the Russian Urals programme plans to load just 12 more cargoes in Q4 compared to Q3 and OPEC+ has given its members until the end of the year to complete compensation cuts. Loading programmes could be trimmed further or see limited upside on this basis. The Angolan export schedule for November shows a further reduction in flows, whilst ADNOC plans to trim term volumes by 25% in the same month. Other OPEC+ producers are expected to suppress export volumes in order to meet compliance goals before the end of the year. However, the main potential upside for the Mediterranean market is Libya. If Libya can increase volumes significantly in the short term, then tanker owners will see a welcome boost in terms of regional demand. Yet, this is far from certain. The picture in the US is more clouded. So far during the covid- 19 pandemic, export volumes have held up well despite significant production declines. To a certain extent this has been supported by lower US refinery runs. Exports may stay supported until peak maintenance season in October passes. However, if following seasonal turnarounds, US refining throughout recovers strongly, then crude export volumes are likely to come under downwards pressure”. The shipbroker concluded by noting that “to say the picture is mixed is perhaps an understatement. Undoubtedly the fundamentals, although improved from a few months ago, are considerably bearish. But the tanker market does not always move on fundamentals. Owners may often wish for fair winds and following seas, but this is exactly the opposite of what they need right now”. Source : Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

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PACIFIC SUPPORTER RENAMED IN NORSIDE SUPPORTER

At Singapore Eastern Anchorage the PACIFIC SUPPORTER was renamed in NORSIDE SUPPORTER Photo’ s : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo’s & hyperlinks in text to view and/or download the photo(s) !

NORSIDE SUPPORTER (IMO: 9671632) is a Construction Support Vessel that was built in 2013 (7 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Bahamas. It's carrying capacity is 2000 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 5 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 89.85 meters and her width is 16.5 meters. The vessel is equipped with 1 x Triton XLX 4000 m WROV, 1 x Sub-Atlantic Mohican 2000 m OBS ROV 1 x Moonpool 4.2 m x 4.8 m , Rolls-Royce DP2 system 2 x Kongsberg HiPAP 501 USBL system And at the 755 m² deck area an active heave compensated 50 t offshore crane onboard is accomodation for 93 persons

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The MAERSK ARCTIC inbound for Amsterdam Photo : Simon Wolf © Algeciras, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Puertos del Estado shortlisted for 12th ESPO Award The projects of Algeciras Port Authority (Spain), Port of Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Port Authority of Lisbon (Portugal) and Puertos del Estado (Spain) have been shortlisted for the 12th European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award on Social Integration of Ports. ESPO says the jury selected these four applications from a total of seven submissions. The theme of this year’s edition is “Enhancing the port-city relationship by encouraging innovators and local start-ups to be part of the port ecosystem”. The ESPO Award 2020 will go to the port managing body that has developed a successful strategy to attract innovation and local start-ups to the port and thus matches supply and demand for innovative solutions for the port and its stakeholders. The winning port will demonstrate to what extent this strategy has led not only to stimulating innovation in the port, but also making the port ecosystem an attractive place for innovative ideas and local young start-up talents. “In a year of unparalleled challenges facing the transport industry because of the Covid-19 pandemic, our ports have proved again their critical and indispensable role in vital supply chain logistics. Crisis often, as an unintended but positive consequence, becomes the mother of invention. On behalf of the ESPO Award Jury, let me confirm that we have received some great examples of this portside innovation in our in-tray. On behalf of the jury I wish to thank all the ports who participated in this year’s ESPO Award process and congratulate the shortlisted ports. We look forward to meeting them prior to finalising our choice of winner for 2020", comments Pat Cox, Chairman of the ESPO Award Jury. The winner of the 12th ESPO Award will be announced during a special Virtual Ceremony taking place on 10 November. The shortlisted

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projects will be presented on the ESPO website in the running up to that date. All seven submissions will be presented in a special dedicated brochure to be published on 10 November. Source : portnews

The tug EN AVANT 30 arrived with the WAGENBORG BARGE 7 loaded with the new massive grabber crane for Tatasteel in Velzen Noord Photo : Machiel Kraaij www.machielkraaijfotografie.com © New deck fitting requirement for capesize vessels calling at Port Hedland, Australia (as of 1 February 2021)

Bulker outbound from Port Hedland as seen from the pilot helicopter just before landing at the hatch to collect the pilot Photo : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo & hyperlink in text to view and/or download the photo(s) ! Members with capesize vessels calling at Port Hedland, Australia are recommended to refer to the attached marine notice issued by the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA). Following a detailed study on the incidents involving the failure of vessels’ mooring fittings used for towing operations, PPA requires all capesize vessels (nominal deadweight of 120,000 or more) to have one set of bitts and Panama lead / roller fairleads on the vessel’s aft deck at or near the centreline to be rated to a minimum of 120T safe working load (SWL).

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PPA has given due consideration to the nature of the structural modifications required and possible timeframes associated with undertaking this upgrade. The requirement for capesize vessels calling the Port of Port Hedland to have a set of 120T SWL bitt and lead, will come into force as of 1 February 2021. Apparently, PPA first notified ship operators of this requirement in September 2017. Since that time, there have been several questions from ship operators regarding the requirement for modification to deck fittings. To answer these questions a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is attached to this marine notice. Source: The Standard Club KOTUG INTERNATIONAL, ROTORTUG®, AND CAPTAIN AI TAKE AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS FULLY AUTONOMOUS SAILING. First vessel in the world that autonomously sails the most optimal route.

Maritime service provider KOTUG International, ship design company Rotortug®, and tech start-up Captain AI demonstrated the first boat in the world that sails the most optimal route without human intervention at the Smart Shipping event of the Netherlands Forum for Smart Shipping.

Photo’s : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo’s & hyperlink in text to view and/or download the photo(s) ! A significant milestone on the road towards fully autonomous and sustainable sailing. In the summer of 2018, KOTUG and Rotortug® already demonstrated that it is possible to operate a tugboat in the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, remotely from Marseille, France. That was the first step on the roadmap towards fully autonomous sailing. In

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collaboration with Captain AI, it is now possible to safely sail the Rotortug® "RT BOKUM” autonomously on the river Nieuwe Maas in Rotterdam using the Captain AI Route Planner and Autopilot. "The route planner can be seen as the Google Maps for waterways," says Vincent Wegener of Captain AI. "It calculates the route, which the boat then autonomously sails, using our autopilot software."

CLICK at the photo above to view the demo movie To define this route as efficiently as possible, Captain AI’s software is connected to the KOTUG Optiport dispatch planning software, enabling optimized route planning in real-time, based on AIS data and Artificial Intelligence. Patrick Everts of KOTUG: "The digital captain has to know what the vessel’s destination is and how to get there in the most efficient way. Linking Captain AI's software to OptiPort is not only making the skipper's life easier because vessels can autonomously navigate the optimal route, but is also saving on fuel and CO2 emission". The “RT BORKUM” already has undergone several successful operational tests in the busiest port of Europe, proving for the first time that autonomous planning followed by autonomous sailing works in practice. KOTUG International and Captain AI have entered into a partnership to further develop and commercialize the software. The next step is making the software suitable for large-scale applications and to explore matters such as safety and legislation, in consultation with the users and legislators.

Hong Kong-flagged, 2018 built, COSCO SHIPPING GEMINI, 202.015 DWT, 20.100 TEU, inbound Antwerp from Hamburg, passing Kruse Veer.Photo : Alexander Hoogstrate. © LNG Powered Shipping Fleet Could Double This Decade By Irina Slav

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The world’s first Very Large Containership fueled by LNG left the shipyard of Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries earlier this month to be delivered to Singapore’s Eastern Pacific Shipping, one of the world’s biggest ship owners. This is just the crest of what could become a wave of LNG-powered ships in the future. One big event this year that got lost in the noise around the coronavirus pandemic was the entry into effect of new, lower-emission fuel requirements drafted by the International Maritime Organisation. Refiners had been preparing for the IMO 2020 emission rules and so had LNG producers, ramping up their capacity in anticipation of this new source of demand. And then the pandemic exploded and crushed demand for all and any fuels.

The brandnew 2020 delivered 84894 t DWT LNG tanker EXCELERATE SEQUOIA spotted Westbound navigating the Singapore Strait last weekend. Photo : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo & hyperlink in text to view and/or download the photo(s) ! Yet long-term trends continue: in February this year, SEA-LNG, a multi-industry body, said that LNG-fuelled ships on order had risen by 50 percent in 12 months. The organization noted LNG’s role in the transition from fossil fuels to renewables and the growth in LNG supply infrastructure across global ports. Now, an LNG industry insider has said that the global LNG-powered ship fleet is set to double over the next ten years. There are 80,000 registered ships globally, Reuters reported earlier this week, but fewer than 400 of them are powered by LNG. That’s a drop in the bucket. But by 2030, the number of LNG-powered ships could rise to 1,000, according to the head of global LNG bunkering at Petronas, Malaysia’s state energy company. Besides Europe, which is already a leader in using LNG as bunkering, Malaysia and Singapore will also see demand for the cleaner fuel rise over the next years. “Malaysia and Singapore share the same marine traffic. There are more than 80,000 transits in the Malacca Strait alone every year, so this is a huge market to serve,” Mohd Rafe Mohamed Ramli said at an industry event. He added that price, as well as emission standards, will be the driving force behind this increase. That may not be what some higher-cost LNG producers want to hear right now, but indeed the price of the superchilled fuel is seen as critical to the long-term demand for it. At the Gastech Virtual Summit last week, both sellers and buyers agreed that if LNG is to play a starring role in the transition from high to low emissions the price has to be right, Petroleum Economist’s Alex Forbes reported, citing industry insiders. The biggest opportunity for LNG in this play is as a replacement for coal in Asia. But this replacement will only happen if LNG is cheap enough. The same seems to be true for long-term demand from the shipping sector. The CMA CGM Tenere—the LNG-fueled VLC ordered by Eastern Pacific Shipping—is the first in a batch of six very large containerships to be built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries for the Singaporean shipping company. The first is to be chartered by French container shipping firm CMA CGM. The rest – by BHP Billiton. More will follow as shippers are left with few options to comply with the new emission rules: low-sulfur fuel oil, sulfur scrubbers, or LNG. With a lot of new capacity coming on stream in LNG, chances are prices may stay comfortably low for long enough to motivate even more LNG-powered vessel orders.

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Not everyone is happy with that, however. A report by an environmental think tank published early this year warned that LNG is actually dirtier than diesel fuel because of the methane it emits. Indeed, methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but it dissipates much more quickly once released into the atmosphere, which makes it effect much more short-term. Despite such opposition, more and more companies are getting onboard the LNG ship, not least to demonstrate they are, too, becoming more environmentally conscious. BHP Billiton, the mining giant, is a case in point. The world’s top miner has chartered five LNG-powered bulk carriers from Eastern Pacific Shipping to transport iron ore from Australia to China. “When these vessels deliver in 2022, they will be the cleanest and the most efficient in the entire dry bulk shipping fleet,” the chief executive of the Singapore-based shipping company said in comments on the news reported by the Financial Times. EPS is adding LNG-fueled ships across its fleet in anticipation of the coming demand. Could someday all or most of the world’s shipping industry operate using LNG-powered ships? It is a distinct possibility, especially given the speed of progress in battery-powered vessels. Opposition will remain, no doubt, and even likely intensify. But so will demand for a cleaner-burning fuel to replace diesel. For the LNG production industry, then, shipping could become an important source of revenue in the not too distant future. “LNG is and will remain a high-growth industry based on a growing economy worldwide, particularly in Asia, with a desire for secure, affordable, and cleaner-burning fuels,” a senior Cheniere executive told the attendants of this year’s virtual Gastech conference. Quite a bit of that demand could come from the changing shipping industry. Source :Oilprice

“Pontje van Akersloot” crossing the Noordhollandscanal with it’s max. load of 4 cars. Photo : GertJan Verbeek © Passenger ferry with nearly 300 people on board runs aground off Finland Distribution : daily to 43.100+ active addresses 23-09-2020 Page 12 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2020 – 267

A Baltic Sea passenger ferry with nearly 300 people aboard has run aground in the Åland Islands archipelago between Finland and Sweden on Sunday, Finnish authorities said. Rescue officials were preparing to evacuate the vessel of passengers and crew, none of whom suffered any injuries, according to reports. The Finnish coastguard tweeted that the M/S AMORELLA operated by ferry company Viking Line between the Finnish western port city of Turku and Swedish capital Stockholm was “stuck on the ground” south of the port of Långnäs in the Åland Islands. CLICK at the photo left ! In a tweet, the local coastguard division posted: " AMORELLA made ground contact south of Långnäs. The ship pushed itself to the shore of the island to stabilise the situation. Several units were alerted and several ships were on-site in preparation for the evacuation. At present, the situation is stable and human lives are not in immediate danger." Video footage taken on board the ferry and posted on the coastguard's Twitter account showed small boats undertaking the evacuation of those on board. “There are no reported human casualties,” Viking Line said in a short statement adding that the situation with the vessel was “stable." It added that the vessel has around 200 passengers and a crew of 80 aboard. The coastguard was alerted of the incident just before 1 pm Finnish time. Authorities are now investigating why the ferry ran aground. The Åland Islands, an autonomous Finnish territory, are midway between the two port cities and M/S AMORELLA was set to make a scheduled stop there en route to Stockholm. Source : Euronews

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The SKANDI CONSTRUCTOR inbound for Vlissingen-Oost Photo : Wim Kosten ©

BEIRUT KILLER BLAST

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Who is responsible for the horrific Beirut Port blast will be formally decided in due course but already it is clear that a patchwork of mismanagement and complacency underpins this catastrophic event, the likes of which must not be allowed to happen again. The University of Sheffield, UK estimates that the blast in the Port of Beirut was around 1.5 kilotons in TNT equivalent. That makes it one tenth the strength of the atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese City of Hiroshima. As of August 13, 2020, the death toll from the August 4, 2020 explosion was reported at 220 people, with a further 6,000 injured. Michel Aoun, President of Lebanon, has stated the blast was caused by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely in a Beirut Port’ warehouse. In short order following the explosion, the government announced that a number of port officials have been placed under house arrest pending an investigation. ALMOST SEVEN YEARS IN STORAGE The ammonium nitrate arrived on a Moldovan-flagged ship, the mv Rhosus, which entered Beirut port in November 2013. The vessel was suffering technical problems during its voyage from Georgia to Mozambique, according to Shiparrested.com, which deals with shipping-related legal cases. The RHOSUS was inspected, banned from leaving and subsequently abandoned by its owners, sparking several legal claims. The cargo was then placed into storage in a port warehouse. The explosion is thought to have occurred when sparks from a welding machine ignited a warehouse containing fireworks, quickly causing a fire to spread. Ammonium nitrate in its pure form is not dangerous. It is, however, heat sensitive. At 32.2 degrees Celsius (89.96 degrees Fahrenheit), ammonium nitrate changes its atomic structure, which affects its chemical properties and in the Beirut warehouse the heat generated caused a chemical ignition. The head of the Beirut Port and Customs Authority reports writing to the judiciary several times asking that the chemical be exported or sold on to ensure port safety with no response received. Hassan Koraytem, General Manager, Port of Beirut, has confirmed that the port was aware the material was dangerous when a court first ordered it stored in the warehouse. LINER REACTION Container shipping lines diverted ships immediately after the blast, with CMA CGM using Tripoli, Lebanon and Hapag Lloyd diverting a vessel to Damietta, Egypt. CMA CGM had a ship in port at the time of the explosion, the 11,400TEU mv CMA CGM LYRA. In a statement, CMA CGM reports the vessel, which was 1.5km from the blast, was not damaged and neither were any crew members hurt. Hapag-Lloyd, whose Beirut offices were completely destroyed in the blast, had no ships in Beirut at the time, but it believes all laden and empty containers were destroyed. In 2019, Lebanon handled around 1.2 million TEU over 1100m of quay with 16 ship-to-shore cranes. The ‘new kid on the block’ in Lebanon is the Tripoli Container Terminal, operated under concession by Gulftainer, but currently with just 600m of quay served by two ship-to-shore cranes it does not offer a wholly satisfactory alternative to the Beirut Container Terminal and as such it is very fortunate that the Beirut Container Terminal has been able to resume operations quickly.Longer term, Gulftainer has plans to develop Tripoli to rival Beirut but it clearly has a lot of work to do before enjoying this status. BACK IN BUSINESS Initially there was concern that without adequate port facilities Lebanon may get cut off from the global economy. In terms of container operations, however, just nine days after the blast on August 13, 2020, CMA CGM informed its customers that the operational situation in the port is “now back to normal again". The line said: “Damages to Beirut Container Terminal being less serious than what could be expected after the tragic events that took place on August 4th, a first CMA CGM vessel m/v Nicolas Delmas has been operated with success. With immediate effect, all CMA CGM lines will resume their calls at Beirut Port…” Likewise, Hapag-Lloyd is reinstating services to Lebanon via Beirut Port. The German carrier’s first vessel (mv Mona Lisa) on the Levante Express (LEX) Service called at Beirut on August 14th, 2020. Hapag’s East Med Express (EME) service also reinstated Beirut calls, with the first vessel calling on August 15th, 2020. The company reports: “Alongside our service reinstatement, we are also reopening booking acceptance for cargo to and from Beirut…”The situation with regard to other facilities and notably the 120,000-tonne grain silo capacity is, however, really catastrophic with this facility completely destroyed and thus presenting considerable challenges regarding the import of foodstuffs. PRIVATISATION – BLOWN OFF COURSE? The Beirut Container Terminal was actually engaged in a concession process at the time of the explosion, a process which had already been delayed but now in the aftermath of the explosion the timing of the concession process is even less clear. Offered by the Ministry of Public Works & Transport Beyrouth, the current process represents a further concession of the terminal which in a previous process had been awarded to the Beirut Container Terminal Consortium which has run the concession since 2005. The consortium comprises Lebanese-based International Port Management Beirut (IPMB) and UK and USA-based interests. CMA CGM, which provides a third of the terminal’s business, is considered a likely bidder, but the timing of the privatisation programme under the current circumstances remains to be confirmed.

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FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION The fundamental questions remain, however, – why was this cargo stored for so long and why were correct safety protocols for hazardous cargo not being followed? Lessons need to be learned from this catastrophe, and quickly, beyond understanding why IMO safety codes and practices were not followed. Beirut’s experience may provide salutary lessons to others and hopefully leading to prevention not cure! Source : portstrategy

The Boskalis (former Smit) yard at Singapore Gul basin Photo : Capt Jan de Bokx - Compass Marine Services ©

De Boer dredging’s TSHD ELBE arriving at Willemstad-Curacao for a maintenance period at Damen Shiprepair Photo : Luca Peeters ©

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Philippine Ports Authority launches COVID-19 contact tracing system for all port users, community The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on Friday formally launches its contact tracing system in its bid to facilitate the movement of people inside the ports while maintaining the highest health protocols amid the threat of the Coronavirus Disease pandemic. Developed jointly by PPA in-house information technology experts and third-party developer Cosmotech Philippines, Inc., the mobile app TRAZE, has the capability to trace the movement of individuals inside PPA facilities without connecting to the internet. PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said the PPA COVID-19 tracing system is specifically designed to meet the needs of the port community both for individuals and establishments even without the use of mobile electronic devices when such devices are not available for users. Santiago added that passengers without access to the app can drop-by the port Malasakit Helpdesk in order to be registered in the system. The provided QR Code can be used by the passenger at any Traze-registered port or establishment in their subsequent travels. The mobile application can be downloaded by users via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. After completing and verifying the registration, a unique Trazer identification number and printable QR Code will be issued. Persons with mobile electronic devices capable of reading QR Codes can simply scan other QR Codes for establishments and individuals. Those without capable mobile electronic devices but registered through Traze-registered colleagues, friends or relatives, can simply printout their unique QR Codes which can be scanned every time they come in contact with another person or establishment. The system traces their movement directly through this. The system also automatically notifies Traze- registered person if they come in contact with a COVID-19 positive individual. All Traze-registered individuals and establishments can review their movement using the history button on the app itself. All PPA Head Office Departments have been issued their unique QR codes, which can be scanned by employees and visitors at every entry and exit point to any of the PPA offices. All Port Management Offices and Terminal Management Offices are in the process of registration and are expected to be completed in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, the PPA Contact Tracing System is being reviewed by the Department of Transportation, which they intend to adopt and implement as the Philippine transportation COVID-19 contract tracing system. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is likewise evaluating the system, which they also intend to use in all airports under their jurisdiction. Source : portnews Indonesia on high alert after appearance of Chinese vessel By : Jamie Seidel, news.com.au

A Chinese coast guard vessel has imposed itself in Indonesian waters – some 1500km from mainland China – insisting the area belongs to Beijing. Now Indonesia is mobilising more patrols to expel unwanted intruders. And this is just the latest move in an escalating fight to secure rapidly diminishing food stocks, international analysts warn. Natuna Island was the centre of a tense standoff between the two nations in January. Earlier this week, Chinese Coast Guard cutter 5204 entered Indonesia’s 320km exclusive economic zone (EEZ). While international law permits ‘innocent passage’ through an EEZ, Indonesian government officials say the Chinese vessel was not behaving innocently. “Because this one halted, then went circling, we became suspicious, we approached

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it and learned that it was a Chinese coastguard vessel,” the chief of Indonesia’s maritime security agency, Bakamla, told local media.A Foreign Ministry spokesman said the 2700 tonne Zhaojun-Class coast guard vessel was conducting “normal patrol duties in waters under Chinese jurisdiction”. “China’s rights and interests in the relevant waters in the South China Sea are clear,” he said.

But Natuna Island is some 1700km south of China’s southernmost province, Hainan Island. And the entirety of the disputed South China Sea – along with Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – lay between the two. Indonesia’s government says China’s territorial claims are unilateral and without legal basis. A Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found that, under the UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China’s “nine-dash line” claim was invalid and without historical foundation.China’s Communist Party-controlled news agency The Global Times alleges Indonesia has “gotten up to little tricks on the South China Sea”. Jakarta and Beijing stared each other down for several months over the Christmas, New Year period. Chinese fishing boats, under the direction of a coast guard vessel, repeatedly entered Vietnamese and Indonesian territory in the northern Natuna Sea. Jakarta responded by sending eight patrol ships, scrambling F-16 fighter jets and organising its own fishing fleet to assist with surveillance. In May, Jakarta sent a formal note of complaint to the UN Secretary-General stating that Beijing was not respecting the court ruling. But China, a signatory to the UNCLOS treaty, insists the law of the sea does not apply – and that the tribunal’s ruling was “illegal”. The Global Times goes on to complain: “The proposal that marine disputes should be resolved in accordance with the UNCLOS is actually unreasonable.” China’s Foreign Ministry says it does not claim Natuna Island itself. Instead, it claims the rich fishing grounds to its north and east. But it refuses to specify the exact coordinates of this arbitrary boundary. Jakarta argues those waters are Indonesian under the exclusive economic zone provisions of UNCLOS based on its ownership of Natuna. Amid the standoff, Beijing’s Global Times has pointedly referred to Indonesia’s limited ability to defend its territory. “Defence budget cuts have weakened the country’s military capability in the South China Sea including Natuna Islands,” the article reads. “This will reduce the number and frequency of Indonesian navy cruises, patrols, and military drills. Indonesia’s military and police systems are worried that the country will lose its previous strength to safeguard its rights at sea.”

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Beijing’s foreign ministry made its intentions clear in January: “Whether the Indonesian side accepts it or not, nothing will change the fact that China has rights and interests over the relevant waters.” Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah has asked the Chinese embassy in Jakarta to explain the coast guard vessel’s actions. “We reiterated to the Chinese deputy ambassador that Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone does not overlap with Chinese waters,” Faizasyah said. The incursion has military overtones. The Chinese Coast Guard is not a civilian police enforcement agency. Instead, it is controlled by the PLA Navy. And international analysts say China’s fishing fleet is also not a civilian enterprise. It is a State-controlled militia co-ordinated by political commissars and trained to operate in concert with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). “In many locations, the CCG/People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy are trying to normalise the presence of their ships and then eventually move into enforcing their fishing rights and the nine-dash line,” a naval analyst told Asia Times. Jakarta, for its part, refuses even to accept there is a debate – insisting its stance is entirely defined by international law. It has also repeatedly called on China and the United States to stop trying to make it take sides in their disputes. “This latest development merely highlights the persistent problem Indonesia faces with China refusing to relent on its irredentist claims in the South China Sea,” says Singapore-based Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies researcher Collin Koh. “Instead of seeing China as more aggressive, perhaps it’s more accurate to describe China as being ‘still aggressive’ despite the last standoff.” The region’s strained fish stocks are at the heart of the South China Sea tensions. “China and Vietnam have polluted their coast and coastal waterways, traditional fishing grounds (and) overfished, so the most lucrative fishing is in the south,” UNSW emeritus professor Carl Thayer told Voice of America. But Chinese fishing militia have been staking claims on new areas across the Indo-Pacific. Some 300 boats, supported by coast guard vessels, earlier this year swarmed the Galapagos Islands in search of a squid catch. Observers say the boats have been turning off their location beacons to fish within the international marine reserve illegally. “This massive and ongoing fishing effort of China’s fleet threatens the Galapagos Islands, the rare species that only call it home and everyone that depends on it for food and livelihoods,” says Oceana fishing analyst Dr Marla Valentine “The situation playing out in the Galapagos should raise serious questions and concerns about the impact China’s massive fishing fleet is having on the oceans it sails.”Chinese fishing fleets have also been implicated in the ongoing appearance of ‘ghost ships’ – North Korean vessels washed up on the shores of Japan with dead or no crews. Recent measures such as public campaigns against gluttony and food waste come on the back of widespread floods, mass culls among the nation’s pig and chicken farms to combat virus outbreaks, insect plagues and rising import prices. And the artificial island fortresses of the South China Sea – the cause of immense international tension – were built on what were crucial fish spawning grounds. “It’s too early to gauge the ultimate severity of China’s total food woes, and it’s highly unlikely that the ripple effects of China’s food issues will cascade through the global food chain, but right now Chinese leadership has food security as a top concern,” argues commodities analyst Sal Gilbertie. Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer | @JamieSeidel Originally published as Standoff after China accused of bold move source : NTnews

The SEVEN VEGA returned form yard trails and proceeded to Rotterdam – Heijsehaven Photo : Jan Oosterboer ©

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As seen last Sunday from Jan de Nul’s TSHD TACCOLA off Roches Point, Cork, Ireland the THUNDERCHILD 2 and the new pilot boat for La Coruna during tests/trails Photo : Constant de Posson C/O onboard TSHD Taccola ©

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JRC/Alphatron Marine is proud to announcetheOnline Training Moduleat the Global Training Academy (GTA)

On 30th September2020 we will launch our online learning management system. With this system training courses can be followed by our distributors, wherever they are in the world. Instead of traveling to one of our Centers of Excellence or other training locations, you can now log in via the GTA-portal on your mobile, tablet, or computer whenever and wherever it is most convenient for you.Exactly what you need to ensure your skills are up-to-date. Until now the classroom training courses are given by trainers with years of experience in training and service in the maritime field. This contributes to the high-quality standard that we set for our training courses. The starting point in the development of the Online Training Module was to ensure that the quality of the new online courses matches the quality of the current classroom trainings. Therefore, we worked closely together with different departments from JRC and Alphatron Marine worldwide and we brought in some expertise to help us translate our regular training methods into a digital version. Not all training courses will be the same. “For some simpler equipment, a participant will be able to obtain a certificate through an online course. For other advanced equipment we will combine the course with an online classroom,” explainsMonique Scholten, Manager Training at JRC | Alphatron Marine. “For more complicated equipment such as radars, MFD’s and VDR, actual classroom training will still be needed. Things like regulations and software updates can be taught and practiced online, but an actual installation needs to be practiced on real equipment. Within these kinds of courses, you will have to obtain partial certificates before you can participate in a classroom training”. “Our trainers are working hard to get more courses available in the near future and the next step will be the online training availability for other users such as ship’s crew. Also these online training courses are provided by our foreign offices”, says Monique Scholten. If you would like any further information about our Online Training Modulesor how e-training or classroom training from JRC | Alphatron Marine can benefit your organization? Please get in touch with our training department.

The Damen build Seacontractors operated Shoalbusters SEA ALFA Shoalbuster 3009 SEA BRAVO Shoalbuster 3209 (2 meter extended) arrived at Damen Gorinchem for some maintenance Photo : Arie Boer ©

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The 229 meter long bulk carrier MAGNA GRAECIA inbound for Rotterdam and arriving from Saldanha (South Africa) photo : Cees van der Kooij © Greece-Cyprus ferry link launch possible in May 2021 The project is currently in its final stages and will most likely connect Limassol and Piraeus By ; ANTON STOYANOV A ferry link connecting Greece and Cyprus is nearing completion as Cypriot state officials believe that it is reasonable to believe that the route will be completed by May 2021. Readers familiar with TheMayor.EU’s reporting on the subject might recognize such promises as the expected delivery date of the project has shifted around for the past few years. The latest expectations were for the route to be operational by the summer of 2020, but the pandemic and other unforeseen obstacles put a stop to such hopes. Cheaper and more environmentally friendly Cypriot deputy shipping minister Vassilis Demetriades stated that the May objective remains within reach and it is the government’s goal to have it primed and ready for the 2021 summer tourist season. The 30-hour ferry trip might also feature intermediary stops, with Rhodes currently seen as a likely contender. He further explained that the route, which will most likely connect Limassol and Piraeus, is in its final planning stages and the estimated ticket prices vary between 50 and 80 euros – thus presenting a cheaper alternative to flying, made possible thanks to EU support for the project.

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The entire route was first scrapped over 20 years ago when it proved to be economically untenable. Yet recent changes to the EU’s approach and its view on low-carbon alternatives to flying has allowed for funding to find its ways to previously discarded transport options. Furthermore, support from the EU will allow the link to sustain lower ticket prices, thus giving it a special kind of appeal for low-income citizens and students. By embracing such alternative forms of mobility and making them easily accessible for everyone, regardless of their purchasing power, both Cyprus and Greece, are significantly contributing to the EU’s overarching fight against climate change. Source : the Mayor

The 2001 built 4200 t DWT Malaysian flagged 83,9 mtr Deck Cargo Ship DANUM 18 spotted transiting the Singapore Strait in the westbound TSS Photo : Piet Sinke www.maasmondmaritime.com (c) CLICK at the photo & hyperlink in text to view and/or download the photo(s) !

Independent International Offshore Towage & Salvage Consultants and Brokers, Chartering of Tugs, Offshore Support and Specialised Vessels (offices in London and Singapore) Telephone : +44 (0) 20 8398 9833 Facsimile : + 44 (0) 20 8398 1618 E-mail : [email protected] Singapore : +65 62263084 [email protected] Internet : www.marint.co.uk

Innovative vacuum cleaner removes plastic from nature reserve in the port of Antwerp

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From the September 19th, World Clean-up Day, the ‘Nul-o-Plastic’, designed by Envisan (Jan De Nul Group), will get rid of the historical pollution in the Galgeschoor nature reserve in the port of Antwerp. This vacuum cleaner is the winning design of the Galgeschoor Plastic Challenge and is now ready to remove millions of plastic pellets and other pastics in this nature reserve. In 2019, Port of Antwerp launched a competition for new clean-up techniques for the plastic pellets that had accumulated in Galgeschoor nature reserve. Despite annual clean-up campaigns, millions of these small plastic particles still remain that cannot be cleaned manually. This is the result of historical pollution caused by plastic waste from cities and municipalities along the river Scheldt and industrial plastic pellets that were lost in the port. Year after year they are transported along the 350 km long Scheldt to ultimately end up in the mudflats and salt marshes. The Galgeschoor Plastic Challenge challenged participants to come up with a feasible solution in terms of technical, budgetary, logistics and environmental aspects. The aim was to find a solution to clean up a difficult-to-access tidal area with unique vegetation and endangered bird species with minimal impact on flora and fauna. A jury of innovation and environmental experts selected the Envisan plastic waste vacuum cleaner (Jan De Nul Group) from more than 50 entries. Envisan received a cheque for EUR 10,000 and continued to develop the design in conjunction with Port of Antwerp. As from today, the Nul-o-Plastic, a big, manoeuvrable vacuum cleaner on rubber caterpillar tracks, will efficiently vacuum the plastic pellets. An Smet, Director of Envisan: “Innovation is our driving force and one of the pillars of our strategy to find circular solutions for a better planet. Our focus is on constantly reducing our ecological footprint. Not only at our sites and offices, but also on project level. Therefore, we are delighted that the Nul-o-Plastic will effectively be used now. For the first time, our innovative Nul-o-Plastic will also be able to remove all small plastic particles from this nature reserve. We look forward to deploying the Nul-o-Plastic in other port areas as well.”

The COSCO SHIPPING TAURUS inbound for Antwerp passing Kruiningen-Kruseveer Photo : Rob van den Houten © Congestion at North American terminals as Covid takes its toll Distribution : daily to 43.100+ active addresses 23-09-2020 Page 24 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2020 – 267

Carriers are reporting a number of pinch-points at US and Canadian ports as container volumes have increased to in excess of pre-pandemic levels while inland infrastructure has suffered due to a lack of staff and terminal congestion. Maersk has advised its customers that, “The peak season is being defined by a number of volume-related challenges and we encourage customers to add more buffer to supply chain schedules to allow for potential disruptions and delays.” The lines are also experiencing chassis shortages as full import containers are being stored on the units at the container yards. The 2M alliance lines recommend that shippers return empty containers and their chassis as quickly as possible to “free up chassis and improve operational velocity in terminals and storage yards.” In addition a shortage of labour means that trucking capability as well as warehousing and distribution capacity have been compromised as restrictions on working, due to the pandemic, have restricted staff numbers. The line added, “Some truckers have parked their trucks and returned to their home country – and for our Longshore labour – we are seeing more casuals.” Rail services have also been disrupted, particularly in Canada where a Canadian National train derailed causing disruption for three days for eastbound volumes from Vancouver. That has added to the congestion caused by strong import container volumes to Vancouver and Prince Rupert which has slowed has seen congestion at the port’s container yards, “often exceeding infrastructure limits,” said Maersk, slowing throughput in the process. The carrier added, “We opted to push vessel schedules by one week (instead of having the ships anchor for a week outside the ports).” In addition the 2M Alliance has reinstated some blanked sailings to cope with the increased cargo levels, following the request from Chinese authorities to curb rate increases and offer more capacity on the trades, which has seen rates reach historic highs. In a customer notice the Danish and Swiss-based carrier alliance advised that it would reinstate North America bound services, that had originally been blanked in the second quarter as a result of decreased demand during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US. The 2M alliance’s TP8 and TP11 will be reinstated, however, the lines say that during the “Golden Week holiday, we are planning fewer blank sailings than previous years.” This announcement comes after last week’s intervention from China’s Ministry of Transport which asked lines to curb rate increases and restore capacity. Following that request, Dutch consultancy Dynaliners reported that Chinese carrier COSCO had cancelled its planned general rate increase on 15 September. Ocean Alliance, of which COSCO is a member, also reinstated sailings. “The Ocean Alliance (CMA CGM, CoscoSL/OOCL and Evergreen) will, in October, cancel two additional Transpacific sailings. However, it will still carry out six Transpacific departures that were previously dropped, so that effectively it will offer four sailings more than originally planned that month.” THE Alliance has said it has not reinstated any sailings to date. Rate levels on the Transpacific remain at high levels according to the FBX01 index which stands at US$3,835/FEU today, up from US$3,694/FEU a week ago. Source : Container News

Oil Tanker Heads to Libya as NOC Partially Lifts Force Majeure The MARLIN SHIKOKU oil tanker is making its way to Libya's Marsa El Hariga terminal, according to Refinitiv Eikon shipping data.Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Saturday lifted force majeure on what it deemed secure oil ports and facilities.NOC is yet to specify the ports and oilfields where it is lifting force majeure, but restart procedures are underway at some locations following a blockade that began in January which crippled the OPEC member's oil production. "We are waiting for NOC to give a schedule of tankers and we are ready to export," an oil engineer at Hariga told Reuters. The MARLIN SHIKOKU, a Suezmax tanker capable of carrying around 1 million barrels of crude, is expected to

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arrive on 24 September, shipping data shows.The crude cargo it is expected to load belongs to Unipec, the trading arm of China's state oil firm Sinopec, according to two trading sources. Source : maritimeprofessional (Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar and Ayman al-Warfalli, editing by Louise Heavens)

The POSEIDON outbound from Rotterdam passing Maassluis Photo : Cees Kloppenburg Maritime Photo Maassluis © CLICK at the photo ! New gas tanker form paves the way for revision of ASBATANKVOY BIMCO and the Association of Ship Brokers & Agents (U.S.A.), Inc. (ASBA) have approved a voyage charter party, ASBAGASVOY, for publication to serve the growing gas tanker industry. Work will now begin to revise ASBATANKVOY, one of the most used tanker charter parties in the world. ASBAGASVOY has been developed specifically for the gas tanker trade. It is based on, and follows the sequence of, ASBATANKVOY which for many years has been used for gas tanker fixtures, but introduces gas specific terminology. It also replaces ASBATANKVOY clauses which pertain to the traditional product tanker trades. BIMCO President, Sadan Kaptanoglu, CEO of Kaptanoglu Shipping, says: “Over the past 10 years, the gas tanker sector has experienced a significant expansion with a doubling of the cargo carrying capacity in the liquefied petroleum gas trade. The timing is therefore ideal for the sector to get a dedicated form which reflects commercial practice, sets out the necessary terms in a clear and concise way, saves time and reduces the risk of contractual disputes.”An important feature of ASBAGASVOY is the introduction of a presentation clause. The clause is at the heart of any gas tanker charter party and describes how the cargo tanks and lines are to be presented for loading upon arrival of the ship at a terminal. The form is accompanied by a standalone bill of lading form, ASBAGASBILL, which is based on BIMCO’s CONGENBILL 2016. “ASBA is delighted to announce the joint ASBA/BIMCO release of ASBAGASVOY, a charter party specific to the needs of the gas tanker industry. ASBATANKVOY is the next big milestone and we are very pleased to continue the cooperation between our two associations on this important project,” says ASBA President, Arthur Savage, A.R. Savage & Son LLC. The ASBAGASVOY drafting committee has been co-chaired by Søren Wolmar, chairman of ASBA’s Documentary Committee and Stephen Harper, Head of Legal, Shipping at BW Group. They will continue their chairmanship of the ASBATANKVOY drafting committee which will begin its work in the coming months. ASBATANKVOY was last updated in 1977. “BIMCO represents half of the tanker operators in the world. It is important that we develop standard documents for our members in this segment of the industry,” Kaptanoglu says. The drafting committee also consisted of Elwin Taylor (Petredec), Tommy Baggio (Clarksons, recently retired), Magne Andersen (Nordisk Legal Services) and Caroline Avgerinou (Thomas Miller P&I (Europe) Ltd.). ASBAGASVOY and ASBAGASBILL will soon be available on BIMCO’s secure contract editing system SmartCon and on ASBA’s website. The forms will be accompanied by explanatory notes. Source: BIMCO

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NAVY NEWS

HMS SEVERN at sea - note the additional cabin on the quarterdeck for navigation training photo : Navy lookout via Twitter After 15 years at sea, Navy logistics, support ship returns to its new home By: Julio Avila

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USS GREEN BAY (LPD 20), USNS WALTER S. DIEHL (T-AO 193) and USS ASHLAND (LSD 48) conduct a replenishment-at-sea. CLICK at the photo ! It's been 15 years since the USNS WALTER S. DIEHL, a military sealift command ship, left California to provide logistics to U.S. Navy fleets, but it returned on Sunday to the United States to its new home at Naval Station Norfolk. “It's really good to finally put Walter S. Diehl in the continental United States,” Captain Andrew Chen told News 3 by phone after the ship pulled in. “Very rarely does a ship spend so much time overseas."Chen oversaw the ship in its vital behind-the-scenes roles, 74 times to be exact. The ship left in 2005 from its former home in San Diego. "We have a combat logistics force that directly supports carrier strike groups, surface action groups,” Chen said. “So wherever the Navy is, MSC is right besides them, literally." It provides fuel, jets, ammunition, spare parts, food and mail for the other ships, among other functions. The crew onboard is not Sailors, but civilians known as civil-service mariners."Astonishingly, one out of every five ships in the Navy is manned by civil-service mariners,” Chen said. “We're rarely seen but always felt." Without them, the Navy just would not function properly. "We would have to go back to actually pulling ships into port for fuel and stores, which would greatly reduce our forward presence around the world,” Chen said. Their arrival coincided with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but Chen said they have been able to stay healthy Nonetheless, it's mission accomplished for them. “The ship is just an object, but it comes alive with the crew, and I'm really proud of my mariners,” Chen said. The arrival is also perfect timing, because Chen said his birthday is this week. Source: WTKR ALSO INTERESTED IN THIS FREE MARITIME NEWSCLIPPINGS ? CLICK HERE AND REGISTER FOR FREE ! SHIPYARD NEWS

Newbuilding orders for Chinese yards fall 4.5% in first eight months of 2020 By : Katherine Si During the first eight months, China’s shipbuilding output, newly received orders and orders in hand all declined. According to the statistics released by the Association of China’s National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI), the shipbuilding

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output for the first eight months was 24.1m dwt, a decline of 7.1% year-on-year; the newly received order volume was 15.01m dwt, a decline of 4.5%. As the end of August, the orderbook on hand was 72.57m dwt, a decline of 8.2%. Shipbuilding export volume was 22.22m dwt, a decline of 8.1% year-on-year, while newly received export shipbuilding orders were 13.64m dwt, a decline of 6.6%; the export orders in hand were 66.91m dwt as the end of August, a decline of 7.1%, accounting for 92.2%, 90.9% and 92.2% of national volume respectively. The 75 major Chinese shipbuilding industry players posted operational income of RMB169bn ($24.5bn) and RMB1.16bn ($168m) in total profit, a drop of 2.3% and 47% year-on-year respectively. As of the end of August, China’s shipbuilding output, newly received orders and orders in hand hold accounted for 39.6%, 63.1% and 47.8% of global shipbuilding market share. Source : Seatrade Maritime news ROUTE, PORTS & SERVICES

the 1990 built tug EEMS WRESTLER towing the 1980 built ferry DON CANDIDO from Spain to Turkey for repairs 40 nautical miles offshore Gozo on Friday 11th September, 2020. Photo : Capt. Lawrence Dalli on behalf of Dutch Marine Contractors - www.dutchmarinecontractors.com - www.maltashipphotos.com Gasum secures new LNG supply, terminal development contract Finnish state-owned gas company Gasum has secured a new deal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivery and a terminal in Norway, Kallanish Energy reports. The contract, with Norwegian steel manufacturer Celsa Armeringsstål AS, was announced on Friday and includes the supply of LNG and the construction of a customer terminal in the Mo Industrial Park, located in Mo i Rana. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

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Celsa Armeringsstål produces steel manufactured from scrap metal and currently aims to reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by utilizing LNG to power its manufacturing facilities. Its operations currently consume approximately 500 gigawatts of energy annually. The company stated its objective to lower CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and to be carbon-neutral by 2050. Its contract with Gasum is “a strategic step towards our short-term sustainability goals, without compromising our cost-effectiveness,” according to chief executive, Carles Rovira. The new terminal in Mo i Rana is expected to commence operations in July next year. LNG will be supplied to Mo i Rana by road transport from Gasum’s part-owned terminal in Tornio, Northern Finland. “The new terminal gives us an opportunity to connect with other potential customers in the area who are interested in reducing their emissions by choosing LNG”, said Halvar Rommetvedt, sales manager at Gasum. Earlier this month, Gasum expanded its reach in the Nordics with the launch of a new LNG station in Sweden for the automotive sector, specifically heavy-duty vehicles (HDV), developed in cooperation with Volvo source : kallanishenergy PLEASE MAINTAIN YOUR MAILBOX, DUE TO NEW POLICY OF THE PROVIDER, YOUR ADDRESS WILL BE “DEACTIVATED” AUTOMATICALLY IF THE MAIL IS BOUNCED BACK TO OUR SERVER If this happens to you please send me a mail at [email protected] to reactivate your address again You can also read the latest newsletter daily online via the link : http://newsletter.maasmondmaritime.com/ShippingNewsPdf/magazine.pdf Cruise Lines One Step Closer to Resuming Cruises By Ben Souza The Healthy Sail Panel, created in partnership between Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, has submitted their new health recommendations to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The recommendations were in response to a request for public comment on the CDC’s current No Sail Order. The Healthy Sail Panel, formed in June, consists of globally recognized experts experienced in various disciplines including public health, infectious diseases, biosecurity and marine operations. The Panel has spent the last four months studying how to best protect the health and safety of guests and crew. They’ve made 74 recommendations across five core focus areas that every cruise operator should address to reduce the risk of infection and spread of COVID-19 on cruise ships: ü Testing, Screening and Exposure Reduction ü Sanitation and Ventilation ü Response, Contingency Planning and Execution ü Destination and Excursion Planning ü Mitigating Risks for Crew Members “The Healthy Sail Panel’s recommendations are robust and comprehensive, and they reflect the intense focus the panelists brought to their work,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “We know that both authorities around the globe and consumers expect cruise lines to provide the safest, healthiest vacations we can, and this work demonstrates our commitment to doing just that.” “We understand our responsibility to act aggressively to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew, as well as the communities where we sail, and we asked the Panel to help us learn how to best live up to that responsibility,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “We were inspired by the depth of the Panel’s work and their determination to help us establish the strongest protocols in the travel industry.” Fain and Del Rio said each cruise line will use the Panel’s recommendations to inform the development of new, detailed operating protocols, which will be submitted to the CDC and other authorities around the globe for review and approval– an important milestone in the process of resuming sailing around the world. The Panel’s work is open sourced for others to incorporate in their protocols as well; Governor Leavitt and Dr. Gottlieb expressed appreciation that authorities and other cruise companies had already engaged in the Panel’s work as observers. Among the recommendations are key strategies such as: ü Taking aggressive measures to prevent COVID-19 from entering a cruise ship through robust education, screening and testing of both crew and guests prior to embarkation ü Reducing transmission via air management strategies and sanitation practices

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ü Implementing detailed plans for addressing positive infection onboard, including contingencies for onboard treatment, isolation and evacuation ü Closely controlling shore excursions ü Enhanced protection for crew members Source : criuisefever Covid-19 supply chain disruption boosts hub port role: PSA executive THE regional CEO of Middle East South Asia and head of business development at PSA International, Wan Chee Foong, says that the supply chain disruption caused by Covid-19 has reinforced the role of container hub ports. Speaking at a recent webinar, Mr Wan said: "During this period the supply and demand shocks that occurred have certainly been disruptive but there is a silver lining it has reinforced the role of the hub ports that have in general fared better than the gateway ports. "Just like the hub and spokes of a bicycle wheel, hub ports have been especially critical in keeping global trade and supply chains connected during this pandemic. Regional hubs such as Singapore have indeed stepped up as key nodes in the supply chain during the pandemic going beyond just providing connectivity to enhancing connectedness in the supply chain," Mr Wan said during a panel discussion for the 14th Singapore Maritime Lecture, held online this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the sharp drop in global economic activity in the first half of the year due to widespread lockdowns, Singapore's port saw just a 1 per cent contraction in container volumes to handle 17.48 million TEU, according to figures released by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). "During Covid-19 when the markets were undergoing severe supply chain disruptions the importance of such hubs became more pronounced," he said. Mr Wan highlighted how PSA had been able to use a solution called Advanced Transshipment Management (ATM), developed prior to the current crisis. He said the solution allowed large cargo owners and shipping lines to use Singapore as a staging hub to optimise their supply chains by marrying cargo, regulatory and financial flows."In Q1 shipping lines adapted quickly and used Singapore as a hub to stage their inventory and containers bound for China leveraging the proximity of Singapore and extensive network connectivity," Mr Wan explained. "Some countries also imposed restrictions on vessels and crews from China, but PSA Singapore became a safe haven and worked closely with our shipping line customers and key stakeholders such as MPA to overcome these restrictions to transship the cargo from China onto fresh vessels and onward to destinations from Singapore." He added that PSA hubs in Panama and Portugal had also stepped up as key hubs to provide resilience to the global supply chain during the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Singapore's Splash 247. Carnival Cruise Line Terminates Thousands of Crew Members and Senior Shipboard Officers By Jim Walker Carnival Cruise Line is taking steps to terminate and/or not renew the contracts of employment of several thousands of officers and crew members throughout its fleet, according to several crew members who wish to remain anonymous. Today, several crew members provided internal documentation indicating that Carnival is sending as many as 7,000 termination letters to Carnival officers and crew members. As many as eight captains (masters), five staff captains, five guest service managers, six executive chefs and six hotel directors are among the top ship employees who are being laid off. Carnival sent these letters via e-mails to officers and crew members who are at home on vacation or otherwise at home awaiting a vessel assignment if and when the CDC permits cruising from U.S. ports. Carnival plans to make individual calls to follow up on some of the notices of termination. Carnival terminated the jobs of as many as one hundred and twenty crew members and officers working in the bridge across the Carnival fleet of ship. A number of crew members who were sent home “on vacation” expressed their frustration that they have not been employed over the last five or six months in the belief that they were needed to be ready to re-join a Carnival ship on short notice. One crew member who contacted our office said “why didn’t Carnival notify me in April so I could find another job? It abandoned me and my family with two small kids without money.” Last March, Carnival Corporation laid off hundreds of employees due to the coronavirus pandemic. Carnival eliminated and furloughed nearly 1,600 shore-side employees and reduced the compensation of many of those employees who were not terminated. The current round of terminations represents a little over 20% of the approximately 33,000 ship employees employed on Carnival Cruise Line’s

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diminishing fleet of ships. Carnival Corporation recently announced that it was selling as many as eighteen cruise ships from its fleet, including four ships operated by Carnival Cruise Line including the CARNIVAL FANTASY, CARNIVAL INSPIRATION, CARNIVAL IMAGINATION and CARNIVAL FASCINATION. The mass firings are an insight into the state of Carnival’s dire financial affairs. According to a 8-K form which Carnival filed with the SEC last week, Carnival’s cash burn was $770,000,000 for 3Q 2020, which ended with Carnival having only “$8,200,000,000 of cash and cash equivalents.” As of August 31, 2020, “approximately 45 percent of guests affected by the company’s schedule changes have received enhanced FCCs (future cruise credits) and approximately 55 percent have requested refunds.” “Total customer deposits balance at August 31, 2020, was $2.4 billion, the majority of which are FCCs (future cruise credits), compared to total customer deposits balance of $2.9 billion at May 31, 2020.” The bottom line is that loyal cruise fans are essentially providing a free loan to Carnival of several billions of dollars. Many of the individuals undoubtedly lost their jobs or financed their cruises in the first place. Source : cruiselawnews …. PHOTO OF THE DAY …..

Spliethoff's EUROGRACHT navigating the Westerschelde inbound for Vlissingen. Photo : Barry van der Meijden ©

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