More than 300 companies and organizations join forces in an initiative aimed at solving the crisis of stranded seafarers as quickly as possible. V.Group, BP, Cargill, BW Group and Trafigura are just some of the names involved, along with major shipping lines such as Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Cosco, ONE and CMA CGM.
Organizations Rightship and Intercargo have joined forces to create new industry standards. A newly founded NGO will work to enforce the standards in safety, environment and operations, which are also supported by the International Chamber of Shipping.
The US will rejoin the Paris agreement in which the countries of the world have set targets to limit global warming.
In just three years, Maersk expects to place an order for its first CO2-neutral vessels, explains CEO Søren Skou in a podcast about shipping's green transition. At first, it will likely encompass smaller vessels for a "defined geographical area".
Singapore expects to have vaccinated more than 10,000 people from the front line of the maritime sector by the end of January.
The two large shipping nations Norway and Denmark disagree about whether to initiate military action in the Gulf of Guinea. 15 pirate gangs currently terrorize the waters, which has led to a surge in attacks in the past year.
The French oil company can no longer see itself as part of the powerful US oil and gas industry association API as their targets do not align.
Frank Coles, CEO of ship management company Wallem Group, criticizes charterers that will not allow crew changes on the ships currently idled off China loaded with Australian coal. V.Ships CEO Franck Kayser sees signs that China has started to accept some Australian coal cargoes. Friday midday, it was announced that Coles is leaving Wallem Group.
Danish Shipping hopes that a special agreement between the EU and India can solve the slowdown that the Basel Convention has created in relation to getting Indian scrapping facilities approved. Brussels-based NGO warns that the EU risks violating important principles.
Major dry bulk carriers such as Star Bulk, Oldendorff and Golden Ocean have for months had ships loaded with Australian coal idled off China. The situation is completely unprecedented, Star Bulk president tells ShippingWatch, while Golden Ocean is now able to change the crew on board a single vessel.
The price of European carbon quotas is soaring, as the shipping sector is on track to soon be included in the system. Right now it costs USD 42 to emit a ton of carbon, the highest price ever. Maersk has asked the EU for permission to not pay at all.
The joint European mission Emasoh in the Strait of Hormuz will be led by Denmark for the next six months. The joint mission was established after several merchant vessels were attacked with explosives in the strait in 2019.
Container line MSC now shows its support of hydrogen by joining industry body Hydrogen Council, which works to develop hydrogen as fuel. Players such as CMA CGM, NYK Lines, Total and Shell are already members.
Investor managing more than USD 2 trillion in assets now call of world leaders to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis at sea, where marine workers remain stranded due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
So far, no countries have been willing to back a Danish proposal for a joint military effort to combat piracy against ships in the Gulf of Guinea, Danish Defense Minister Trine Bramsen tells ShippingWatch.
Tanker operator Ultraship will digitalize its route planning and monitoring processes with an agreement with Wärtsilä to make its operations more efficient and to cut costs for the company's 18 LPG tanker vessels.
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The EU must triple the speed of cuts to achieve its CO2 emissions reduction target by "at least 55 percent" before 2030, according to a new think tank report skeptical of whether the objectives are feasible.
Iran says South Korea should avoid politicizing the case concerning the seizure of a South Korean tanker and demands that frozen Iranian oil funds be released, writes Reuters.
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The conflict between China and Australia, which prevents dry bulkers from offloading their Australian coal cargoes in China, continues unabated with no solution in sight. At present, 71 vessels are stranded while crews are calling on authorities to intervene. Things have gone from bad to worse, says Bimco.
Maersk tasks its current head of strategy with leading the green transition of the fleet, and it gathers key employees around him, reports Børsen.
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Despite outspoken dissatisfaction from the shipping industry and suggestions of separate fees for the shipping industry, it looks like the EU will plough ahead with its plans to include the maritime industry in its Emissions Trading System, and it could even happen in just a years' time.
While Saudi Arabia wants to take the heavy burden to limit production, other countries prefer to maintain output levels.
South Korea has deployed a warship to the Stait of Hormuz after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized a South Korean-flagged tanker Monday, citing pollution. South Korea demands that the ship and its 20-man crew be released.
Iran has seized a South Korean-flagged tanker, used to carry oil products and chemicals, in its territorial waters, citing "repeated violations of marine environmental laws."
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Maersk's break from major German customer DB Schenker and the cyber attack on CMA CGM attracted the most readers on ShippingWatch in 2020. In an unusual year characterized by the coronavirus pandemic, other big stories were the red-hot container market, Søren Toft's start at MSC and a large-scale reorganization at Maersk.
Data Engineer - Ultrabulk
Market Research Analyst – Ultragas
