Drewry: Asia to Australasia Container Traffic Heading South

Asia to Australasia container traffic experienced its first quarterly slump in at least five years, falling by 11 percent in the second quarter, shipping consultancy Drewry said.

The slowdown affected both the North Asia and Southeast Asia export markets. After six months trade from North Asia to Australasia was down by 3.5% to 773,000 TEU, while from Southeast Asia the slide was even steeper with container shipments down by 7.5% to 345,000 TEU.

Combined, the total southbound trade experienced close to a 5% slump in the first half of 2017.

Although the deterioration in container traffic along this corridor started early this year, things have gotten much worse of late with woeful returns for May and June accelerating the trend line downwards towards zero.

“Unless there is a drastic reversal, at the current rate the southbound trade will register an annual decline for the first time in at least five years,” according to Drewry.

The pick-up in Asia to Australia spot rates in August offers hope of a wider recovery. Nonetheless, this year looks certain to end with lower volumes.

Despite the weakness in demand, carriers have resisted making sweeping changes in capacity. Very little has happened on the supply side since May, when Hamburg Süd, Maersk Line, MOL and MSC started a new NE Asia-Oceania service (YoYo/CAE/Panda).

Net capacity on that slightly more resilient leg has been kept remarkably steady since that service launch and forward schedules for September indicate that there will be around 8% more slots available than there were in the same month last year. In the weaker Southeast Asia corridor there has at least been some remedial action with net capacity scheduled to be down by around 10% y/y next month.

http://logisticlee.livejournal.com/12950.html

Robbers Steal Oil from Anchored Tanker in Nigeria

Robbers have boarded a tanker and stole some oil from the ship while it was anchored at Lagos General Purpose Anchorage, Nigeria.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours of August 19, according to a report by ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

As informed, alert duty watch keepers onboard the bridge of the product tanker spotted a floating object near the starboard bow and notified the armed security guard who fired warning shots.

One robber was seen jumping overboard from the forecastle.

IMB added that the alarm was raised and PA announced made. All crew except watch keepers retreated to the citadel.

After the security guards checked the deck areas, the crew emerged from the citadel and carried out a thorough search of the vessel. They noticed a flexible hose pipe inserted into a Butterworth pocket of No. 1S COT.

One robber was noticed hiding in the hawse pipe, was apprehended and tied up by the security guard and later handed over to the local agents, IMB said.

http://logisticlee.livejournal.com/12699.html

First LNG Bunkering Carried Out in the UK

For the first time in the UK, a ship has been bunkered with liquefied natural gas (LNG). This is part of a project carried out between UK’s LNG provider Flogas and compatriot port operator Associated British Ports (ABP). 

The project, which mirrors similar successful schemes in other European countries, saw a 110-meter cement carrier named Ireland – operated by Norwegian shipping firm KGJ Cement AS – refueled with LNG at the Port of Immingham on August 16.

The joint venture between Flogas and ABP is said to be a step forward for maritime bunkering in the UK. It means ships from across the globe will now have direct access to LNG – a fuel that is becoming increasingly popular in shipping, due to its ability to help vessels comply with current and future climate legislation.

“There is great potential for LNG in the maritime industry as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional oil-based bunker fuels, but until now this potential has remained untapped here in the UK,” Lee Gannon, Managing Director at Flogas, explained.

Although only a limited number of ships currently bunker with LNG, demand is expected to grow rapidly as environmental regulations increasingly prohibit the use of polluting heavy fuel oils. Both Flogas and ABP see potential to replace thousands of tons of heavy fuel oil each year with cleaner, cost-effective LNG.

“We are proud to be a key part of this flagship operation, which has really put the UK on the map as the latest European hub for more climate-friendly bunkering. Demand is already beginning to shift away from oil across the international fleet, and we very much see natural gas taking its place as the marine fuel of choice. We look forward to welcoming increasing numbers of ships to Immingham as a result of our new … offering in partnership with Flogas,” Mark Frith, Port Manager for ABP Immingham and Grimsby, added.

The new tanker-to-ship service provides the flexibility needed to service current demand, but as the LNG marine market grows, Flogas plans to invest in storage and bunkering facilities at ABP ports when required.

http://logisticlee.livejournal.com/12522.html

USCG Fines Bulker for Unapproved Ballast Water Discharge in Willamette River

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) issued a USD 5,000 fine to the owners of a freight vessel for unauthorized ballast water discharge into the Willamette River in Portland on August 16.

During a routine port state control ballast water examination on the 590-foot Handy bulk carrier Ansac Moon Bear, marine inspectors discovered that the ship had discharged untreated ballast water into the Willamette River on three separate occasions during port calls in 2017.

Under the port state control exam, log books were reviewed during administrative evaluations by the marine inspectors, which led to the ballast water discharge discovery.

As part of the enforcement process, prior to the ship’s departure, the owner was required to either pay the USD 5,000 Notice of Violation fine or provide a Letter of Undertaking in the amount of USD 38,175 as adequate surety that the owner will pay the fine assessed in the civil penalty process, up to the maximum penalty amount, according to the USCG.

Shortly after issuance of the notice of violation fine, the company operating the vessel paid the fine with minimal disruption to the vessels schedule.

VesselsValue’s data shows that the 32,200 dwt bulker is owned by Japan-based Ansei Carriers SA and operated by compatriot company Abo Shoten.

“Marine Safety Unit Portland effectively identified and enforced the US Ballast Water regulations that visiting vessels are required to meet,” Capt. Thomas Griffitts, commanding officer MSU Portland,said.

“These regulations are essential to protecting our marine environment as untreated ballast water may pose serious ecological, economic, and health problems due to the multitude of marine species carried in ships’ ballast water,” he added.

The ballast water implementation schedule is based on vessel construction dates and ballast water capacity. At this time, more and more existing vessels are entering compliance and implementation schedules that will eventually make all commercial vessels compliant to environmental preservation acts that the Coast Guard enforces.

In the meantime, vessels operating in US waters are subject to USCG standards and the implementation schedule.

http://logisticlee.livejournal.com/12201.html

Alnic MC, John S. McCain Arrive in Singapore for Inspection

The Liberian-flagged oil/chemical tanker Alnic MC has reached Singapore’s eastern anchorage for inspections following the collision with the US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer John S. McCain while underway east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

The tanker, owned by Brave Maritime Corporation from Greece, suffered damage to its fore peak tank 7 meters above the waterline, based on initial information. However, the ship’s crew remained unhurt.

The US Navy ship arrived at Changi Naval Base earlier today and has reported significant damage to the hull resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms. Damage control efforts by the crew halted further flooding, the US Navy said.

Search and rescue efforts on the scene for the missing crew members are continuing. In total, some 250 personnel from the various Singapore agencies were deployed on the scene for the SAR operations, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

As of 1800 hours, five sorties have been carried out, MPA said, adding that it has been issuing hourly navigational broadcasts to advise passing vessels of the incident and requested them to keep a lookout for any persons in the water.

“As at 2030 hours, SAR operations are still underway to locate the 10 crew who are unaccounted for. Efforts will continue through the night at sea with the Republic of Singapore Navy and PCG vessels deployed, even as the US investigates the damaged interior of USS John S. McCain,” the MPA told World Maritime News in an update.

MPA is investigating the incident.

http://logisticlee.livejournal.com/11861.html

Oil Spills in Johor Waters after Ship Collision

Authorities are working on containing an oil spill resulting from a collision between the Sinica Graeca bulk carrier and Chemroad Mega oil/chemical tanker in Johor waters that took place on Thursday, August 17.

There have been no casualties reported from the incident, however; the Marshall Islands-flagged bulker suffered considerable hull damage.

The two ships crashed off Tompok Utara near Pengerang, Kota Tinggi.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

Oil booms have been deployed to the scene along with dispersant spraying systems, Malaysian Marine Department said.

The 30, 400 DWT handy chemical tanker, built in 2000, is owned by Iino Marine Service from Japan, and has a market value of USD 9.08 million.

The Ultramax bulk carrier Sinica Graeca, built in May 2015, is owned by Greek-based shipowner Angelakos.

The owners of the vessels have been asked to post a USD 1.16 million bond in response to the oil spill, Bernama news agency informed citing the country’s transport ministry.

Both vessels have been detained while the spill recovery activities enter their third day.

http://logisticlee.livejournal.com/11702.html

New US Shipping Firm to Launch First Services

Atlantic Coastal Shipping (ACS), a newly-formed shipping company based in Miami, Florida, plans to start trading soon with a domestic RoRo/container vessel.

As informed, the vessel is planned to be deployed on a weekly cabotage route along the US Atlantic East Coast corridor between the Port of Miami and Port Newark.

Additionally, the company intends to start a regular weekly Caribbean feeder service with a multi purpose twin deck geared container vessel. The service will cover three hubs in the Caribbean and South Atlantic –  Kingston Container Terminal in Jamaica, DP World Caucedo in the Dominican Republic and The Freeport Container Port in the Bahamas.

The company explained that the project to launch new services is consistent with the Marine Highway Program that considers the movement of cargo by sea along America’s East Coast reducing air pollution and traffic congestion on I-95.

The first sailings of the ACS’ new services are to start in mid/late November, Armando M. Bustillo, the company’s CEO, told World Maritime News.

The exact date of launching is yet to be announced.

http://logisticlee.livejournal.com/11518.html