Singapore News

APL England Detained After Dropping Containers off Australia

A Singapore-flagged containership that lost at least 40 containers overboard off the coast of Sydney has been detained by authorities in the Port of Brisbane after Australian inspectors found inadequate lashing arrangements for cargo and heavily corroded securing points for containers on deck.APL England had been en route from Ningbo, China to Melbourne on Sunday when it rerouted to Brisbane after a temporary propulsion loss left the 277-meter vessel rolling in heavy seas and caused several container stacks to topple over about 73 kilometers south east of Sydney.

Pacific International Lines Secures Debt Deal

Singapore-based container ship operator Pacific International Lines Pte (PIL) has agreed with most of its financial lenders to defer debt payments and is in talks with a unit of Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings for a potential investment.PIL said in a statement on Tuesday that it had made significant progress in cutting asset costs due to the challenges the sector has been facing but the coronavirus pandemic had made matters worse over the past month.“Due to the situation…

China's VLSFO Exports Rose By a Third in April

China's low-sulphur marine fuel exports rose by a third in April compared with March to the highest level yet after it waived export taxes for domestic refiners to meet shipping demand, Chinese customs data showed.Chinese refiners began exporting in January very low sulphur fuel oi (VLSFO) with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5% to comply with emission rules for ships from the International Maritime Organization.Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed April exports of the ship fuel reached nearly 1.43 million tonnes…

World's Largest Containership Sails Through the Suez Canal

The world's largest containership, HMM Algeciras, passed through the Suez Canal on Monday as the record-setting 24,000 TEU class vessel makes its maiden voyage from Asia to Europe.Built at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s (DMSE) Okpo shipyard in Geoje, South Korea, the 399.9-meter HMM Algeciras has a capacity of 23,964 TEU and is the first of 12 vessels of the same class, design and size contracted to be built by DSME and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).Delivered in April…

Face Masks Washing Ashore After Cargo Ship Loses Boxes

Surgical masks and other items have been found washing up onto Australian beaches Tuesday after the Singapore-flagged APL England lost at least 40 containers overboard in heavy seas off the coast of Sydney.The medical supplies have been found on shores between Magenta Beach and The Entrance, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which said the locations and contents are consistent with its debris drift models and items listed on the ship’s cargo manifest.

Containership Loses Boxes in Heavy Seas off Australia

A Singapore-flagged containership lost at least 40 containers overboard in heavy seas off the coast of Sydney, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.Just after 6:10 a.m. Sunday, the APL England experienced a temporary loss of propulsion and began rolling heavily, causing container stacks to collapse and several containers to fall overboard in about 2,000 meters water depth, about 73 kilometers southeast of Sydney.The ship's power was restored within a few minutes…

BIMCO Tanker Rate Analysis: Reality Kicks In, Rates Fall

Tanker shipping: sky high freight rates replaced by reality of falling global oil demandGeopolitical tensions have now eased, leaving freight rates to feel the full effects of the weak underlying market and falling demand. Tanker shipping looks set to be under pressure for the rest of the year.Demand drivers and freight ratesThe tanker shipping industry was once again caught in a whirlwind, as freight rates skyrocketed with little regard to the poor market fundamentals before the latter once again caught up with rates.

ShipMoney Digital Payment Solutions for Cash-to-Master Virtual Payments for Seafarers

As the health and welfare of seafarers continues to be a point of focus around the world, Maritime Payment Solutions, LLC (d/b/a ShipMoney), a provider of payment solutions for maritime companies, introduced ShipMoney Virtual Cards and the Transfer Marketplace, a pair of services designed to expedite payments to crew members and their families while providing a broad range of remittance options.ShipMoney’s Virtual Card solution uses Visa’s virtual card technology, which enables crew members to immediately access their wages from anywhere in the world while onboard or at home…

LR’s Nick Brown: Climate Emergency is “same magnitude, different time domain" to COVID-19

As the maritime industry settles in on a COVID-19 induced ‘new norm,’ and long-range planning is dramatically shortened,, Nick Brown, Marine and Offshore Director, Lloyd’s Register, said that while much deserved focus must be paid to the current crisis, the industry cannot lose sight of another one looming just as large: climate change. “We strongly maintain that the climate emergency is an event of the same magnitude, just with a different time domain to COVID-19," Brown told Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently.

Brookes Bell Expands Marine Casualty Capability

Brookes Bell has strengthened its marine casualty capability with the addition of two listed special casualty representatives (SCRs) boosting the total number of SCRs within the company to five.SCRs are highly specialist salvage and wreck removal consultants and, as such, number only around 50 globally. They are appointed by the Lloyd’s of London’s SCOPIC Committee for their exceptional level of expertise in the field of salvage and wreck removal.Joining the Brookes Bell team are William Leschaeve and Michael Riddell.Riddell is a senior master mariner, based in Brookes Bell’s Singapore office.

BIMCO: 2020 and the Collapse of Bunker Fuel Markets

The sulfur regulation from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that came into force on 1 January 2020 took the center stage in the shipping industry at outset of the new decade. Four months on, the spotlights have turned to the coronavirus and the OPEC+ oil price war.The outlook for global economic growth remains bleak as the world is faced with the largest recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s.Commodity prices have declined across the board and most recently…

MCTC Opens Singapore Office

MCTC announced it has opened an office in Singapore to service its growing client base in this important international maritime hub. The experienced team at MCTC Singapore will support local clients as well as the galley crews through regular vessel visits in the port.Our Catering Competency Development Program training package is designed to increase standards in the galley by training and supporting catering staff. MCTC uses distinctive training methods and offers 365 days a year support which incorporates a 360 degree development and upgrade training with a range of training programs…

Thome Group Shifts to Remote Audits Due to COVID-19 Restrictions

Singapore-based ship management company Thome Group said it has undergone a series of remote audits with DNV GL in various locations due to the widespread lockdown restrictions across the globe.Thome Mumbai office’s annual ISO 9001:2015 audit was performed online using video conferencing software which enabled document sharing and discussions to take place to verify that all requirements had been met. This was the first remote inspection that Thome had carried out and, because of its successful conclusion…

X-Press Feeders Names Yoskovitz CEO

X-Press Feeders CFO Shmuel Yoskovitz will take over as CEO, the Singapore-based feeder containership operator announced.Yoskovitz replaces Tim Hartnoll who has served as CEO since 2017. Hartnoll will transtion back to his role as group chairman."I am turning 65 in May, and I am now most keen on ensuring that the dynamism of X-Press is maintained into the future," Hartnoll said. "I have decided to hand the role of CEO to Shmuel effective May 4, 2020, which will enable me to function at a higher level as Chairman of the Group." In addition…

National WISTA Associations Offer Free Membership for Seafarers

The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association announced a new initiative aimed at helping seafarers.WISTA Norway, WISTA UK, WISTA Singapore, WISTA Brazil, and WISTA Argentina have come together to offer free WISTA membership for seafarers through August 31, 2020. Membership allows seafarers to access the largest network of female managers in the shipping industry, as well as online seminars, webinars and workshops. The idea for the project came from WISTA Norway.Pia Meling…

North P&I Launches New Insurance Product

A new offering from North is designed for larger ocean-going vessels and will complement the H&M insurance already available from Sunderland Marine for fishing vessels and other small craft. WeThe P&I club expects the new line will be taken up by a number of Members, whilst it is also open to non-Members. The focus from an underwriting perspective will be on quality of risk and suitability of terms.In support of the product, North has added significant underwriting expertise from…

Singapore Aims to Incentivize Environmental Protection During Salvage Ops

A statement from a Singapore Ministry of Law spokesperson outlines details of  a Bill for read in Parliament today regarding maritime salvage:The Singapore Ministry of Law will table the High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) (Amendment) Bill (“the Bill”) for First Reading in Parliament on 4 May 2020. The High Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) Act is the primary legislation on admiralty jurisdiction in Singapore. The Bill will extend the Singapore High Court’s admiralty jurisdiction to special compensation claims arising from salvage operations which prevent or minimize environmental damage…

China to Issue VLSFO Quotas in Move to Grow Bunker Market Share

China is set to release its first-ever quotas to export very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) with total volumes of 10 million tonnes for this year, six industry officials with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.The quotas, which came in the wake of Beijing’s policy in January to offer tax sweeteners to boost local production of the fuel, paves the way for Chinese refiners to almost fully cover the demand from its coastal bonded marine fuel market of 12-14 million tonnes annually.The quotas will be issued to four state-run firms - Sinopec Group, CNPC, China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOO

ASA Appoints Sonoda as Secretary General

With the current international efforts to contain the spread of COVID19, travel restrictions are in place globally. However, ASA has determined that it is not an obstacle to have Yuichi Sonoda picked up his role as ASA newly appointed Sec-Gen with effect from May 1, 2020. This is a role he is thoroughly familiar with. As he had served as ASA Sec-Gen during the period between 2010 to 2014, he was instrumental in numerous initiatives and conferences.Involving in the work of ASA since its inception in 1992…

Liberia Calls for Flag States to Join Together for Crew Changes

The Liberian Registry continues its efforts toward the recognition of seafarers as “key workers” and for much needed crew-exchange to be allowed at key ports globally during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and is looking to enlist the help of other flag States in this mission. The Liberian Registry, already working with industry bodies such as the IMO, ICS, and ITF, calls for other major flag States to join in the continued effort to push for a global plan allowing for seafarers…

Sembcorp Begins Proceedings Against Hin Leong Affiliate

Sembcorp Industries on Monday said its Sembcorp Cogen unit had begun legal proceedings to assert ownership over some gasoil reserves stored in tanks at Singapore's Universal Terminal, partly owned by oil trader Hin Leong Trading Pte Ltd.Just last week, Sembcorp Cogen terminated its gasoil supply and storage agreement with Hin Leong Trading, which is being monitored by Singaporean authorities.Sembcorp Cogen on April 24 obtained a court order to restrain Universal Terminal from moving…

Operators Warn of Congestion at Indian Ports

Singapore's PSA International and Indian container freight operators have warned the Indian government that its order to waive container storage charges during the coronavirus lockdown could lead to port congestion, letters seen by Reuters showed.India's Ministry of Shipping asked ports to allow free storage of containers as part of relief measures to ease pressure on companies hit by logistics restrictions because of India's nationwide lockdown.PSA's local unit in a letter to the government on April 24 said importers might not remove their containers from ports due to free storage…

World's Largest Containership HMM Algeciras Launched

South Korean ocean carrier HMM held a naming ceremony for the newly constructed 24,000 TEU-class containership HMM Algeciras, the world’s largest containership, at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s (DMSE) Okpo shipyard in Geoje, Korea.The 399.9-meter HMM Algeciras is the first of a dozen 24,000 TEU-class vessels scheduled to be delivered this year, and takes the "world's largest" title from the 23,656 TEU Gülsün-Class ships owned by Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC).In September 2018…

MPA Awards Two Bunker Licenses

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has awarded two new bunker supplier licences to Minerva Bunkering and TFG Marine, following its call for applications for new licences in December 2019.Bunkering services in the Port of Singapore and oil trading remain resilient despite the global COVID-19 pandemic. Bunker sales in Singapore grew 5.4%, from 12.07 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2019 to 12.72 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2020.MPA and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) welcome the entry of Minerva Bunkering and TFG Marine…

MatthewsDaniel Names Cox as CEO

David Cox has been appointed CEO of MatthewsDaniel, effective April 8. He reports to Matthieu de Tugny, President of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore. Previously Chief Operating Officer, Cox succeeds Kevin Jarman who has been CEO of MatthewsDaniel for 30 years. Jarman having led the growth and expansion of the business through those three decades will now act as a Special Advisor.Cox started his career as a Subsea Engineer in 2001 with BBP Technical Services and began his career as a Loss Adjuster when he joined MatthewsDaniel in 2006.

LNG Tanker to Discharge First US Cargo in China in 13 Months

The tanker Maran Gas Vergina has arrived in China with the first delivery of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 13 months, shipping data showed on Monday.This is the first shipment since March 2019 after a long-standing trade war in which China raised tariffs on LNG imports from the United States to 25% last year.The tanker berthed on Monday in Tianjin, where China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and Sinopec operate LNG terminals, ship-tracking data from Refinitiv and data…