Singapore News

One-third of Hin Leong Founder's Ships Sold to Pay Down Debt

About one third of the roughly 150 ships owned by companies controlled by Singapore tycoon Lim Oon Kuin and his family have been sold as part of efforts to repay billions of dollars of debt owed to creditors, two sources told Reuters.Accounting firm Grant Thornton, court-appointed supervisor of Xihe Holdings, put up several vessels for sale through shipbrokers in September last year. Xihe Holdings is owned by the Lim family and held the bulk of their fleet.The rest of the ships…

Shipbroker IFCHOR Announces New Hires

Recent strategic hires by IFCHOR will support the global shipbroker’s continued growth, with Giandomenico "Giando" Dormio, formerly managing director of SSY Zug and Geneva, the latest addition to the team. He brings over 25 years of experience of the dry bulk markets to IFCHOR’s Handysize/Ultramax and Panamax desks.Swiss-headquartered IFCHOR’s Handysize/Ultramax activity is led by Sinan Solak, Mark Harder in Lausanne and Sabrina Qian in Singapore, who will work closely with Giando Dormio as he establishes a new IFCHOR office in Zug.

Inside Cruise Shipping's Fight for Survival

In early 2021, the somber news from the cruise sector continued. For some cruise brands, their own version of “lockdowns” will have spanned an entire year. By late January, 2021, Carnival and others were hesitantly pegging their restarts for April/May 2021, and for some markets, late summer, under a Conditional Sail Order promulgated late last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).What else to do but look ahead?In preliminary earnings guidance, Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL)…

Goh Tapped as PIL's General Manager, Fleet Division

Pacific International Lines (PIL) appointed Goh Chung Hun as General Manager, Fleet Division, effective from February 1, 2021, succeeding Captain R.S. Minhas from 15th February 2021. Goh will be overseeing the management of PIL's fleet, including technical, marine operations, safety and crewing at PIL.Goh brings nearly 30 years of fleet management, technical, marine operations and seafaring experience. Prior to joining PIL, he was Director (Shipping) / Director (Marine) at the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)…

Large Flag States Continuing Excellent Performance -ICS

Many of the largest flag states—including the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China), Singapore as well as the Bahamas and Cyprus—continue to perform to an exceptionally high standard, with traditional flags and open registers performing equally well, according to the International Chamber of Shipping's (ICS) recently published Flag State Performance Table (2020/2021)."The table clearly indicates that distinctions between 'traditional' flags and open registers are no longer meaningful.

China Low-sulphur Marine Fuel Exports Hit New Heights

China's exports of clean marine fuels rose in December to a record since shipments began a year ago, taking 2020 exports of the ship fuel to 15.45 million tonnes, customs data showed on January 20, 2021.Chinese oil refineries began exporting very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) in January to comply with emission rules set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), after Beijing granted tax incentives to boost production and help create a regional bunkering hub. In December…

Singapore Prioritizes Vaccinations to Frontline Maritime Workers

More than 10,000 frontline maritime personnel to receive COVID-19 vaccinations by end of January.In the global seafarer crisis created by COVID-19, Sinagapore has emerged as a world leader in the treatment of seafarers and frontline maritime personnel. That streak continues as Singapore became one of the first countries to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for frontline maritime workers. The vaccination exercise is part of the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy to protect frontline personnel and their family members…

China Energy Terminals on Alert as Sea Ice Slows Ships

Chinese ports and marine safety authorities are on high alert as an expansion of sea ice makes it tougher for ships to berth and discharge at key energy product import terminals along the coast of northern Bohai Bay.A cold wave sweeping the northern hemisphere has plunged temperatures across China to their lowest in decades, boosting demand for power and fuel to historic highs in the world's largest energy consumer."The sea ice situation is more severe this year than the same period in previous years," said Wang Jun, a professor specializing in transport issues at Dalian Maritime University."I

Hamworthy Names New CEO

Singapore-based marine and offshore pump manufacturer Hamworthy Pumps has appointed Hans Christiaan Laheij, 48, as its new CEO.The new CEO will join the company on January 15, 2021. He has recently worked with German propulsion specialist Schottel in the position of Deputy CEO & President Marine. For a number of years, he has held several managerial positions at Wärtsilä and he has previously been living and working in the Asia-Pacific Region for a total of 15 years."Hans Christiaan…

Mercuria Teams Up with Envysion for Project Investment

Trading house Mercuria and Singapore-based asset manager Envysion Wealth Management have agreed to co-invest in mining and energy projects, as default-hit banks tighten their purse strings and leave commodities firms seeking other funding.The deal, signed on Wednesday, will see Mercuria present potential projects for investment to Envysion, founded and led by former Julius Baer banker Veronica Shim. Envysion will then decide whether to participate via a fund with a start-up amount…

Kingdon Tapped to Rep Isle of Man Ship Registry in China

The Isle of Man Ship Registry (IOMSR) has appointed Jonathan Kingdon as its first permanent representative in China.A well-known naval architect, experienced newbuilding project manager and Mandarin speaker, Kingdon has taken up the post from his base in Shanghai where he also heads up the Asia operation of IDWAL, a marine inspection and project management firm. He will join the Isle of Man Ship Registry’s network of overseas representatives in Greece, Japan and Singapore.Isle…

ONE to Charter World's Largest Containerships

Singapore-headquartered container carrier Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) said it has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Japan's Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. for the 15-year charter of six new ultra large containerships (ULCS). The vessels, with capacity greater than 24,000 TEU each, are said to be the world's largest.The newbuilds will be built by the consortium of compatriot shipyards Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corporation for planned delivery…

As the Seafarer Crisis Continues, MSC Calls for Bulk Carrier Anastasia Resolution

The bulk carrier Anastasia, stuck off the coast of China with crew change request unheeded since mid-2020, has become a rallying point for MSC in urging governments to work together to find a solution.MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is calling for an urgent crew change solution for the bulk carrier Anastasia, which is stuck off the coast of northern China, and is among dozens of ships in a waiting line near the port of Caofeidian.According to the company, MSC has repeatedly requested that the seafarers onboard should be relieved to return home to their families.

Great Ships of 2020: Seri Everest, World’s Largest Ethane Carrier

Seri Everest, the first in a series of three 98,000 cbm Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) built at Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (SHI) and delivered to MISC Berhad on October 30, 2020. Seri Everest is the first from a series of six VLECs that MISC purchased in July 2020. As a second generation VLEC, Seri Everest is one of the largest vessels of its kind in the world.With the delivery of MISC’s first VLEC – Seri Everest, she has set a new benchmark in the ethane market. Seri Everest has the capacity of transporting ethane in large volumes over long distances…

CMA-CGM Suspends Cargo Bound for South China Ports in Early 2021

CMA-CGM, the world's fourth-largest container shipping line, has told customers it will not take bookings for cargo due to arrive at ports in southern China over several weeks in early 2021 due to a suspension of service by feeder operators.Feeders collect containers from smaller ports and take them to terminals where they can be loaded onto large vessels.CMA-CGM's move comes amid a global shortage of containers that is likely to hamper surging exports from China as the world…

China's Exports Pinched by Global Shortage of Shipping Containers

China's world-beating economic rebound from the coronavirus pandemic is being blunted by a global shortage of shipping containers, sending cargo costs to record highs and hampering manufacturers in filling fast-recovering global goods orders.Exports from China surged 21% in November from a year ago as the country's mammoth industrial engine cranked out mountains of appliances, toys, clothes, personal protective equipment, and other items currently in high demand around the world.But…

Top Maritime Trends of 2020: Tackling the Scourge of Containership Fires

The proliferation of serious fires onboard container ships in recent years has shocked the shipping industry. Here we examine the causes and impact of such fires and the urgent efforts being made by a wide variety of stakeholders to solve this seemingly intractable problem.Over the last decade there has been a 70% fall in ship total losses[1]. This has been widely credited to long term improvements in ship safety management and loss prevention programs. Counter to this trend, there has been a substantial increase in the number of fires in containers carried onboard container and RoRo ships.

Sharp Crewing Services Establishes COVID-19 Test Site in Manila

Philippines and Singapore-based crew specialist CF Sharp has established its own COVID-19 testing center in Manila to speed up its crew change process amid mounting coronavirus case counts and ongoing logistical challenges for seafarers and ship managers globally. Sharp, which earlier this year repatriated more than 12,000 crew members from cruise ships around the world, is now pitching in to assist with crew changes for commercial vessels docked off the Philippine coast and has…

Innovez One to Digitize Singapore’s Last Mile Delivery of Launch Operations

New solution will increase efficiency in launch services, improve productivity, and accelerate automation and digitalization of manual, time-consuming pier operations.Port management software provider Innovez One is embarking on a collaboration to automate and digitize Singapore’s last-mile delivery of launch operations at its Marina South Pier (MCP) and West Coast Pier (WCP). This project is one of the 11 Joint Industry Projects recently awarded by the Maritime Port Authority and announced by Chee Hong Tat…

Did You Know?: 47% of all Newbuild Dry Bulkers Sport Scrubbers

We have known it all along; the bigger the bunker fuel consumption of the ship, the more likely it is that shipowners will choose an SOx scrubber as the tool to comply with the IMO 2020 sulfur cap.Whiles only three Handysize bulkers in total have been delivered from the newbuilding yards with a scrubber fitted in 2020, one in three Handymax bulkers were delivered with scrubbers installed.Most scrubber-fitted bulkers were delivered in the Panamax sub-sector, that saw 81 units out of 150…

RightShip Appoints Brodsgaard Lund CEO

RightShip announced the appointment of its new CEO, Steen Brodsgaard Lund, succeeding Martin Crawford-Brunt, who departs RightShip on December 18, 2020.Brodsgaard Lund will be based in Singapore and expand RightShip’s global reach from the maritime hub that counts many of its customers.

Deal Struck to Deliver Maritime Biofuel in Fujairah

Uniper Energy DMCC (UED) and Neutral Fuels will collaborate to provide maritime biofuel in Fujairah, UAE.The companies will blend UED’s VLSFO and Neutral Fuels biofuel, creating a maritime fuel that meets IMO standard under their ISO8217:2010 RMG380 specification, cutting emissions of carbon dioxide.“The collaboration is aimed to address climate protection, the predominant social issue in the world today," said Lars Liebig, Managing Director of UED. "UED’s mission is to help countries…

Peters & May Appoints Judson as CEO

Marine transport and logistics provider Peters & May has appointed Simon Judson as its new CEO with immediate effect. A 20-year veteran of the marine industry, Judson previously held the position of Global Operations Director with the company. He joined the company in 2009 when Peters & May purchased Judson’s own marine logistics and yacht transportation company, Complete Freight.Based in the U.K. head office, Judson will oversee the company’s range of services currently delivered through 10 company offices and a network of global agents.

Wilhelmsen Gets DNV GL Type Approval for the Digi Boiler

Alongside the unique Type Approval for the Digi Boiler automated dosing system, Wilhelmsen have also been certified as reportedly the first and only approved service supplier for DNV GL’s BMON+ class notation.“Our system is tried, tested and proven at sea, but we understood that Type Approval was an absolute necessity, and so we initiated this process with DNV GL," said Rune Nygaard, Business Manager Ventures in Wilhelmsen Marine Products’ recently established Open Innovation division.

INTERMODAL: Baltic Exchange launches Air Freight Indices

The Baltic Exchange has today (16 November) launched weekly air freight indices. It has partnered with established Hong Kong based air cargo pricing publisher TAC Index and the new indices include six outbound indices and 13 individual destination baskets. These products will be branded as the Baltic Air Freight Index (BAI) - powered by TAC data. They will come under the governance of Baltic Exchange Information Services Limited (BEISL), with TAC Index acting as the Calculating Agent.Did You Know?

CMA CGM to Expand LNG-powered Fleet to 26 Ships

Container shipping group CMA CGM will expand its use of liquified natural gas (LNG) to 26 vessels, it said on Thursday, as part of efforts to reduce pollution in ocean shipping.After announcing three years ago that it would adopt LNG, French-based CMA CGM has made several orders for gas-powered ships and now plans to have 26 such vessels in service by 2022, it said in a statement.Seven of the vessels are already in service, including the giant Jacques Saade, named after the family group's founder and which was refueling in Rotterdam on Thursday after its maiden voyage from China…