Cruises from US Ports Suspended Through Mid-September
A number of ocean-going cruise lines said they will voluntarily suspend cruise operations from U.S. ports until September 15 due to COVID-19, industry body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced Friday.The extended operational pause goes well beyond the current no sail order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set to expire on July 24.“Although we had hoped that cruise activity could resume as soon as possible after that date…
Navy Won't Reinstate Coronavirus-hit Carrier Captain
The U.S. Navy will not reinstate Captain Brett Crozier after finding fault with his response to the outbreak of the coronavirus aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and is also putting an admiral’s promotion on hold, sources told Reuters on Friday.The decisions, first reported by Reuters, are expected to be announced later on Friday at a news conference by the Navy’s top leaders.Crozier was…
BV Aids PONANT Fleet Reactivation
Bureau Veritas (BV) is working with PONANT, a cruise company with a fleet of 11 smaller-scale ships, to help implement effective infection prevention measures.PONANT will use a suite of solutions developed by BV for passenger ship clients to address biological risks, as posed by COVID-19 and other infections. ‘Restart your Business with BV’ provides procedures and measures to protect passengers, company personnel…
Carnival Corp Names Weinstein COO
Carnival Corp on Friday named Josh Weinstein as its new chief operations officer as the company continues to grapple with the global COVID-19 pandemic.Reporting to Carnival Corporation President and CEO Arnold Donald, Weinstein's responsibilities will include oversight of major operational functions, including global maritime, global ports and destinations, global sourcing, global IT and global auditing.Weinstein will retain oversight of Carnival UK…
Damen-led Consortium Awarded Contract to Build German Navy Frigates
Damen Shipyards Group and the German Bundesamt fur Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr on Friday signed the contract for the construction of four MKS-180 frigates for the German Navy. Damen is the main contractor for this complex project which it is undertaking, together with partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, in Germany.The combination of companies was previously declared the winner of a European tender; the largest in the history of the German Navy.
Chinese Demand Lifts Baltic Index to Record Weekly Gain
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships ferrying dry commodities around the world, posted its biggest weekly gain ever, underpinned by a rebound in global commodities trading as iron ore demand from China picked up.The 35-year old index, which reflects rates for capesize, panamax and supramax ships, has now surged nearly 300% since tumbling to a low of 393 points…
UK Inspecting Cruise Ships Over Crew Welfare Concerns
Several cruise ships idled without passengers due to the coronavirus pandemic are being inspected in British ports in response to crew welfare concerns.Surveyors acting for the U.K.
Released by Australia, Containership APL England Sails to China for Repairs
Singapore-flagged containership APL England, detained in Australia after losing dozens of containers off the country's southeastern coast in May, has been released and is sailing to China for repairs, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Friday.The ship departed the Port of Brisbane without cargo and with a new master after AMSA's inspectors attended the ship and determined it is fit to sail.
'Strong Interest' in China's New Marine Fuel Contract
China's marine fuel futures contract that debuts on Monday on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) is likely to attract strong interest, despite weakened ship fuel demand amid the coronavirus pandemic, industry participants said. The new low-sulphur fuel oil (LSFO) contract features marine fuel meeting stricter international emissions rules and is the latest commodity futures product - and second oil contract after Shanghai crude - open to foreign investment.
Aker BioMarine to Raise $225M Before Listing
Norway's Aker BioMarine plans to raise 2.15 billion Norwegian crowns ($225 million) in a private share sale valuing it at 8 billion crowns, followed by a listing of the company's stock, its owners Aker ASA and Aker Capital said on Friday.Aker BioMarine harvests off Antarctica small ocean crustaceans known as krill, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and eaten by whales, fish, seals and penguins, and turns it into food supplements and animal feed.Arctic Securities, DNB Markets, and Skandinaviska Enskild
Hospital-grade Infection Risk Management Applied to Ships
Managing infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic requires a new approach to disease control and prevention.A new infection risk management approach has been developed by DNV GL to assess, manage and mitigate infection risk in management systems, business processes and operations. My Care incorporates local regulations and guidelines – it can be applied to any vessel type, as well as terminals.My…
