Containers lost at sea increased 400pc in 2020 – 2021
According to figures from the World Shipping Council (WSC) 3,133 containers were lost overboard in the 2020 – 2021 period compared to 779 in the previous period, an increase of 400 percent. WSC noted the winter of 2020 – 2021 saw an unusually high number of weather-related incidents. The period included the high-profile incidents of the ONE Apus which lost 1,818 containers overboard in the transpacific in November 2020, and the Maersk Essen which lost 750 boxes overboard in January 2021. While losses overboard account for less than 0.001 percent of all 241 million containers annually the incidents can result in highly costly insurance claims. Claims cover not just the cargo lost in the containers that fall overboard, but also recover costs if the incidents take place in environmentally sensitive areas, damage to containers and cargoes that remain on the vessel, and lengthy diversions to offload damaged boxes.
AD ports group and SEG sign Uzbekistan logistics deals
The deals aim to develop infrastructure and services to enable SEG’s refined products and other Uzbek exports to reach market at competitive prices, overcoming Uzbekistan’s double landlocked location. At a signing ceremony in Tashkent, AD Ports Group announced it will open its first Central Asia office in Uzbekistan to oversee the new projects. The joint venture will create a partnership to develop services including intermodal freight forwarding, road, rail and air transport services, the development of inland ports and container depots, warehousing and other logistics infrastructure, contract logistics and customs clearance.
US outbound container volume drops for 12th month straight
According to the McCown Report, East Coast and Gulf Coast imports helped inbound volumes rise 2.9 percent in May across the top 10 US ports, setting a new record but marking a slowdown in growth compared to recent months. May’s 2,287,801 teu inbound compared to a previous high of 2,230,919 teu set in March 2022. “In May, the overall 2.9 percent inbound gain resulted from countervailing coastal changes,” said John McCown. “East/Gulf Coast ports growth of 11.9 percent was below April’s gain of 14.6 percent but above the 6.6 percent increase in March. In contrast, West Coast ports decreased 4.6 percent, continuing a downtrend from a 3.4 percent decrease in April and a 0.6 percent increase in March.”
GSI shipyard adds to methanol and dual-fuel tally
South China’s biggest shipbuilder delivered Eastern Pacific Shipping’s 274 m, 157,300 dwt Greenway, the world’s first LNG dual fuel suezmax tanker. GSI claimed that using LNG as a fuel, Greenway’s MAN B&W 6G70ME-C10.5-GI HPSCR(Tier III) engine emits 23 percent less carbon dioxide, Nox emissions are 90 percent lower and Sox and particulate emissions are cut by 99 percent. GSI also celebrated the delivery to Proman Stena Bulk of Stena Pro Marine, the second in a series of three methanol-fuelled tankers for the owner. The 49,990 dwt tanker joins recently delivered Stena Pro Patria; another vessel is due for delivery this year and an order has been placed for three more ships of the same design. GSI vice president William Zhou said: “This is one of the best periods in GSI’s history. I would like to pay tribute to all our team and suppliers here at GSI who have worked so hard with our clients Eastern Pacific and Stena Proman to deliver these magnificent ground-breaking vessels.”
Energy in the spotlight as US offshore oil leases considered
As the price of gasoline (petrol) has surged to $5.00/gallon, energy matters have become front page stories in all corners of the US media landscape. Categories of news coverage include leasing for new oil drilling, the Jones Act, and rules surrounding installation and servicing of turbines in the offshore wind sector. Most recently, The Department of the Interior (“DOI”), part of the Executive branch, will propose a five-year plan for offshore oil leasing covering 2023 out to 2027. President Biden is thought to be politically vulnerable due to inflation generally, with high energy prices being the most visible. The new plan- released July 1st, in a form yet to be finalized, will be published in the Federal Register, and then followed by an all-important 90-day comment period. Like a vessel navigating a narrow winding path, the Administration’s five-year plan is likely to face shoals on both sides- in the form of criticism from pro-drilling Republicans, and from Green-leaning Democrats.
China’s shipbuilding output dropped 15.3pc in the first five months
Newly-received shipbuilding orders were 17.69m dwt, declining 46 percent year-on-year. Orders on hand were 102.2m dwt, an increase of 20.2 percent year-on-year. Shipbuilding export volume was 12.32m dwt, dropping 23.2 percent; newly-received export shipbuilding orders were 15.83m dwt, declining 46 percent; export orders on hand were 90.34m dwt, growing 19.2 percent, accounting for 86.3 percent, 89.5 percent and 88.4 percent of national volume respectively. The total shipbuilding export value was $7.33bn, dropping 12.7 percent. Bulk carriers, tankers and containerships were the major export ship types. During Jan-May, China’s shipbuilding output, newly received orders and orders on hand accounted for 44 percent, 52.5 percent and 48.2 percent respectively in global shipbuilding market.