22 JAN 2021 The largest single shipment of ethane to date departed the terminal in Texas bound for China. The gas, which is a derivative stripped from natural gas, is in strong demand, especially in Asia, where it is used as an alternative to butane and propane by the petrochemical …
Read More »SPACEX CONVERTS TWO ULTRADEEPWATER RIGS INTO ROCKET LAUNCH PADS
21 JAN 2021 Commercial space flight operator SpaceX has purchased two oil rigs from Valaris for conversion into seagoing rocket launch pads, according to multiple reports and court records. Orbital launch trajectories are heavily affected by location, and a sea-based launch site allows the operator to optimize the rocket’s payload …
Read More »DOZENS OF BULKERS REMAIN STRANDED OFF CHINA AS COAL STANDOFF DRAGS ON
20 JAN 2021 At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers have become all too used to bureaucratic obstacles to crew change. But a different form of inertia has stranded more than 60 bulkers and their crews off the coast of China, where they await resolution to a diplomatic standoff …
Read More »SHIP REPAIR: A FINANCIAL BALANCING ACT
19 JAN 2021 Shipowners have limited options to access financing for ship repair, given the capital-intensive nature of vessel repairs also represents a financial risk for shipyards. Typically, a shipowner must fund the entire capital cost of vessel repairs from its own cash resources, although it may in exceptional cases …
Read More »FRANK COLES RESIGNS FROM HIS POST AT THE HELM OF WALLEM GROUP
15 JAN 2021 Frank Coles has resigned his post as CEO of ship management firm Wallem Group and will be departing soon, the company announced Friday. The managing director of Wallem Shipmanagement Ltd., John-Kaare Aune, will be taking the helm until a permanent replacement can be found. “As many will …
Read More »WSC: COLLABORATION NOT REGULATION TO ADDRESS SHIPPING CHALLENGES
14 JAN 2021 With growing calls from manufacturers, retailers and trade associations for governments to increase their oversight and regulations of the global shipping industry, the World Shipping Council issued an analysis in defense of carriers. Citing the unparalleled disruptions to the global supply chain from the pandemic, the trade …
Read More »NEW COVID STRAINS MAY DEEPEN CREW CHANGE CRISIS
13 JAN 2021 The crew change crisis is set to ramp back up once more, according to crewing firm Danica. Restrictive cross-border movement rules are being imposed again following the emergence of the new, more infectious UK and South African COVID-19 variants, causing airlines to cancel flights and ports to tighten …
Read More »JAPAN’S FIRST FEMALE CONTAINER TERMINAL CEO TO GUIDE APM’S GROWTH
12 JAN 2021 APM Terminals Japan announced the appointment of Sakura Kuma as the first female CEO of a container terminal operation in Japan. Joining APM from NYK, Kuma will lead the expansion of the company’s business in Japan. “I am pleased to welcome Sakura Kuma to APM Terminals Japan, …
Read More »RUSSIAN CO UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR STEALING HIS OWN SHIP’S PROPELLERS
11 JAN 2021 A Russian Navy officer is under investigation for conspiring to steal two bronze propellers from his own ship, according to Russian state media. “An officer, as part of an organized group, together with other military personnel and civilians, stole two bronze propellers with a total weight of …
Read More »BEST WAYS TO QUIT SMOKING IN 2021
10 JAN 2021 Lots of people are greeting the new year with plans to quit smoking. The good news is, there is more evidence than ever on the best ways to boost your chances of success. Below we cover the different methods that science suggests are worth a shot. Behavioural …
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