News

On August 24, the People’s Government of Jilin Province and COSCO Shipping signed a cooperation framework agreement in Changchun.

Before signing the agreement, Han Jun, Governor of Jilin Province met with Wan Min, Chairman of the Board, Party Secretary of COSCO Shipping. To make full use of Jilin’s coastal advantages and the shipping and logistics advantages of COSCO Shipping, negotiate and promote cooperation in green and low-carbon energy.

Jilin Province is located in the middle of northeast China, with edge and offshore advantages. It is an important place for the “the Belt and Road Initiative” to open to the north, and an important commodity grain production base. The processing and manufacturing industries are relatively developed, and automobile, petrochemical, food, equipment manufacturing, medicine and health are five key industries.

Wan Min and Lin Ji also visited China FAW Group and attended the opening ceremony of the Seventh Global Business Conference in Jilin held in Changchun.

Source: https://www.xindemarinenews.com/m/view.php?aid=41299

The vessel, measuring in 130 metres length and 23.6 metres width, the design is independently developed by Hudong-Zhonghua, could provide both LNG refueling and transportation services for direct river-sea routes.

Anhui Changjiang LNG Company is engaged in construction and operation of Wuhu LNG river station, which is the first domestic LNG river receiving and transition station project. Having an annual LNG receiving capacity of 1.5m tons, the station will have three LNG loading and uploading berths, one container berth and one LNG refueling berth.

The vessel is scheduled to be operational in August 2024.

Ship-to-ship LNG bunkering has been underway in the Port of Shanghai since March this year for LNG-powered containerships belonging to CMA CGM.

This marine notice draws the attention of vessel operators to the importance of planned maintenance in ensuring safe operation of ships, and highlights AMSA’s current focus on planned maintenance during Port State Control inspections.

Recent incidents have demonstrated the potentially serious consequences of a lack of effective maintenance of main engines and power generation systems that can pose serious risks to the safe and pollution-free operation of vessels. In response to this, AMSA will immediately increase focus on planned maintenance during routine Port State Control inspections.

The International Safety Management Code (ISM Code)

Maintenance of the ship and equipment is a requirement of the ISM Code, including that:

maintenance inspections are held at appropriate intervals
any non-conformity is reported, with its possible cause, if known
appropriate corrective action is taken, and
records of these activities are maintained.

In relation to maintenance, the ISM Code specifies that the vessel’s Safety Management System (SMS) should:

identify equipment and technical systems that would cause hazardous situations if they were to suddenly fail, and
provide for specific measures (i.e. regular testing of all equipment including stand-by equipment or systems that are not in continuous use) to ensure the continued reliability of such equipment or systems

Maintenance activities need to be properly resourced, and procedures must be documented.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

AMSA recognises that a number of factors presented challenges to effective maintenance during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. These include supply chain difficulties in getting necessary parts and specialist expertise to affected vessels.

However, with travel restrictions and quarantine requirements now largely removed in Australia, AMSA expects operators to resume supply of necessary spares and provide support and expertise such as class surveyors, specialist technicians, company representatives etc. AMSA recognises that there are still supply chain issues which can delay the provision of spare parts. However, these issues are now well known and AMSA expects that operators anticipate these challenges and make advance provision in planning maintenance to minimise impact. In exceptional circumstances where spare parts cannot be provided, AMSA expects that the vessel operators will have consulted with the equipment manufacturers, classification society and flag state in preparing appropriate measures to ensure the continued safe operation of equipment and vessel. This could include for example the reduction in maximum continuous rating of an engine, or the provision of towage services in coastal waters. Given the nature of recent incidents and the potentially serious consequences when effective maintenance has not been completed, AMSA will immediately increase focus on planned maintenance during routine Port State Control inspections to protect the safety of the crew, the vessel and the environment.

Inspections

During Port State Control inspections, AMSA will place a greater focus on planned maintenance of propulsion and auxiliary equipment and associated systems and will take necessary compliance actions to address any identified areas of concern. This may include the physical attendance of classification society surveyors to verify the condition of critical equipment and its suitability to continue to function under all voyage conditions to maintain safe operations. Operators should note that this is not a Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) or Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) of limited duration. It is a sustained focus on an identified area of concern that is part of AMSA’s data driven and risk-based approach to our PSC inspection regime.

Source: https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/102022-planned-maintenance-ships

The container vessel George Washington Bridge in Felixstowe was scheduled to leave port the day before the strike started on 20 August, however, departure was delayed and the seafarers remained on the vessel once the strike started on Sunday.

Stella Maris chaplain Julian Wong had visited the vessel on 19 August before the strike started and had left contact details. With the vessel still stuck in port once the strike started the chaplain visited the vessel and its crew again on 24 August.

“They were all fine and some said they would like to go into town as they had been on board, within the confines of the port, for a few days now,” said Wong.

“I provided transport for six seafarers. Three of them stopped off at the Seafarers’ Centre and later walked into town and I drove the other three into town to the post office. They needed to exchange some currency and wanted to do a bit of shopping.”

The extended stay the George Washington Bridge provided an expected opportunity for one Filipino seafarer to reunite with his brother, who lives in Nottingham, for the first time in seven years.

The brother had travelled to Felixstowe, hoping to meet the seafarer. On 25 August Wong was able to drive the seafarer to a cafe in town to meet his brother.

“With the ongoing strike a lot of people’s attention is, understandably, focused on operational and business matters. At Stella Maris we continue to focus on the seafarers who live and work on board these ships,” Wong said.

The strike by 1,900 members of Union Unite is scheduled for eight days from 21 – 28 August, however, the union has said the strike will escalate unless Felixstowe Docks, run by Hutchison Ports, returns to the table with an improve wage offer.

After more than a decade of effective threat-reducing counter-piracy operations the shipping industry has decided to remove the Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA), effective from January 1 next year. No piracy attacks against merchant ships have occurred off Somalia since 2018.

“Threat and risk assessments should still be carried out, and best management practices followed to continue to mitigate the risks presented in a changeable and often complex and potentially threatening environment,” a statement from the world’s top shipping organisations urged.

Piracy incidents around the world were at their lowest levels in nearly 30 years for the first half of this year. According to statistics from the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) the 58 reported incidents of piracy were the lowest for the first half of any year since 1994.

The Gulf of Guinea and the Singapore Straits were the two areas with the highest amount of attacks in the first six months of the year with Somalia barely mentioned.

Source: Splash 247

In 2019, since China started second-hand car export, the quantity of second-hand car export has increased year by year. According to the China Automobile Dealers Association, China exported 15,000 used cars in 2021. In the first half of this year, China has exported more than 16,000 used cars.

An important factor in promoting the second-hand car export is the increase of the second-hand new energy vehicle export. In Taizhou, Zhejiang province, for example, new energy vehicles account for 90 percent of all exported used cars. However, the battery of the new energy vehicle belongs to the dangerous goods, which makes the export of the new energy vehicle has encountered problem.

Because new energy vehicles have higher environmental requirements for transportation, they can not be transported through containers, some PCTC companies refuse to carry new energy used cars, which brings great difficulties to their export transportation.

At present, our second-hand car mainly exported to Eastern Europe, Middle East, Latin America and other areas of some developing countries. Exporters told that they would pay more to transport to Eastern Europe by road.

Source: https://www.xindemarinenews.com/m/view.php?aid=41304

On August 25, A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) and China International Marine Containers Ltd. (CIMC) announced the termination of the previously announced transaction whereby CIMC would acquire Maersk Container Industry (MCI), a leading manufacturer of refrigerated containers, from Maersk. The parties agreed to terminate the agreement because of significant regulatory challenges preventing the closing of the transaction.

The intended divestment was announced on 28 September 2021 and was expected to close in 2022. As a part of the closing process, the transaction was subject to regulatory approvals.

“It is unfortunate that the transaction will not happen despite efforts of all parties involved. Throughout the process MCI has performed very well thanks to the dedication of all its employees. Maersk will continue to be a proud owner of MCI for the foreseeable future, and we will now assess the best structural set-up for MCI to ensure the long-term development of the business.” says Patrick Jany, CFO at A.P. Moller – Maersk.

Founded by Maersk in 1991, MCI has been a part of the company for more than 30 years. Over the years, it has transformed into a business focusing entirely on manufacturing refrigerated containers. Today, MCI employs 2,300 people in China and Denmark.

Source: Maersk

Today, the CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, in partnership with Infinity Logistics and Transport Ventures Limited (Infinity), flagged-off a weekly Penang-Padang Besar block train service; and officially opened a container depot in the Penang Port.

Up to 100 containers on rail are dedicated for CMA CGM shippers each week

With the launch of the Penang-Padang Besar block train service, CMA CGM is providing a rail and sea multimodal solution to exporters from the southern provinces of Thailand who ship their cargo through the Penang Port.

Each week, up to 100 containers on rail are dedicated for CMA CGM shippers. Laden containers are picked up from Padang Besar, a Malaysian town on the border with the Songkhla province of Thailand. They will then set off for the Penang Port to be loaded on the CMS2 and KCM2 services provided by CNC, the CMA CGM Group’s Intra-Asia specialist. From Penang, the two weekly services will head for Malaysia’s top export destinations in Asia including Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Busan.

Designed to go the extra mile for customers with CMA CGM as a one-stop service provider, the multimodal offering secures them equipment as well as rail and sailing slots; reduces their customs, monitoring and transportation costs; and saves them on scheduling activities with different providers.

A depot with specialised container handling capabilities

The block train service will make its weekly stop in the Penang port, adjacent to the newly opened on- dock depot that occupies over 14,000 sqm in land area. Co managed by CMA CGM and Infinity, the depot is characterised by better connectivity coupled with diverse container handling capabilities and efficiency.

With a monthly operating capacity of 7,500 (TEU) containers, the facility provides more than just container storage, repair, cleaning, washing, handling and pre-trip inspections. It also specializes in handling CONTAINER Grade Selection – a container solution for special goods – as well as Flexitank containers for non-dangerous liquid shipments such as cooking oil that Penang exports.

This new facility in Penang is the CMA CGM Group’s third depot in Malaysia, and complements the Group’s depot footprint in addition to two others in West Port and North Port in Port Klang.

The block train option significantly reduces CO2 emissions, and this new service is part of the CMA CGM Group’s commitment to develop BETTER WAYS to act for more sustainable, efficient, and fluid transport solutions.

YAB Mr. Chow Kon Yew, Chief Minister of Penang said, “Congratulations to both CMA CGM and Infinity on this great partnership, it will certainly further reinforce Penang as a dynamic import and export gateway of Malaysia’s northern region – the Silicon Valley of the East. In line with the Penang2030 plan, I also believe that this partnership will help strengthen Penang Port as a prominent logistics hub, subsequently becoming a preferred destination of investments in ASEAN.”

Ravindra Sahu, Managing Director of CMA CGM Malaysia said,“The CMA CGM Group is delighted to have partnered Infinity in launching a compelling block train service and opening a depot here with strong support from the Penang Port. They are important milestones that enable us to streamline our customers’ logistics needs as we seamlessly relay their cargo from point to point. At CMA CGM, we are continuously identifying BETTER WAYS to enrich and enhance our value proposition to our customers, partners and key stakeholders.”

Dato’ Sasedharan Vasudevan, Chief Executive Officer of Penang Port Sdn Bhd said “Being a multipurpose port, Penang Port Sdn Bhd certainly has multiple advantages that can support the vision of CMA CGM Group and Infinity’s block train service and container depot. After the launching, the container depots in Penang Port will be one of the busiest places to come across. The design of our layout and area provides sufficient space for storage and it also promotes high-level security which will be crucial for both CMA CGM and Infinity. That is not all, as part of Penang Port’s masterplan, our current phase of expansion within the NBCT put emphasis on land reclamation, among those are focused on expanding our logistics warehousing efforts. Moreover, plans for the new gates will allow for our future volume growth – coupled with our berth expansion that allows us to cater about 2.2 million TEUs in our container yard in the coming years. This will surely provide a significant space to support CMA CGM Group and Infinity’s block train service and container depot, as well as all of our key partners within the terminal. Penang Port is delighted to begin this exciting new venture with CMA CGM & Infinity.”

Lithuanian ship designer Western Baltic Engineering (WBE) is unveiling new designs for what it believes is the first ever electric pusher vessel for use on Europe’s inland waterways called the Electric Eel.

Klaipeda headquartered WBE said the first electric pusher is due to be built next year for the Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority, a public body operating under Lithuanian Government Ministry of Transport and Communications.

WBE’s Head of Sales & Marketing Eglė Mikalauskienė, said the new groundbreaking vessel is designed to replace diesel pushers which presently dominate the market for ‘pushing’ non-propelled barges around Europe’s inland waterways. WBE is producing the concept just as the European Union is ramping up pressure to shift freight to Europe’s Inland Waterways via more green powered vessels.

“We are so excited to unveil this electric pusher design,” Egle said. “The Electric Eel has huge potential to help cut carbon emissions on inland waterways across Europe and worldwide. The idea came after we were approached by the Lithuanian Maritime Cluster to see if we could help the Lithuanian Inland Waterways authority create an eco-efficient pusher. The authority has big plans to ramp up use of the 450-kilometer stretch of waterway between Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea to Kaunas to switch cargo from the road network in line with EU policy. It is brilliant to be supporting this bold vision and work on a sustainable clean fuel solution right here on our own doorstep. As a measure of the impact the authority estimates the pusher can help remove 10,000 trucks a year from Lithuania’s roads.”

In terms of the wider market Mikalauskienė said massive pressure is now coming on governments and transport firms from the European Commission to reduce CO2 emissions and shift road freight, which accounts for 75% of EU inland freight, to zero emission vessels operating on inland waterway transport (IWT) which accounts for just 6%.

“The market is huge,” she said. “According to figures there is a fleet of 332 diesel pushers on the Danube alone pushing more than 2000 non propelled barges. We estimate each of these vessels is emitting 196,317 KGs Tank To Wheel (TTW) of CO2, per navigation, while our electric pusher design slashes this at a stroke as it emits zero CO2. The beauty of our design is also in its ease of use, it can be bought and then built at a local shipyard near the customer or we can built it in Lithuania. We believe our electric pusher is a first mover in the market and can play a critical role in the drive to transform the IWT of Lithuania as well as the Danube and Rhine.”

Mikalauskienė said the pusher design is pending class Approval in Principle with Bureau Veritas and can operate at a range of 300 kilometers before needing to stop. The 26m long vessel is powered by three DNV approved batteries with a combined weight of 74 tonnes, two held in TEU containers on deck which can be replaced via crane at harbor, and one permanent battery below deck which can be charged at quayside. The vessel has a pushing capacity of 2,000 tonnes and a top speed of 22km/h downstream at 85% engine load. The electric batteries create an engine power of 500 HP/400 KW compared to a diesel equivalent which has 1,000 HP/800 KW.

“The biggest challenge we faced was weight and draft,” she said. “The Lithuanian inland waterway is presently very shallow so we had to design a vessel that was as light as possible, no more than 195 DWT, with a draft not greater than 1.2 meters. So we have created a super-efficient hull design which will operate brilliantly on shallow waters in Europe and around the world. Through trial and error using rigorous computerized fluid dynamic (CFD) testing we have produced the smoothest possible hull resistance. We’re also using thin lighter steel, approved by class, to reduce weight while at the same time keeping safety of paramount importance. In addition, we have innovated the wheelhouse, using a jack up design made of aluminum, again to spread and reduce weight.

Mikalauskienė said another innovation on board is the use of a wind turbine to generate 5kw of additional electricity for lighting, the galley and crew facilities.

“All the WBE team are incredibly proud of the design and we would like to thank all the parties involved,” she said. “Over time as green energy becomes cheaper the cost of charging the batteries will also significantly reduce giving big future savings over diesel.”

SOURCE: https://www.marinelink.com/news/electric-eel-electric-pusher-vessel-498915

Rescuers in San Vicente recovered the bodies of two children who were believed to have drowned on Saturday, August 20, while swimming in the waters off Barangay New Canipo in San Vicente town, northern Palawan.

The victims were a 4-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl from the said barangay, according to a report released by the Palawan Police Provincial Office (PPO) on Sunday.

The boy was found on the same day by rescue personnel of the municipal police, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of San Vicente, and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

He was rushed to the district hospital by barangay officials, but was reportedly declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

The body of the girl, on the hand, was retrieved around 10:15 a.m., the next day, August 21, some 100 meters from the shoreline.

Investigation by the municipal police said they left their homes with their playmates on Saturday around 5:30 p.m. Around six o’clock, however, their friends went to the victims’ parents for assistance and told them about what had happened.

SOURCE: https://palawan-news.com/2-children-drown-in-san-vicente-town/

COSCO Shipping strikes deal with Jilin to promote green and low-carbon energy cooperation

Hudong Zhonghua inks contract to build LNG bunkering vessel

New marine notice – planned maintenance on ships

The International Safety Management Code (ISM Code)

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Inspections

Seafarers stuck at Felixstowe port during strike

End of the Indian Ocean High Risk Area

China used cars export increasing, but shipping holding them back

CIMC terminates purchase of Maersk Container Industry

CMA CGM and Infinity Flag-off New Penang- Padang Besar Block Train Service and Open Container Depot in Penang Port

Electric Eel: Electric Pusher Vessel Design Unveiled

2 children drown in San Vicente town

AI is transforming the high seas — here are the top maritime + AI developments (Mid–Late September 2025)

Virtual Maritime Purchasing Assistant

New IMO Rules: Mandatory Reporting of Containers Lost at Sea – From 2026

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