World Maritime News
WMNF 2018/08/09
COSCO Shipping targeted in ransomware attack
COSCO Shipping’s US operations were hit with a cyber attack affecting the carrier’s ability to communicate with vessels, customers, and marine terminals. At the first stage the company was unable to patch the system so that it could temporarily work around the problem and continue safe vessel operations until IT personnel determined the cause of the breach. The company said areas affected by the network failures included Canada, Panama, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile and Uruguay.
COSCO started contingency plans, such as transfer of operations and conducting operation via remote access, to ensure continuous service in the America. The vessel berthing was normal, according to the company. COSCO has restored its network operations in the US as it continues to recover from a cyber attack with some delay in the service response. COSCO said its UK website, which remained down as of 30 July, had been closed to redirect customers to its global site instead.
More details:
https://fairplay.ihs.com/safety-regulation/article/4304576/cyber-attack-hits-cosco-shipping
https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1123600/Cosco-IT-woes-spread-beyond-US
https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1123593/Ransomware-Yes-youre-at-risk-too
DP World broadens shipping portfolio as it buys Unifeeder
DP World said it had acquired Unifeeder, the Danish feeder container shipping that operates feeder and shortsea container services with a network connecting with about 100 ports across northern Europe and the Mediterranean plus terminals in Europe for USD 765 million. According to its release the acquisition would be financed from existing balance sheet resources and is subject regulatory approvals. This represents a new trend of horizontal consolidation. While carriers have now been reduced in number to the point where little more consolidation is viable, there is still enormous scope to expand into other areas of the supply chain. DP World chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the company would broaden its portfolio of services. He said we would continue to focus on delivering operational excellence and disciplined investment to remain the port operator of choice as well as strengthening our product offering to play a wider role in the global supply chain as a trade enabler, in the company’s 2018 first-half interim report reported on 24 July.
More details:
http://web.dpworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018_07_24_1H18-Throughput-Announcement_EN.pdf
Djibouti dismisses LCIA ruling as DP World terminal dispute wrangles on
Djibouti has rejected the London Court of International Arbitration’s verdict that its seizure of the Dolareh Container Terminal from DP World was unlawful, reaffirming its position that a compensation settlement is the only option to bring an end to the dispute. While an LCIA tribunal ruled that the original concession awarded to DP World for DCT remained “valid and binding”, The Djiboutian government has responded by dismissing the tribunal’s decision, saying that the agreement contained severe irregularities and threatened the African country’s national interest and sovereignty.
More details:
http://dpfza.gov.dj/?q=news-media/media-releases/dpfza-statement
http://web.dpworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018_07_12_Djibouti-Statement_EN.pdf
https://www.ft.com/content/9f769694-8815-11e8-bf9e-8771d5404543
NYK to retrofit 89 ships with Sunrui’s BWM systems
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) will retrofit 89 of its ships with ballast water management system (BWM) developed by Sunrui Marine Environment Engineering, a unit of Chinese state-owned shipbuilding group, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation. The ships to be retrofitted include very large crude carriers, large bulk carriers, post-Panamax container ships, and chemical or product tankers.
While the BWM convention was meant to take effect in full in September 2017, the IMO granted a partial reprieve last summer amid complaints from shipowners about lack of suitable technology. Under the new rules, the BWM convention will apply to vessels built before September 8, 2017 from September 8,2019.
More details: http://www.sunrui.net/News/center/332908.htm
Mombasa cruise ship terminal completion delayed by a year
Kenya Ports Authority says the completion of a USD 12.9 million cruise ship terminal at the port of Mombasa will be delayed by a year. KPA head of corporate affairs Bernard Osero told that the project had entered the final phase and would be on its way to completing the installation of key features including fittings, electrical and mechanical services, offices and a drainage system, among other features. The port of Mombasa saw an increase in the number of cruise vessel, receiving six vessels from October 2017 to March 2018.
More details:
PSA takes majority stake in Canadian terminal
Singapore’s PSA International, through its wholly owned subsidiary PSA Canada Holdings has signed an investment agreement with Ashcroft Terminal to acquire 60% of the business in Western Canada.
Ashcroft Terminal is British Columbia’s largest inland terminal located approximately 300 km east of the Port of Vancouver. Ashcroft Terminal is PSA’s first foray into Canada and offers us an entry point into the hinterland supply chain for the North American market, as well as an opportunity to increase our capabilities in intermodal and inland container depot operations, said PSA chief executive Tan Chong Meng.
More details: