World Maritime News
WMNF 2018/11/01
IMO MEPC 73 ended 26 October
Two important decisions were made that should help to facilitate smooth implementation of the 2020 sulphur cap. It was agreed on a five-year timetable to 2023 of steps needed to realize the IMO’s initial GHG strategy as well as the adoption of a carriage ban for non-compliant fuel under the 2020 sulphur cap without scrubbers. The committee decided not to insert an “experience building phase” into the suplhur cap. While European Union and some other delegations were not quite satisfied with the decision to strengthen Energy Efficient Design Index (EEDI) which will continue on docket, it was agreed to bring forward the start date of Phase III of the EEDI for container ships and general cargo vessels over 40,000 GRT by three years from 1 January 2025 to 1 January 2022 and to increased the required GHG reduction efficiency for container ships from 30% to 40%. Hideaki Saito of Japan and Harry Conway of Liberia were re-elected as chair and vice-chair for 2019.
More details:
http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/WhatsNew/Pages/default.aspx
https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1124837/IMO-negotiations-hit-roadblock-on-EEDI
Singapore taps AI for upcoming Tuas mega port
Singapore is using AI to test its upcoming Tuas mega port, further testament to its commitment to become a technology leader.
Port operations in the top maritime center will eventually move to the Tuas mega port that will open progressively from 2021. When fully operational in 2040, it will double Singapore’s handling capacity to 65 million teu.
Singapore is developing a digital twin of the facility to help researchers evaluate different layout designs and concepts and how they affect the efficiency of port operations.
A digital twin refers to a digital simulation of physical assets, process, and systems, among others. The digital twin can also be used to simulate potential disruptions to operations at the Tuas mega port. Such disruptions include natural disasters and extreme weather events.
More details:
https://fairplay.ihs.com/ports/article/4307686/singapore-taps-ai-for-upcoming-tuas-mega-port
ENN orders LNG bunkering ship at Dalian Shipbuilding
ENN group, one of the largest private energy companies in China, has placed an order to build the country’s first LNG bunkering vessel at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co.to be delivered May 2020. The 8,500 m3 cargo capacity vessel will not only bunker various types of LNG carriers, but also provide pre-cooling and gas-testing services. The vessel will be operated on the back of the LNG receiving terminal in Zhoushan, about 154 km southeast of Shanghai.
China’s Ministry of Transport hoped the country would have one or two LNG bunkering centers that are internationally competitive, ant it urged all transportation bureau at provincial levels to speed up the planning and construction of LNG receiving terminals.
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China opens world’s longest sea bridge
President Xi Jinping has raised the curtain on the Hong Kong Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the multi-billion-dollar project that is set to benefit the trade and logistics sectors in the region.
Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam said the launch of the bridge would give Hong Kong the opportunity to play up its unique advantage, with shortened transport time between Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai. The bridge is estimated to reduce the distance between Zhuhai and Kwai Chung Container Port from more than 200 km to 65 km and shorten the travel time from 210 minutes to 75 minutes.
More details:
https://lloydslist.maritimeintelligence.informa.com/LL1124763/China-opens-worlds-longest-sea-bridge
Ship managers face the Alibaba effect
For the past four decades, Cyprus has been synonymous with ship management with notable names such as Bernhard Schulte, Interorient, and Columbia Shipmanagement.
President of Columbia Shipmanagement Mark O’Neil gave a speech in Cyprus late last year
that over the next 5-10 years, we will see vertical chain organizations through consolidation in the owner ship of assets, either with funds, banks, or large pool operators, and that we are likely to see some of the large logistics companies such as Alibaba, Amazon and DHL actually taking over the entire vertical structure. He said that management of the shipping element of the logistics chain will depend on its “digital compatibility” with the underlying industry, where transparency will be more important and that shipping will be just one component of the logistics chain.
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Port of Virginia gets federal approval to become US east coast’s deepest port
The Port of Virginia’s plan to widen and deepen Norfolk Harbor’s commercial shipping channels received full federal authorization 23 October with signing into law of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. Under the port’s “Wider, Deeper, Safer project”, deepening the port’s commercial channels to depths of 16.7 m and 17.0 m will make the port of Virginia the US east coast’s deepest port.
More details: