Bunker and Lubricants – Weekly News Roundup – Issue 02

w/c: 9th May 2020

1413 days ago

World News – bunker fuel

Stena Bulk Plans Biofuels Roll-Out After Successful Trial

Shipping companyStena Bulkis seeking to roll out its use of biofuels to more ships after a successful trial of a product from supplierGoodFuels. (Ship & Bunker)

Read more: https://shipandbunker.com/news/world/721484-interview-stena-bulk-plans-biofuels-roll-out-after-successful-trial 

Oil traders see market starting road to recovery

Crude oil traders expect the market to be closer to balance in the next few months as production cuts are implemented and the global transport system emerges from a coronavirus lockdown. (Hellenic Shipping)

Read more: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/oil-traders-see-market-starting-road-to-recovery/ 

OceanConnect Teams in Hamburg and Athens Leave Company 

Marine fuels trading company OceanConnect’s teams in Hamburg and Athens are leaving the company, according to sources familiar with the situation. (Ship Bunker) 

Read more: https://shipandbunker.com/news/emea/821515-oceanconnect-teams-in-hamburg-and-athens-leave-company-sources 

Drones to Carry Cargo 

A Singaporean startup wants to use drones to take cargo to ships. F-Drone has “large-scale and on-demand aerial deliveries” in its sights, according to co-founder Nicolas Ang as quoted in the Drone Life publication. (Ship Bunker) 

Read more: https://shipandbunker.com/news/apac/506105-drones-to-carry-cargo-report 

World News – lubricants

VPS identifies over 40 Vessels with engine damage using a combination of VLSFO and 40BN lubricants

An investigation conducted by an experienced team at international fuel testing and inspection company Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) has identified over 40 vessels suffering from major engine damage since starting to bunker Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oils (VLSFOs). The vessels, in all cases, saw calcium compounds being deposited on the piston top despite the use of 40BN (base number) engine oil as recommended by suppliers. (Manifold Times)

Read more: https://www.manifoldtimes.com/news/vps-investigation-identifies-over-40-vessels-with-major-engine-damage-since-vlsfo-switch/ 

Coronavirus

Container Shipping Demand to Pick Up in July, August: Ocean Network Express

Jeremy Nixon, chief executive officer at Ocean Network Express Holdings Ltd., discusses the impact of coronavirus on the container shipping industry when they’re likely to see a rebound. He speaks on “Bloomberg Daybreak: Asia.” (Bloomberg)

Watch now: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2020-05-12/container-shipping-demand-to-pick-up-in-july-august-ocean-network-express-video-ka39net3 

Coronavirus: ‘Up to 2,000’ UK seafarers stranded

The UK Chamber of Shipping wants the UK government to become the first to sign up to a global plan to get crews home. And the Nautilus International maritime union said seafarers stuck on ships for months were depressed and homesick, “with no end in sight” to their ordeal. (BBC News) 

Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52558639

Coronavirus May Accelerate Digitalisation of Bunker Industry: IBIA

Measures being implemented to ensure social distancing while carrying out bunker operations may accelerate the industry’s moves towards using electronic paperwork, according to IBIA. (Ship & Bunker)

Read more: https://shipandbunker.com/news/world/883600-coronavirus-may-accelerate-digitalisation-of-bunker-industry-ibia

Climate Change/Future Fuels

How green stimulus measures could fuel the decarbonization of shipping

Shipping’s Great Transformation can build resilience, reduce vulnerability, cut carbon. Policymakers should invest in shipping’s green transition as a key element of stimulus measures to kick-start the global economy (World Economic Forum) 

Read more: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/green-stimulus-policy-decarbonization-shipping-industry-renewable-energy-transition-fuel/

Wartsila is testing ammonia as a viable fuel for shipping at its centre in Vaasa

In a significant expansion of its future fuel testing programme, Kaj Portin, General Manager, Fuel & Operational Flexibility, Wärtsilä Marine, confirmed that Wärtsilä Marine had successfully tested the addition of ammonia (NH3) into a combustion research unit earlier in 2020. (Motorship) 

Read more: https://www.motorship.com/news101/alternative-fuels/wartsila-advances-ammonia-and-hydrogen-research 

Digital transformation

Standardisation and the importance of data collaboration between shipping lines 

In serving the multitude of clients bringing goods from their point of origin to their point of destination, the supply chain industry may be conceived as a network of actors having different capabilities to fulfil the needs of the customer – and the networked economy of container shipping relies on collaboration. (Smart Maritime Network) 

Read more: https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2020/05/14/standardisation-and-the-importance-of-data-collaboration-between-shipping-lines/

Bunker Metric rolls out new bunker planner functionality 

The BunkerPlanner bunker procurement optimisation tool now includes functionality to assist vessel operators to reduce costs ‘under any market combination of TC rate and bunker prices’. (Bunkerspot) 

Read more: https://www.bunkerspot.com/global/50494-global-bunker-metric-rolls-out-new-bunkerplanner-functionality

How is big data being used in marine insurance?

Marine insurance has always depended on data. Accurately predicting, evaluating, and pricing risk fundamentally relies on access to good quality data. With a wealth of data now at its fingertips, how is the marine insurance industry making use of it? (Thetius)

Read more: https://thetius.com/big-data-in-marine-insurance/

Online Platform set up for Gas Bunkers

An online gas brokerage, which launched late last month, aims to supply natural gas as bunker fuel to ships. (Ship & Bunker)

Read more: https://shipandbunker.com/news/emea/193806-online-platform-set-up-for-gas-bunkers 

Maritime events and Initiatives

SMM 2021: New impetus for the maritime transformation

Not surprisingly, the effects of the pandemic were the main topic at the SMM Advance Press Conference. Leading experts assessed the current situation in the shipping industry and its consequences for the SMM agenda, which will focus on Green Shipping and Digitalisation. (Sea News) 

Read more: https://seanews.co.uk/maritime-industry/smm-2021-new-impetus-for-the-maritime-transformation/

IMO – Day of the Seafarer will be celebrating its 10th anniversary on 25 June 

This year, the Day of the Seafarer campaign calls on Member States to recognize seafarers as key workers – and to provide them with the support, assistance and travel options open to all key workers during the pandemic.  #SeafarersAreKeyWorkers (IMO)

Read more: http://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/dayoftheseafarer/Pages/Day-of-the-Seafarer-2020.aspx 

Podcast 137: Sakura Kuma, Executive Director of YKIP, Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation

Listen to Sakura Kuma who has a holistic view of the port. She has worked as a terminal operator, business developer, landlord, port investments and she thinks that being able to walk in someone else’s shoes makes you more understanding of different perspectives. Sakura works with marketing & sales right now but her mind is geared towards CSR and how to become a responsible port contributing to the future development of the maritime industry. (ShippingPodcast)

Tune in: https://shippingpodcast.com/

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