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The 'Yong Feng' issued a distress signal on Jan 13, 2020, at 03.50 a.m. Tokyo time, reporting to be in danger of sinking 400 miles Southeast of Miyakojima, Okinawa, in the Philippine Sea. The 22 crew members, among them 14 Chinese and eight Bangladeshi, abandoned ship in a lifeboat. A ship of the Japanese Coast Guard was deployed to assist. A Taiwanese fishing vessel rescued the crew eight hours after the vessel was abandoned. The 'Yong Feng' was carrying a cargo of timber from Port Moresby to China when the cargo shifted, the ship listed sharply and took on water. The abandoned ship was drifting in the sea with a list, but did not seem likely to sink soon. A patrol boat was expected arrive at the site on Jan 14 around to investigate hte situation. Reports with photos: https://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/articles/-/692181 https://www.sankei.com/photo/story/expand/210113/sty2101130012-p2.html

The 39 Indian crew members of the 'Anastasia' have been stranded in Chinese waters for months now, driving one them to slash his wrists after he was denied permission to return to India to look after his ailing wife and two sons, who have been diagnosed with Covid-19. The 47-year-old man was initially contracted to serve on board the vessel for five months, and his service has now been extended to 13 months. For over a month, he had been desperately trying to get permission to go to his family’s aid, and desperation drove him to attempt suicide. The Navigating Officer of the ship came to his rescue just in the nick of time. Besides the 'Anastasia' also the 'Jag Anand', owned by India’s Great Eastern Shipping Company, has been anchored at Caofeidian and Jingtang ports for 160 days and 213 days, respectively as of Jan 13, 2021. China and India have been engaged in border standoffs for quite some time now, giving rise to an ongoing trade war and diplomatic tensions. China's policy on Indian-flagged vessels came to the forefront when vessels flying other flags were permitted to unload similar bulk cargo and leave during the same period. The ships were refused permission by the Chinese authorities to offload their cargo, and were not even allowed to send other sailors to relieve the crew. The 39 sailors have been left to their fate without much support from the central government, and their families were left struggling to get them back. The families, mostly based in the Indian state of Maharashtra, have been appealing to different government offices but with no help in sight.

THE SUPER CYCLONE ‘AMPHAN’ (PRONUNCIATION: UM-PUN) (ECP: 926 HPA) OVER WEST CENTRAL BAY AND ADJOINING AREA MOVED NORTH- NORTHEASTWARDS AND NOW LIES OVER THE SAME AREA (LAT. 16.0°N, LONG. 86.7°E) AND WAS CENTRED AT 06 AM TODAY (19 MAY, 2020) ABOUT 890 KM SOUTHWEST OF CHATTOGRAM PORT, 840 KM SOUTHWEST OF COX’S BAZAR PORT, 785 KM SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF MONGLA PORT AND 775 KM SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF PAYRA PORT. IT IS LIKELY TO MOVE IN A NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION AND MAY CROSS BANGLADESH COAST BETWEEN KHULNA-CHATTOGRAM DURING LATE NIGHT 19 MAY 2020 TO AFTERNOON / EVENING 20 MAY 2020. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEED WITHIN 90 KMS OF THE CYCLONE CENTRE IS ABOUT 225 KPH RISING TO 245 KPH IN GUSTS/ SQUALLS. SEA WILL REMAIN VERY HIGH NEAR THE CYCLONE CENTRE. MARITIME PORTS OF MONGLA AND PAYRA HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED DANGER SIGNAL NUBMER SEVEN (R) SEVEN. COASTAL DISTRICTS OF SATKHIRA, KHULNA, BAGHERHAT, JHALOKATHI, PIROZPUR, BORGUNA, PATUAKHALI, BHOLA, BARISHAL, LAXMIPUR, CHANDPUR AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS WILL COME UNDER DANGER SIGNAL NUMBER SEVEN (R) SEVEN. MARITIME PORTS OF CHATTOGRAM AND COX’S BAZAR HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO KEEP HOISTED DANGER SIGNAL NUBMER SIX (R) SIX. COASTAL DISTRICTS OF NOAKHALI, FENI, CHATTOGRAM AND COX’S BAZAR THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS WILL COME UNDER DANGER SIGNAL NUMBER SIX (R) SIX. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE VERY SEVERE CYCLONIC STORM “AMPHAN” AND THE NEW MOON PHASE, THE LOW-LYING AREAS OF THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF SATKHIRA, KHULNA, BAGHERHAT, JHALOKATHI, PIROZPUR, BORGUNA, PATUAKHALI, BHOLA, BARISHAL, LAXMIPUR, CHANDPUR, NOAKHALI, FENI, CHATTOGRAM AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS ARE LIKELY TO BE INUNDATED BY STORM SURGE OF 4-5 FEET HEIGHT ABOVE NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL TIDE. THE COASTAL DISTRICTS OF SATKHIRA, KHULNA, BAGHERHAT, JHALOKATHI, PIROZPUR, BORGUNA, PATUAKHALI, BHOLA, BARISHAL, LAXMIPUR, CHANDPUR, NOAKHALI, FENI, CHATTOGRAM AND THEIR OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND CHARS ARE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE WIND SPEED UP TO 140-160 KPH IN GUSTS/ SQUALLS WITH HEAVY TO VERY HEAVY FALLS DURING THE PASSAGE OF THE STORM. ALL FISHING BOATS AND TRAWLERS OVER NORTH BAY AND DEEP SEA HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO TAKE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY AND WILL REMAIN IN SHELTER TILL FURTHER NOTICE.

Currently, more than 4,000 TEUs of import containers can be unloaded every day allowing vessels to complete loading and unloading goods at a faster rate, which helps reduce the vessels' stay time at jetties. Vessels' berth occupancy time that had reached 6-7 days last month came down to 3-4 days now, port officials said. The vessels' waiting time at the outer anchorage for getting berths has also dropped to 13-14 days from 16-18 days. Subsequently, the number of vessels waiting at the outer anchorage declined to 24 yesterday though the number hovered around 36 before the steps were taken. AIS Station -BDCGP

It will take several more weeks to unload the 'ONE Apus' after the violent storm in the Pacific Ocean, where the ship lost 1,816 containers. "General average" can not yet be ruled out, informed the Ocean Network Express. Experts hired to inspect the damaged containers aboard the 'ONE Apus' estimated it would likely take at least a month before they have been removed from the ship. As of Jan 7, only 232 containers were removed, but there was no information on how many damaged containers were still on the ship. The careful removal of the torn containers will continue according to a timetable that, with safety as a first priority, is expected to take over a month. Once the containers have been unloaded, each one will be assessed, and when the unloading is complete, an overall assessment will be made of the damage to the ship and the necessary repairs. W.K. Webster & Co, which investigated and handled claims in connection with damage to cargo and ships, said that the shipowner and operator "unfortunately have not been cooperative with regard to the status of each container and their location on the ship, but continued to cooperate with their representatives to solve the task. W.K. Webster also said that ONE has decided to make repairs to the ship while the work of removing the damaged containers was underway and that this may extend this work. A “General average” inspector has been on board to assess the situation and has reported to the shipowner. "General average" has not been declared at this stage, but it can not yet be ruled out that it will happen, although the probability is considered to be declining over time.

Arrived Hanoytangen Scrapyard 13.12.20 http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=3240592

A global petition aiming to draw the attention of the general public to the problems of over 150 000 seafarers that cannot leave or cannot joint ship crews due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative belongs to the International Marittime Organization (IMO) Goodwill Maritime Ambassador for Bulgaria Capt. Andriyan Evtimov. The purpose is to have the document signed online by at least the same number of people as that of the blocked by the COVID-19 seafarers, and then send it to the IMO member-state governments with an appeal for immediate and urgent measures to facilitate the movement of seafaring personnel. Currently, only a few countries permit crewmember exchange in their ports, which has a direct negative impact on seafarers’ wellbeing, on the safety of navigation and the global supply chains. The petition, which can be accessed at www.seafarersmatter.com, draws to the attention of the governments that the maritime industry is the backbone of world trade and any continuation of the restrictive measures currently in place against the seafarers would lead to detrimental effect for the global economy. More than 90% of world trade takes place by sea and the seafarers are those who constantly and in personal deprivation carry out their mission ensuring the operation of the supply chains, including such for medical supplies to combat the pandemic. You can access the petition online at www.seafarersmatter.com

The Department of Shipping (DoS) has asked the shipping lines not to realise container detention charge on import and export shipments during the lockdown period, spurred by COVID-19 outbreak. The shipping lines are also advised not to impose any new or additional charges until May 5 when the 41-day shutdowns end. The department issued the advisory on Wednesday, which sparked resentment among the shipping agents in the country. Usually, containers get free time for 14 days after the common landing date and thereafter charged between $5 and $10 per day as detention charge until the importers return those to the port or off-docks. Associate director of Transmarine Logistics Ltd, the local agent of Yang Ming Line, Mohammad Ahsanuzzaman told the FE on Thursday most shipping lines operate their fleet on a leasing basis and pay for the rental daily. Due to the prolonged congestions at the Chittagong port, the containers now have to stay for 15 days at the outer anchorage and at berth, compared with a minimum of three to four days in recent past, he said. During the shutdown period, the containers are lying at the Chittagong port for several weeks when the designated free days expire. "The shipping lines will have to pay container rent besides the opportunity cost, but now the shipping department is asking us not to charge detention fee on importers, which is a mere cost recovery for the liners. This is not acceptable at all when you consider the impact of COVID-19 has on us," he said. "Shipping lines will incur huge financial losses if the order is implemented," said Mr Ahsanuzzaman. Chairman of the Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association (BSAA) Ahsanul Huq Chowdhury told the FE on Thursday vessels are staying at the outer anchorage and berth for weeks and counting millions of taka as demurrage. Deptt order angers shipping agentsA few days back, shipping agents had requested the government to waive some charges like port dues, pilotage fees, berthing and unbreathing tariffs, quay gantry crane, loading or discharging the container, storage charges, container and non-CPA equipment, and store rent for containers at off-docks. "The government paid no heed to our appeal rather issued an order not to realise the detention charge," Mr Chowdhury said. He said the department issued the advisory in line with the measures taken in Indian ports. But the reality is there is no such congestions in Indian ports and vessels there enter and leave in time while at the Chittagong port an additional two weeks are required in ship handling, he said. After the shipping department's advisory, he wrote that the imposition or waiver of detention charge of containers depends on foreign principals. "The principals may not consider the waiving of the container detention charge unless the government waives or reduces port tariffs for vessels," he noted. AIS station, Chittagong

The US Coast Guard, US Navy, and good Samaritans in coordination with Rescue Coordination Center Taipei continued the search for the 10 crewmembers of the Yong-Yu-Sing No. 18' about 550-miles northeast of Midway Island on Jan 12. To date they have consecutively completed 29 search sorties lasting 73-hours in total and covering more than 40,000 square nautical-miles. The search was on since Dec. 31, 2020, after the Rescue Coordination Center Taipei lost contact with the vessel. An Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 aircrew located the adrift Yong-Yu-Sing No. 18, Jan. 1, with a missing life raft and no signs of the 10 crewmembers. Following the discovery of the vessel, JRCC Honolulu watchstanders coordinated with both the Navy and good Samaritans aboard four Taiwan fishing vessels and three Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) merchant vessels to continuously search the area over the following days. Both Air Station Barbers Point and Navy aircrews have performed continuous daily air sorties of the area while the merchant and fishing vessel crews have conducted surface searches. High seas, strong winds, and low visibility have been a constant obstacle that has prevented crews from boarding the 'Yong-Yu-Sing No. 18'. The reported weather on scene has been winds regularly greater than 20 mph and seas of 11 to 25 feet. Despite the seas, both the 'Lian-Horng No. 67' and the AMVER vessel 'Horizon Spirit' circled within 200 feet of the vessel this weekend. They searched for signs of any crewmen that may have remained aboard, gathered imagery to help ascertain the cause of the incident, and dropped the automatic tracking system beacon on the vessel. The automatic tracking system beacon will allow watchstanders to continuously track the vessel as the search continued. Involved in the search were to date: - Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point C-130 Hercules aircrews - A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak C-130J Hercules aircrew, - Four Taiwan fishing vessels, - Navy P-8 Poseidon aircrews, - The crew of the AMVER vessel 'OOCL Tokyo', - The crew of the AMVER vessel M/V Nicon Future, - The crew of the AMVER vessel M/V Zim New York.

The 'Helliar' had to be drydocked after touching the bottom off Stromness on Jan 11, 2020, at 4.09 p.m., with 23 crew members on board. The incident happened while covering the Pentland Firth route for the 'Hamnavoe', which is also in dry dock. The starboard propeller needed to be repaired after the ship ran onto a sandbank after diverting from the navigation channel while enroute to Scrabster. Divers were sent down in Stromness for a survey and found damage to hthe blades. A full inspection of the Helliar was to take place in Stromness from Jan 13. The 'Hamnavoe' will resume service on Jan 17.

Chittagong Port wants to construct new facility at Ananda Bazar, North Halishohor. It includes construction of breakwater for about 11km, dredging construction of a multi-purpose terminal and two container terminals. It is a project with a possible value above USD 2 Billion. After the decision of the government, PPPA communicated with ESG to nominate a suitable company for the project as a requirement of G2G PPP Policy of Bangladesh and they have nominated PSA Singapore.. Objective: To Provide a major gateway for the country's trade with the outside world Primary issue is the limiting factor in accommodating larger vessel sizes and so Chittagong Port Authority intends to construct the "Bay Terminal” to improve the quality of services and develop adequate facilities and decrease the pressure on the existing Chittagong Port. Enhance competitiveness of the country’s exports as prices of imported and exported commodities decrease as a result of shorter shipping time and lower shipping costs. Exporters would incur lower financial costs for their shipments due to the shorter processing and shipping time for their cargo.

The Mexican tank m/v ’Irmã Dulce’, 72900 dwt (IMO: 9548691), which was under construction at Estalairo Maua in Rio de Janeiro, suffered water ingress in the engine room and aft peak in the night of May 4, 2020. The stern came to rest on bthe bottom at a water depth of four to five meters. The accident was apparently caused by a leaking valve. In the afternoon of May 5 divers managed to stabilize the ship. It was the second of a series of four for Transpetro and was launched in 2014. The order for all three ships still under construction was later canceled. The Panamax had currently been 95% completed. Report with photo: https://splash247.com/near-complete-brazilian-tanker-newbuild-sinks-at-pier/ .