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Mutual disrespect- Shipping industry's communication breakdown.   Trust between seafarers and shore-based management has declined to 'disturbing' levels, a major research project has discovered. Andrew Linington reports Masters and officers are feeling increasingly unable to exercise their professional judgement as a consequence of the growing use of bureaucratic systems and procedures, coupled with increasing surveillance from ashore. That is the conclusion of an international study carried out by experts at Cardiff University's Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC). The analysis warns that the breakdown in trust between ships and shore presents worrying implications for the morale and wellbeing of maritime professionals and may have damaging impacts upon shipping companies. Presenting the findings, SIRC director Professor Helen Sampson said the shipping industry has increasingly adopted 'punishment-centred' bureaucratic systems at corporat

Container ship out of control, hit embankment, Istanbul VIDEO Container ship  SONGA IRIDIUM  reported to Bosphorus Traffic Control engine failure at 1200 LT (UTC +3) Dec 27, while transiting Bsphorus in southern direction en route from Ukraine, Black sea. The ship veered starboard and moved towards embankment, in an attempt to deaden inertion and stop or at least, mitigate impact,  SONGA IRIDIUM , judging from videos, dropped both anchors, starboard anchor was lost. The ship hit embankment, both ship and embankment sustained damages. She was taken off embankment by tugs and towed to Marmara sea, at 1500 LT she was already in Marmara sea, to be anchored on outer anchorage, no doubt. https://youtu.be/Q49VmIXe44c Credit: Fleetmon

Sulphur 2020 – cutting sulphur oxide emissions The main type of “bunker” oil for ships is heavy fuel oil, derived as a residue from crude oil distillation. Crude oil contains sulphur which, following combustion in the engine, ends up in ship emissions. Sulphur oxides (SO x ) are known to be harmful to human health, causing respiratory symptoms and lung disease. In the atmosphere, SO x  can lead to acid rain, which can harm crops, forests and aquatic species, and contributes to the acidification of the oceans.   India Bans Single-Use Plastics on Ships in Its Waters Limiting SO x  emissions from ships will improve air quality and protects the environment. IMO regulations to reduce sulphur oxides (SO x ) emissions from ships first came into force in 2005, under Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known as the MARPOL Convention). Since then, the limits on sulphur oxides have been progressively tightened. From 1 January 202

Turkish Suezmax tanker attacked in Gulf of Guinea Vessel was attacked at around 0700 UTC Dec 24 in Gulf of Guinea, 220 nm southwest of Bonny, Nigeria. Available information point at Suezmax crude oil tanker ISTANBUL, but ship’s identity not yet confirmed. No other information available at the moment, awaiting ship’s ID confirmation and details. Tanker attacked in Gulf of Guinea, all Indian crew kidnapped Tanker is en route from Bonny OPL to Rotterdam (understood in load), since 0700 UTC she turned hard portside and as of 0800 UTC, was steaming south. US-Flagged Vessel Rescues Distressed Iranian Mariners Dec 24 1230 UTC UPDATE: Tanker ISTANBUL was attacked by a group of armed pirates in a boat, managed to thwart boarding attempts by maneuvering, and escaped. Crew safe. Crude oil tanker ISTANBUL, IMO 9593012, dwt 149989, built 2015, flag Malta, manager CINER SHIP MANAGEMENT, Istanbul.

US-Flagged Vessel Rescues Distressed Iranian Mariners The U.S. flagged merchant vessel Maersk Kinloss rescued three Iranian mariners Dec. 18. The Maersk company informed NAVCENT of the rescue of the mariners, who had been stranded at sea for several weeks. This communication was enabled through the relationship between the commercial maritime industry and NAVCENT’s Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) team. The rescue is an example of professional mariners rendering assistance to others in distress at sea, responsibility and mission that we in the U.S. Navy share and take very seriously. The stranded mariners were transferred to the Omani coast guard, who are coordinating their return to Iran. For additional information we would refer you to Maersk Kinloss’ operating company, Maersk Lines Limited in Norfolk, Virginia.