World Maritime News
WMNF 2020/02/20
US President to reduce government use of GPS over cyber fears
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order directing the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Commerce to minimize the number of US systems dependent on GPS for navigation and positioning. The order was issues amid hacking fears and highlights US vulnerabilities in cyber security. A cyber vulnerability firm concluded that hacking electronic chart systems could cause chaos in busy shipping lines if proper cyber security measures are not taken. The EU and the UK are similarly working on GPS regulations.
Read more: Safety at Sea| The White House
Montreal sees fast growth without mega ships
Container terminals should focus on how many containers they can load and offload rather than the absolute size of the ships they handle, according to Port of Montreal. With a draught of only 11.3 m, calling vessels are between 2,000 teu and 5,000 teu. The big advantage of Montreal is a very balanced load and offload. In 2019, 52% import and 48% export, which is very attractive to carriers. During 2018 and 2019, the port achieved a 14% compound growth in container throughput. Montreal’s success has largely come through diversification. In 2009, two thirds of its volumes derived from northern Europe with less than 1% coming from Asia. By 2019, northern Europe accounted for just over one third, while Asia, transshipped in Europe, had risen to more than a quarter.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Global box growth slumps to 10-year low
Global containerized trade in 2019 experienced a significant slowdown in growth, according to full-year figures. The latest data published by Container Trades Statistics shows that volumes moved on deep-sea services rose to 169 million teu, an increase of almost 1% on 2018 level, which is the lowest since 2009. An extended Chinese New Year has already put the traditional post-holiday pick-up in trade on hold, to put a dampener on first-quarter volumes. But the threat of potential port closures and further service disruption if the new corona virus is not contained, the situation is becoming of increasing concern for the industry.
Read more: CTS| Lloyd’s List
Norwegian ferry completes world’s first fully automatic journey
The world’s first adaptive ferry transit using fully automatic control from dock to dock has been successfully completed in Norway, representing a significant step forward in the integration of autonomous technology into shipping operations. Currently, the installed equipment is not fully autonomous – if vessels or objects are detected on a collision course, an alarm will sound, and the captain will take control. In 2020, and anti-collision system, comprising radar and electro-optical sensors, is expected to be fitted into the ferry with testing scheduled to take place. Although, even with the anti-collision system in place, a full crew must be on board to maintain maneuvering skills.
“Bastø Fosen VI.”
Read more: Safety at Sea |Basto Fosen
CMA CGM partners with hydrogen tech firm
CMA CGM has partnered with the hydrogen-powered racing yacht “Energy Observer” and will use the vessel as a floating laboratory in an around-the-world voyage to test potential of the fuel. The “Energy Observer’s voyage began in 2017 and will continue until 2022 to research, test, and develop energy solutions based on hydrogen, solar, tidal, and wind power. CMA CGM will add its expertise and knowledge of global shipping to the initiative, which is aimed at developing technological solutions capable of limiting the shipping industry’s environmental impact.
“Energy Observer”
Read more: JOC |Lloyd’s List
Europe’s Green Deal rests on funding and transparency
Meeting the carbon-neutral goals of the European Commission’s Green Deal strategy will require significant investment in research and development, with an appropriate transport infrastructure budget and innovation fund, according to Europe’s transport associations. Some recommendations were made by 15 organizations that represent critical stakeholders: Logistics service providers, seaport and inland port authorities, shippers, combined transport operators, rail freight operators, port and terminal operators, marine equipment manufacturers and shipyards. The associations warned that a factor determining the Green Deal’s success will be the EU’s ability to convince non-EU countries to move in the same direction. Another critical factor was the need for an overarching view of logistics and supply chain planning and control. The associations emphasized that a carbon-neutral supply chain depends on manufacturers and logistics providers combining rail, roads, short sea shipping, inland waterways, and air-transportation in a smart and efficient way. The new climate policy to make the EU a net-zero economy by 2050 includes a proposal to bring shipping into the emissions trading system (ETS).
Read more: JOC
Proposed EU shipping emissions regulations criticized
One of the EU’s most important environmental lawmakers has unveiled regulation that would force ships to operate under an emissions cap and trade system, increase their carbon intensity performance and contribute to a European maritime decarbonization fund. Shipping lobbies have criticized an EU proposal for the regulation of shipping emissions as damaging international decarbonization progress and lacking understanding. ICS said shipping’s decarbonization can only be achieved through the global regulatory framework of the IMO. BIMCO said the proposal would seriously hamper co-operation between governments and the implementation of the IMO strategy. Union of Greek Shipowners have called for opposition at the IMO to rebut a European push to include shipping in the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme.
Read more: Lloyd’s List|Lloyd’s List|Lloyd’s List