ITF News Update – 2nd to 15th September
Bright future for cadets from Kherson State Maritime Academy | ITF Seafarers – 2nd Sept
Thanks to a joint project of the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, the Marine Transport Workers’ Union of Ukraine (MTWTU), Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA) and the Lithuanian Maritime Academy, 50 Ukrainian cadets will be able to complete their maritime studies and obtain Lithuanian and Ukrainian certificates of competency.
https://www.itfseafarers.org/en/news/bright-future-cadets-kherson-state-maritime-academy
Why Filipino seafarers oppose the return of mandatory management-level courses | Rappler – 4th Sept
‘MARINA must stop the irregularities and profiteering that have made the MLCs and other training courses such a blight and burden on the lives of seafarers’
Seafarers’ crisis complicated maritime transportation | opportimes – 4th Sept
Due to the blockade, border closures and other restrictive measures, as many as 250,000 seafarers remained on board ships beyond their contracts or were unable to board new ships in 2021, disrupting crew changes and transfers, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) said.
https://www.opportimes.com/seafarers-crisis-complicated-maritime-transportation/
MMEA detains crew, tugboat, barge near Tanjung Kidurong | Borneo Post – 5th Sept
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a tugboat, five crew members and a barge laden with sand some 1.6 nautical miles from Tanjung Kidurong around 11am yesterday.
https://www.theborneopost.com/2022/09/05/mmea-detains-crew-tugboat-barge-near-tanjung-kidurong/
Safety onboard: a meeting of minds at Maritime Safety Week | Nautilus – 5th Sept
Nautilus International played a prominent part in UK Maritime Safety Week 2022. Taking place from 4-8 July with support from the UK Department for Transport, the focus this year was on safety best practice. Jon Parkin and Rob Coston report
Working in a war zone: how national and international Warlike Operations Area agreements protect Merchant Navy seafarers | Nautilus – 5th Sept
With some shipping now on the move again out of Ukraine, the northern Black Sea has been designated a Warlike Operations Area for merchant vessels. Sarah Robinson looks at what this means for seafarer safety and how trade unions are involved in providing protection for their members
Another New Shipping Coalition Launches Another New Carbon Initiative | G Captain – 5th Sept
A coalition of companies including oil major Shell and no. 1 container line MSC on Tuesday launched an initiative to explore ways to cut climate-warming methane emissions from ships, which pose a major risk to industry efforts to go greener.
https://gcaptain.com/another-new-shipping-coalition-launches-another-new-carbon-initiative/
‘Massive’ typhoon disrupts ports and airports in Shanghai, Ningbo and Busan | Load Star – 5th Sept
Typhoon Hinnamor has forced the ports of Shanghai, Ningbo and Busan to close, further disrupting shipping schedules from Asia.
https://theloadstar.com/massive-typhoon-disrupts-ports-and-airports-in-shanghai-ningbo-and-busan/
Japan, US, Philippines to step up maritime security ties | Times Union – 6th Sept
An American diplomat in Tokyo on Tuesday criticized China’s “increasingly hostile maritime actions” as a threat to the safety of waterways in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific, as the United States seeks to strengthen security cooperation with allies Japan and the Philippines.
https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Japan-US-Philippines-to-step-up-maritime-17421622.php
Plight of seafarers denied shore leave ends | Hellenic Shipping News – 6th Sept
The plight of a crew from a bulk carrier who had been denied shore leave and whose work contracts had been extended, has finally ended, following intervention by global ship visiting network Stella Maris.
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/plight-of-seafarers-denied-shore-leave-ends/
Most Oil Removed from Grounded Bulk Carrier Off Gibraltar | G Captain – 6th Sept
The majority of oil has been removed from the grounded bulk carrier OS 35 off of Gibraltar and the operation is now moving to the recovery phase, according to today’s update from the Gibraltar Port Authority.
https://gcaptain.com/most-oil-removed-from-grounded-bulk-carrier-off-gibraltar/
‘Seafarers vital to shipping despite automation’ | Manila Times – 7th Sept
THE digitalization and automation of global shipping are inevitable but for some, this could also be a downside to a labor-supplying country like the Philippines.
Video: Rescue of Crew After Cargo Ships Collide in the North Sea | Maritime Executive – 9th Sept
The Danish Navy completed a search and rescue mission for seven sailors that had been forced to abandon their vessel after a collision in the North Sea. The crew of the Dutch general cargo ship Helge had been ordered to abandon the ship into an inflatable lifeboat by the captain and were rescued by a Navy helicopter in what was described as difficult weather conditions.
World Suicide Prevention Day: Stop underreporting of suicides at sea | Safety for Sea – 9th Sept
The COVID-19 pandemic redefined the industry’s approach to mental health with unconfirmed reports indicating an increase in the number of seafarers’ suicides. However, with the lack of a central database system for reporting suicides at sea, the potential problem cannot be framed and, consequently, addressed.
https://safety4sea.com/cm-world-suicide-prevention-day-stop-underreporting-of-suicides-at-sea/
Tugboat Strike at Canada’s BC Ports Spreads to Vancouver Shipyard | Maritime Executive – 9th Sept
The two-week-old strike against one of Canada’s largest tugboat operators, Seaspan ULC, continues to slow vessel movements in British Columbia and this week grew to also impact the company’s shipyard operations. The latest developments came as business leaders citing strains on the supply chain and reputational damage to the region appealed for both sides to return to the negotiating table.
Iran to release crew of two seized Greek tankers – Greek seafarers union | Jerusalem Post – 12th Sept
The case has strained relations between Athens and Tehran as tensions grow between Iran and the United States.
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-716941
300 Panamanian seafarers answer call for jobs with Navesco | Seatrade Maritime News – 12th Sept
A move to attract Panamanian seafarers to apply for positions with Colombian shipping company Navesco has resulted in 300 applicants.
https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/300-panamanian-seafarers-answer-call-jobs-navesco
The world’s largest shipping line reroutes its ships to avoid hitting whales | NPR – 12th Sept
The endangered blue whale is found off the southern tip of Sri Lanka. Shipping vessels go through the whales’ habitat and can hit and kill them. The Mediterranean Shipping Co. changed its routes.
Greece coastguard fires on Turkish cargo ship – Al Jazeera | Port News – 12th Sept
Greek coastguard ships opened fire on a cargo vessel sailing in international waters in the Aegean Sea, escalating tensions with Turkey that have mounted in recent weeks, according to Al Jazeera.
https://en.portnews.ru/news/335378/
ISWAN Releases A Message For Seafarers And Stakeholders Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day | Marine Insight – 13th Sept
Ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day tomorrow, we want to make sure seafarers know there is somewhere to turn to for support if they are struggling.
First crew member of seized Greek tankers in Iran returns home | Middle East Monitor – 13th Sept
A crew member from one of two Greek tankers which were seized by Iranian authorities in May arrived safely in Athens on Tuesday, Greek officials said, reports Reuters.
Hundreds of seafarers still stuck in Ukraine despite grains corridor – industry | Reuters – 15th Sept
LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Around 82 ships with 418 seafarers remain stuck around Ukrainian ports despite the opening of a U.N.-backed sea corridor to ship grains with efforts to get the mariners sailing still stuck, shipping industry officials said on Thursday.