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What to watch

P&I club loss prevention departments are drawing on their experience of past pandemics to help members deal with the impact of coronavirus, with some reporting continued heavy demand for their services.

Ardent, the Netherlands-based salvor, is in talks to find a new buyer or strategic partner in what is being described as likely to be a transformative period for the company, according to industry sources.

Intercargo, the dry bulk shipping industry association, has pushed back against a new RightShip-led management standards project for the sector, saying that the plan threatens to clash with a self-assessment scheme of its own, which has been under development for months.

Maersk and CMA CGM have followed Mediterranean Shipping Co in taking steps to avoid congestion in the supply chain as cargoes reach their destinations despite a collapse in demand.

Analysis

Among the many zero-emission propulsion projects under development, Airseas’ Seawing appears the most unconventional. The first use by an Airbus ro-ro in November will be watched eagerly.

Coronavirus is delivering a severe shock to the US supply chain, as the latest figures for Long Beach and LA show, while China is on course to strengthen its position as the world’s biggest shipbuilder.

The reduction in container shipping capacity that was originally caused by the closure of Chinese factories in the wake of the country’s coronavirus lockdown has, in turn, caused the slowdown in Chinese port activity.

The Baltic Exchange has built on its strong heritage and the new opportunities from the Singapore Exchange’s acquisition to expand into the fast-developing markets in Asia.

The unconventional approach Singapore has taken to develop its marine fuel sector is a blueprint now being widely cited to back calls for regulating bunkering operations at ports worldwide.

Opinion

The Lloyd’s List Podcast: How to help shipping’s stranded seafarers. With shipping companies continuing to postpone crew exchange and extend employment contracts as the only way of overcoming the coronavirus travel and quarantine restrictions, the industry has a ticking time bomb on its hands. Make no mistake — fatigue among seafarers will inevitably result in more accidents at sea. This is a safety issue and it’s a mental health issue. Several voices join the podcast this week to discuss the implications for seafarers including: V.Group chief executive Graham Westgarth; Professor Helen Sampson, who led a recent study into mental health issues at sea; Liz Baugh, the lead medical consultant at Red Square Medical, which provides medicial assistance to maritime businesses; Caitlin Vaughan from the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN); and Sandra Welch, chief operating officer of the Sailors’ Society.

India’s three-week nationwide lockdown to contain coronavirus has caused severe cargo congestion at key ports and has delayed both the import and export of commodities, according to the Indian Register of Shipping executive chairman Arun Sharma.

There’s no doubt that the maritime and logistics industry was undergoing a transformation even before the coronavirus outbreak struck. But the virus is sure to spur greater interest in adapting digital solutions, according to Allcargo Logistics chairman and founder Shashi Kiran Shetty.

Markets

The Sino-US trade war and the current coronavirus pandemic have combined to create the worst throughput numbers at the port of Los Angeles in more than a decade, an outlook that could worsen as ocean carriers implement service cuts across the transpacific trade lane.

With liquefied natural gas demand having fallen through the floor, LNG suppliers are likely to cut production as more buyers seek to defer cargo deliveries.

In other news

Nautilus International is seeking talks with Channel Islands ferry and ro-ro operator Condor Ferries about planned pay cuts and unpaid leave.

European Union countries should designate specific ports that permit crew changes and are close to accommodation areas, shelter spaces and medical services, in response to the coronavirus, the European Commission has advised.

Ren Yuanlin is retiring from the top seat at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, one of the largest private shipbuilders in China, as the 66-year-old industry veteran foresees “significant structural changes” in his industry and wants to give way to younger leaders.

Stena Line has permanently closed its route from Trelleborg in Sweden to Sassnitz in Germany as it seeks to cut costs amid coronavirus lockdowns.

Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée has been elected to the presidency of Armateurs de France for a two-year term following the general assembly of the French shipowners’ association.