Daily Briefing August 14 2020
Free to read: Tankers de-flagged for using Iranian sanctions-busting tactic | Greek manager confirms vessel boarded by Iranian forces | Carriers quizzed by China over transpacific rate surge
Good morning. Here’s our quick view of everything you need to know today.
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What to watch | Analysis | Markets | In other news
What to watch
St Kitts and Nevis has de-flagged four sanctions-busting tankers involved in smuggling Iranian oil that were using a new, game-changing deceptive shipping practice to avoid detection.
The manager of a small tanker reported by the US military as having been boarded by Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz has confirmed the incident.
China has launched a probe into the recent freight rate spikes on transpacific trade following shippers’ complaints.
Panama Ship Registry said it would offer “all collaboration” to the investigation into an oil spill from a grounded bulk carrier off Mauritius.
Analysis
Container shipping has taken to scrubbers more than any other sector, despite the increasing payback time for the exhaust gas cleaning technology.
The International Energy Agency anticipates a sharper contraction in global oil demand in 2020 citing the number of coronavirus infections and weakness in the aviation sector.
Passage planning procedures require rethinking following the grounding of CMA CGM Libra, a former master said.
Markets
Concordia Maritime, a Swedish product tanker owner, expects subdued demand for oil-product transportation for the rest of the year, although the market should be "back on track" next year.
World boxship fleet update: The coronavirus backdrop has seen a much needed slowdown in the pace of containership orders. But that slowdown was already under way before the crisis and should help mitigate some of the impact of lower demand.
In other news
A Vietnam-flagged general cargo vessel has run aground in the Philippines.
Hong Kong plans to test thousands of port workers for coronavirus after 14 people at various container terminals within the Kwai Tsing Container Terminal complex were found to be infected.
Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co, formerly known as Hyundai Heavy Industries, has clinched orders for two liquefied natural gas carriers from domestic owner Korea Line Corp.
Marine gasoil with non-compliant flash points has been found among products offered at the world’s top bunkering hub.
Teekay Corp, a US-listed tankers owner and operator, has said the coronavirus pandemic has had a minimal impact on its operations.
Israeli container line Zim is rolling out artificial intelligence-based screening software which it says will detect and identify misdeclared hazardous cargo before it is loaded to vessels.