Daily Briefing December 17 2019
Free to read: Block exemption extension gives carriers clarity and confidence | Have Brussels and container lines called a truce? | The Lloyd’s List Podcast: Shipping’s biggest questions answered by the experts | Iranian STS off Malaysia challenged after coastguard interception
Good morning. Here’s our quick view of everything you need to know today.
The Lloyd’s List Daily Briefing is brought to you by the Lloyd’s List News Desk.
What to watch | Analysis | Opinion | Markets | In other news
What to watch
The extension of the European Commission’s Consortia Block Exemption Regulation will give clarity and certainty to carriers, not just within Europe but also globally, according to legal experts.
After decades of hostilities between the European Commission and container lines, has a truce finally been called?
European Union competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager acknowledges that globalisation and digitalisation are redefining the relevant market. However, the Brussels is not proposing any changes to the consortia rules that are based on market share thresholds, writes Rotterdam-based lawyer August Braakman.
A chemical reaction caused a giant fireball on board a tanker despite the addition of inhibitors to keep cargo temperature and pressure stable, an inquiry has found.
Analysis
Questions have been raised over whether Iranian-linked very large crude carriers conducting ship-to-ship transfers and storing crude off Malaysia’s coast have necessary approvals after a sanctioned tanker evaded the country’s coastguard off Penang while operating without permission.
Carriers will need to apply differing pricing policies across trade lanes to meet the demand for either spot or contract services, according to research by container shipping analyst Sea-Intelligence.
Opinion
The Lloyd’s List Podcast: We have been polling the industry on everything from AI to zero carbon fuels and the results formed the backbone of the discussions at our annual Outlook Forum in London. The podcast offers you a few highlights from last week’s event including views from Citi, Shell and Intertanko.
Markets
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the “phase one” US-China trade deal announced last week is “totally done” and predicted it will nearly double US exports to China over the next two years and will especially benefit the agriculture sector.
In other news
Pirates have abducted 21 crew members from the Union Maritime-owned vessel Duke off Nigeria.
An oil field that started export operations in November is swiftly establishing a new trade route for very large crude carriers shipping North Sea crude to Asia.
CMA CGM’s intra-Europe subsidiary Containerships has taken delivery of its latest LNG-fuelled boxship, the 1,380 teu Containerships Arctic.
Chinese yard operator Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co and the Norwegian shipping group Wilhemsen Ship Management are members of a consortium that was wrapped up in talks over the weekend to build the first liquefied natural gas terminal in Cyprus.
Keppel Offshore & Marine subsidiary Keppel FELS has entered into a second sale-and-leaseback deal for a jack-up rig with Mexican driller Grupo R, at slightly better terms to a similar deal signed earlier this year.
Insurer Thomas Miller Specialty has purchased fixed premium P&I provider Lodestar Marine’s book of business for undisclosed consideration.
BG Freight Line, a Rotterdam-based shortsea specialist, has launched a new box service linking Dunkirk and the Republic of Ireland.
Portico, the operator of Portsmouth’s deepwater cargo terminal, plans to open a new container route between the western Channel port and Antwerp.
Liquefied natural gas carrier owner GasLog has completed funding for its newbuilding programme.
The European Commission has cleared tonnage tax and seafarer schemes for five EU countries, arguing that their plans do not hinder competition.