Maersk and Danone team up to cut logistics emissions
29.10.2024
Danone, a global food and beverage company, is joining forces with Maersk to minimize its logistics greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through Maersk’s ECO Delivery Ocean product.
Maersk’s product is based on reduced GHG emission fuels like bio-diesel or bio-methanol which are produced solely from waste feedstocks. These fuels are then used on vessels across the Maersk fleet.
With the applied version of ECO Delivery Ocean by Danone, the GHG emissions are reduced by more than 40% compared to conventional fossil fuels.
“We are happy to partner with Maersk through Danone’s Partner for Growth program. The ECO Delivery Ocean product and its reduced greenhouse gas emissions align well with our decarbonization strategy to focus primarily on alternative fuels and multimodal transportation. Maersk is an important partner and using their product to reduce CO2 emissions on sea freight marks yet another step in our decarbonization journey,” stated Jean-Yves Krummenacher, Global Chief Procurement Officer at Danone.
Danone aims for net zero emissions by 2050 and has aligned its goals with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) since 2017.
“The swift reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is at the core of both our companies. Well-known companies like Danone can act as a beacon in their industries by using effective levers to decarbonize their supply chains. We are proud to be Danone’s trusted partner in this important task,” commented Emilio de la Cruz, Maersk’s Managing Director for South West Europe.
Similarly, Maersk targets net zero by 2040 and is the first shipping and logistics company with an SBTi-approved net zero pathway.
The collaboration between Danone and Maersk extends beyond ocean transport to include comprehensive inland transport solutions and dedicated control towers to ensure smooth logistics operations.
Engine Fire Aboard Product Tanker in Singapore Anchorage
21.10.2024
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the Civil Defense Force responded to a fire aboard a tanker shortly after it arrived in the Singapore anchorage this morning local time. According to the authorities, the 22 crewmembers of the Med Atlantic (26,234 dwt) were successfully evacuated from the product tanker, and the fire was quickly brought under control.
The product tanker registered in Malta for Sea Tankers 4 and managed from Istanbul shows on its AIS signal that it had shifted over from neighboring Malaysia into the Singapore anchorage this morning. The authorities in Singapore received reports of a fire that was said to have started in the engine room and moved into the funnel around 10:30 a.m. local time.
Two LPG Carriers Catch Fire at Chittagong During STS Transfer
14.10.2024
On Sunday, a major fire broke out aboard two LPG carriers during an allegedly illegal ship-to-ship transfer off Bangladesh.
The LPG carrier Captain Nikolas was moored off Kutubdia, Chattogram over the weekend to offload its cargo to a lighterage vessel, the B-LPG Sophia. At about 0045 hours Sunday morning, a fire broke out aboard both vessels during cargo transfer operations. The Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladeshi Navy responded to the scene with a total of seven vessels, and they brought the fire aboard both vessels under control.
31 crewmembers jumped over the side from both vessels to escape the flames, and all were pulled from the water. No significant injuries were reported.
According to New Age Bangladesh, the Captain Nikolas escaped the fire relatively unscathed, but the Sophia sustained significant damage.
The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) claims that the origin of the cargo aboard Captain Nikolas was misdeclared, and that it actually came from Iran, a sanctioned supplier. Captain Nikolas' AIS record shows a weeklong gap in mid-September, just before she departed the Persian Gulf, according to data provided by Pole Star.
CPA Secretary Mohd Omar Faruk told The Business Standard that the vessel was searched and no evidence of an illicit cargo was found. The papers aboard showed that the Captain Nikolas took on the LPG in Dubai or Oman, Faruk said.
The Chittagong Port Authority has set up a committee to determine the cause of the fire, with a rapid one-week timetable for completing the investigation, according to New Age.
Captain Nikolas is a 50,000 dwt LPG carrier built in 1992 and flagged in the Cook Islands. It was detained in Hunen, China in January for two issues with fire protection in the cargo deck area, among other fire safety issues - and was cited for the same problem again when it returned to Hunen in March.
The incidents aboard Captain Nikolas and B-LPG Sophia were the third and fourth major vessel fires off Bangladesh within two weeks. A blaze broke out aboard the tanker Banglar Shourabh on October 4, killing one crewmember, and a fire aboard the tanker Banglar Jyoti (video below) killed three on September 30.
Safety concerns emerge after container collapse at COSCO’s Piraeus Port
07.10.2024
Several containers collapsed at the COSCO-owned port of Piraeus on October 5, prompting port workers to voice their deep concerns about safety issues.
The port workers’ union stressed that if the incident had occurred moments earlier or later, lives could have been lost. Despite the dangers, COSCO continues to prioritize profits over worker safety, according to the union.
Greek Workers demand action for better safety measures, highlighting dockworkers on the United States East Coast, who successfully fought for better conditions and pay.
MSC orders ten LNG/dual fuel ULCVs from Chinese shipyard
30.09.2024
The world’s largest container shipping company MSC has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for ten LNG/dual fuel ships of 21,000 TEU capacity with Hengli Heavy Industries of China, according to a recent DynaLiners report.
The delivery of the container vessels is expected to start in 2027.
The Swiss-Italian box line appears to be continuing its aggressive newbuilding order spree, aiming to further solidify its position as the market leader in terms of TEU capacity. This strategic move comes as the company prepares for its solo journey following the formation of the new container shipping alliances set to take effect in February 2025.
It is important to note that this is the first container ship order of the Chinese shipyard, which stems from the defunct STX Dalian and mainly focusses on dry and wet bulk carriers.