NEB Draft Recommendations Released

Yesterday the National Energy Board (NEB) released its draft project conditions and recommendations for comment by the Proponent, Government Departments/Agencies, and Intervenors in the Reconsideration process for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. Nine of the 13 recommendations are of significance to the commercial marine sector, including suggestions for:

• slowing down vessels possibly out to the 12-nautical mile territorial sea to address acoustic and physical disturbance;
• establishing targets for noise reduction for ferries;
• identifying specific whale congregation and migration areas and consideration of specific routing and speed restrictions where whales congregate and migrate;
• enhancing tug escort requirements in the Salish Sea; and
• implementing a marine bird monitoring program.

The Chamber of Shipping is an Intervenor in the reconsideration process and will be responding to draft recommendations and statements provided by other Intervenors before the January 22nd deadline.

Port of Prince Rupert commits $1M towards Salmon Rehabilitation

The Skeena River Salmon Enhancement Program has dedicated $1 million from Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Community Investment Fund to partner specifically with local organizations on projects that increase salmon stock productivity and the maintenance and rehabilitation of critical habitat in the Skeena River watershed.  The fund will also seek to support innovative pilot projects that will achieve these objectives and support the health, resilience and sustainability of Skeena River salmon during this International Year of the Salmon.

Ship Safety Bulletin – Timber Deck Cargo

Transport Canada has released Ship Safety Bulletin No. 01/2019 to clarify its interpretation of maximum height of timber deck cargo above the ship’s weather deck. The bulletin states that the height of cargo is measured from the base of the timber deck cargoes stow to the highest part of the cargo. For example, in case of a crowned top surface, the height shall be measured to the top of the crown. There are concerns with this interpretation and the lack of consultation. The Chamber will be discussing this further in upcoming meetings and with Transport Canada.

CCG successfully recovers oil from Manolis L

The Canadian Coast Guard announced that 208.7 cubic metres (208,769 litres) of oil was removed from the Manolis L shipwreck. This is enough oil to fill 1313 oil barrels.  The operation led by the CCG and undertaken by Ardent Global Marine Services was successfully completed in September 2018. The operation was conducted using remotely operated vehicles (ROV) in 70 meters of water depth, in cold water of approximately one Celsius. The heavy fuel oil was heated for removal using steam, recovered from the wreck, transported to shore and transferred to an environmental company for proper disposal. During the bulk oil removal operation, 14 of the tanks onboard the Manolis L were pumped and flushed. The amount of oil recovered exceeded the estimate of 115-150 cubic metres (115,000 - 150,000 litres) that was expected to be in the vessel. This was the first operation of its kind in these conditions. The success of this operation is an example of the Coast Guard’s ability to effectively address vessels that pose environmental risks.

Ocean Networks Canada receives $12.6M

The Government of Canada has provided Oceans Network Canada (ONC), a national network of ocean observation systems based at the University of Victoria (UVic), with $12.6 million in funding over the next four years.  The funds will build on ONC’s ocean noise monitoring program and will expand its monitoring of sea surface currents in Pacific waters. This data will help inform our efforts to protect the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale and will help make our oceans safer by improving navigation and emergency response. The announcement was made with the official opening of the new Ocean-Climate building at UVic’s Queenswood campus where ONC is housed with over 200 researchers, scientists and students.

Governor Inslee launches Maritime Blue 2050 initiative

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee launched the Maritime Blue 2050 initiative, the first initiative of its kind in the US to bolster innovations in the maritime sector that create living-wage jobs, protect the environment and ensure sustainability for the industry. As part of that launch, the governor created the Maritime Innovation Advisory Council to develop a comprehensive plan for stakeholders to accelerate and support technology, innovation and best practices throughout the state’s entire maritime industry. The Advisory Council presented the governor with their report this week at the Maritime Blue Strategy roll-out in Seattle. The Washington State Department of Commerce partnered with DNV GL to develop the strategic roadmap that will be used to guide the state toward achieving this vision.

Update on mariner credentials in the US

The National Maritime Center (NMC)  posted updated information on Jan. 8, 2019 for merchant mariners impacted by the lapse in appropriation. 

• Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) (National Endorsements only) and Medical Certificates that expired in December 2018 or expire in January 2019 are extended as valid until March 31, 2019.  
• Approval to Test (ATT) letters and mariner training course certificates that expired in December 2018 or expire in January 2019 are extended until March 31, 2019.

NHL All-Star Jersey made from Ocean Waste

Adidas and the National Hockey League created new hockey jerseys in partnership with Parley for the Ocean using repurposed and upcycled materials. NHL players are expected to don the new jerseys for All-Star Games this month in San Jose.  The special edition Adizero Authentic Pro x are made from Parley Ocean Plastic, i.e. materials made from plastic bottles and other plastic waste intercepted in marine environments. Adidas has committed to eliminate the use of virgin plastic for manufacturing by 2024.

Largest shipping cranes reach Virginia

The Port of Virginia celebrated the arrival of the Zhen Hua 27 to Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth. The ship finished its voyage from China with four fully-assembled, 170-foot-tall gantry cranes aboard, which are now the largest shipping cranes ever in the United States. The Port of Virginia now has 30 ship-to-shore cranes and new are among the final pieces of the $320 million expansion project to increase capacity and efficiency at VIG. 

Greig Star and Maas Capital establish joint venture

In December 2018 Grieg Star and Maas Capital have established a joint venture for ownership of Supramax- and Ultramax vessels. The new company is named GriegMaas AS. The companies each have 50 percent ownership in the venture and aim to acquire high quality Supramax- and Ultramax bulkers. G2 Ocean will be responsible for the commercial management of the vessels, while Grieg Star will provide corporate- and ship management services to GriegMaas.  As a first step, the two Grieg Star Supramax vessels, Star Athena and Star Eracle, was sold to GriegMaas early January 2019. Further expansion of the fleet is planned for 2019.

Bunker Delivery Note amendments enter force

Amendments to the bunker delivery note relating to the supply of marine fuel oil to ships which have fitted alternative mechanisms to address sulphur emission requirements entered into force on 1 January 2019.  An equivalent means may be abatement technology such as an exhaust gas cleaning system ("scrubber"), if accepted by the flag State of a ship as an alternative means to meet the sulphur limit requirement. The amendments require those already using alternative means to have bunker delivery notes signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier stating that it is in conformation with regulation 18.3 of MARPOL Annex VI. On January 1, 2020 the limit for sulphur in fuel oil will be reduced to 0.50% m/m outside emission control areas (ECAs), from 3.5% currently. The North America ECA will remain with requirements in place at 0.1% m/m for marine fuels.

Hong Kong Seaport Alliance Formed

Hongkong International Terminals Limited, Modern Terminals Limited, COSCO-HIT Terminals (Hong Kong) Limited, and Asia Container Terminals Limited jointly announced the formation of the Hong Kong Seaport Alliance (The Seaport Alliance). The Alliance was formed in direct response to a rapidly changing business environment, including the formation of new carrier alliances, carrier industry consolidation, and the dramatic increase in vessel size over the last few years. Through 2019, an Operations Coordination Team using a common terminal operating system expects to deliver more efficient service offerings to carriers that call Hong Kong, while enhancing the overall competitiveness of the Port of Hong Kong across the region.

Panama Canal to Restrict Draft

Due to an unusually low amount of rain in December, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced last week that the maximum draft for a ship transiting the Neopanamax locks will be restricted to 49 feet, or 14.94 meters, as of February 11. The new restriction will decrease the maximum allowed draft in the Gatun Lake by 1 foot, or by 0.3 meter from the last maximum restriction, which was implemented June 26, 2018 at 50 feet, or 15.24 meters.

Counter-piracy efforts needed

BIMCO is urging the EU, China, and US to step up their support of counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea. Around 40 ships have been attacked in the Gulf of Guinea in the past 12 months and only this week, the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre reported attempted attacks on tankers off Nigeria, both of which were thwarted.

Sinotrans gets approval for privatization

On 10 January, the High Court of Hong Kong sanctioned without modification the proposal for the privatisation of Sinotrans Shipping Limited, the company informed in an official statement. The High Court also confirmed the capital reduction of the company provided for in the proposed scheme of arrangement.

ZIM and 2M expand cooperation

ZIM and the 2M Alliance of Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co. will cooperate on four additional services — two on routes between East Asia and the Pacific Northwest and two on routes between ports in Asia and the Mediterranean. The service changes are expected to begin in March, subject to approval by the US Federal Maritime Commission and other regulators. The agreement will involve vessel sharing, slot exchanges and purchases, and Zim’s capacity will remain about the same. In the Pacific Northwest, ZIM will contribute four 8,500 TEU ships to the seven vessel string in what is now Maersk’s TP9/MSC’s Maple service. ZIM will call it the ZIM Pacific Pollux (ZP9) service. Currently Maersk operates all seven ships in the string. 

Shipping Industry Calls for Adoption of the Clune Report

The shipping industry has urged the European Parliament Transport Committee to adopt Deirdre Clune’s report on the draft regulation for a European Maritime Single Window Environment.Currently faced with a mosaic of differing IT system and requirements. The World Shipping Council and the European Community of Shipowners seek amendment that ensure a fully harmonized maritime single window data set and that new national data elements can only be requested if truly needed.  One would hope that a single, i.e. Canada, could do this much quicker than the EU.

HullWiper expands market with Immersub

HullWiper Ltd is moving into the African continent in its continued drive to keep the hulls of vessels free of non-native marine species by entering into an agreement with Indian Ocean-based underwater hull cleaning specialists Immersub.  HullWiper’s leasing program, introduced in 2017, works with partners around the world to offer ship owners and operators a cost-efficient, brush- and diver-free alternative to traditional hull cleaning methods that protects anti-fouling coating on vessel hulls.  This venture will help support the “Green Port Concept” of Mauritius, one of the 12 countries spearheading the GloFouling project. HullWiper’s patented Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) system uses adjustable seawater jets under variable pressure to remove fouling. Removed residues are collected by an onboard filter and deposited into dedicated drums onshore for locally-approved environmental disposal. The filter also reduces the risk of cross-pollination of waters with alien species.