More insurance related news:
The Association of Average Adjusters (AAA) has issued a warning to the maritime sector, highlighting the growing legal ambiguity around insurance claims involving vessel groundings linked to GPS spoofing. In a new discussion paper, the AAA warns that...
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
ombugge
August 11, 2025, 7:04pm
547
https://www.egyptindependent.com/suez-canal-authority-responds-to-trumps-request-for-free-passage-for-us-ships/
The Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Osama Rabie, explained that “Egypt, as a country, respects charters and treaties, including the 1888 Treaty of Constantinople, which stipulates non-discrimination between the flags of ships and their countries.”
“The canal does not discriminate between the services provided to ships based on the nationality of their countries, and provides consistent services to all ships, regardless of their country and whether or not they have friendly relations with Egypt,” he added.
PS> That should be clear enough for anybody to understand, even Trump.
ombugge
August 12, 2025, 12:03pm
548
Norwegian ultramax bulker specialist Belships has been linked to the sale of four of its ageing ships. Multiple brokers report the Oslo-based outfit, controlled by EnTrust Global vehicle Blue Northern, has offloaded Belinda, Belatlantic, Belsouth and...
Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Belships operates a fleet of 42 ships on a fully delivered basis, with an average fleet age of around four years. The company has more than 10 ultramax newbuildings due for delivery in the coming years, financed through long-term time charter lease arrangements, typically running seven to 10 years, and include purchase options.
The four vessels reported sold are the oldest in Belships’ owned portfolio and their exit would further reduce the average age of the fleet.
PS> “Four of its ageing ships” built around 10 years ago? That is nearly “brand new” vessels for most fleets.
“Average fleet age of around four years.”. Eat you heart out.
ombugge
August 20, 2025, 1:33pm
550
A chapter in Shipping history is over:
One of the world’s most famous names in shipping has disappeared following a shareholder vote yesterday in Bermuda. Golden Ocean Group, originally founded in 1978 by Fred Cheng before being sold under Chapter 11 protection to John Fredriksen’s...
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
PS> Is “Big John” cashing in and getting ready to retire?
Well, maybe not:
John Fredriksen’s SFL Corporation has locked in fresh revenue with Maersk, agreeing to five-year charter extensions for three 9,500 teu container ships, starting in 2026. The renewed deals will add around $225m to the company’s contracted backlog....
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
ombugge
September 4, 2025, 4:50pm
552
Special guest on Splash 24/7 today:
Pierre Aury assesses how shipping fares when it comes to safety and share prices. A few months ago, Allianz published its annual safety and maritime review for the year 2024. As usual, it makes good reading. In a nutshell, in 2024, 27 total losses...
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
ombugge
September 5, 2025, 11:06am
553
More problems for ships calling at US ports:
Shipmanagers are warning of mounting operational chaos as fresh US visa restrictions begin to bite, Splash has learned. Multiple sources at leading shipmanagement companies confirm growing problems with obtaining valid US visas for crewmembers. The...
Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Shipmanagers say the implications are stark: soaring crewing costs, flight expenses for mid-voyage crew swaps, and serious disruption to vessel schedules.
With more than 84,000 vessel arrivals at US ports annually, industry insiders fear the visa squeeze could quickly cascade into a systemic issue for global supply chains.
That just add to the question asked here: IMO News - #42 by ombugge
PS> It appears that the intention is to “pull up the drawbridge across the moat” on both sides of “Castle America”:
Source:
The Brief - Pulling up the drawbridge - Euractiv
Source:
Subscribe to read
PS> Another drawbridge that has been pulled:
Source:
Vaccine Equity Cartoons and Comics - funny pictures from CartoonStock
ombugge
September 6, 2025, 1:55pm
554
A comprehensively human approach that takes account of the training and social and wellbeing needs of seafarers is the foundation for shipping’s safe transition to the sustainable future, writes Luis...
Est. reading time: 4 minutes
https://www.wallem.com/
Wallem Group has a long history in Asia and in Ship Management:
Established by Haakon J. Wallem in 1903 in Shanghai, China as shipbroking and chartering firm Wallem & Co., the company became the world’s first third-party ship manager in 1908 when it was appointed to manage sister ships SS Chingtufu and SS Tsinanfu , both employed in the coal trade on the Chinese coast.
ombugge
September 19, 2025, 4:12pm
555
Not everybody born into wealth becomes cry babies, or spoiled brats:
Two high-profile names from opposite sides of the world — Asian shipping tycoon Chavalit Frederick Tsao and Norwegian impact investor Tharald Nustad — have teamed up to create a new ocean impact vehicle aimed squarely at Asia. The pair yesterday...
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The fund positions itself as among the first and largest in Asia focused on the blue economy, targeting maritime decarbonisation, ocean renewables, green port infrastructure, biodiversity and restoration projects, circular resources, and sustainable aquaculture. The first accelerator is slated for the first half of 2026, with a goal of backing 20 start-ups within five years.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chavalit-frederick-tsao/ ? original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&originalSubdomain=sg
ombugge
September 29, 2025, 9:28pm
556
World Maritime Day provided a fitting backdrop for the latest Maritime CEO Forum, staged last week at Singapore’s Fullerton Hotel for the final time before shifting to a larger venue in 2026. The opening Big Issues panel lived up to its...
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Maybe the above is the reason for the exodus?:
Nearly one in 10 senior maritime executives plan to retire over the next two years, according to a new survey carried by Faststream, a recruitment company. The survey found 9% of shipping’s c-suite expect to exit the workforce by 2027, marking a...
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
ombugge
September 30, 2025, 9:45pm
558
More from Maritime CEO Forum Singapore:
Singapore’s Fullerton Hotel played host to another lively Maritime CEO Forum last week, with the tanker session proving one of the most animated. Moderated by Duncan Ross of Paratus & Partners, the panel featured Hafnia’s Peter Kolding, Ardmore...
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
ombugge
October 1, 2025, 8:45pm
559
Container analysts at Alphaliner have crunched the numbers to calculate the theoretical fees to be levied from the US Trade Representative (USTR) that carriers would face in 2026 if they maintained the same fleet deployment to the US as today....
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
China has taken preemptive action against the US’s plans to hike port fees for China-linked tonnage.
Oh no
Or maybe they’ll do something similar to this?:
Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese has waded into a spat between miner BHP and China. Reports in China this week suggest China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG), the state-run iron ore buyer, has told steelmakers and traders to temporarily stop...
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Confusion surrounds the news, however. Commodore Research and Consultancy, a well-respected observer of Chinese commodities, said yesterday that Chinese steel mills have not been ordered to stop buying BHP iron ore.
PS> Don’t know what is left for to stop importing from USA:
Looking ahead, the most promising opportunities lie where structural demand intersects with policy support: semiconductors and advanced machinery tied to industrial upgrading, and consumer goods linked to rising urban incomes. For global businesses, success will hinge less on chasing short-term trade fluctuations and more on embedding strategies that anticipate China’s long-term pivot toward innovation-driven industry and consumer-led growth.
Source: China’s Imports in 2025: Key Trends and Strategic Implications
ombugge
October 3, 2025, 1:00pm
561
Armageddon (USTR) is getting closer:
With 11 days to go until its introduction, the US Trade Representative’s planned hike in port fees for Chinese-linked tonnage has been a near-constant in the shipping news this week. Chinese premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree over the...
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
“Not everyone is convinced that the October 14 USTR port call fees on China-made vessels and operators will materialise, as the issue may be part of the ongoing US-China negotiations,” commented Judah Levine, head of research at Freightos, a box booking platform, in a recent note to clients.
Here is Splash Wrap podcast today: https://youtu.be/Gd2GjH_ESRI
ombugge
October 5, 2025, 12:02pm
562
A truly multi-purpose vessel coming to waters near Hogsnort:
Nova Marine Carriers breaks into New Zealand market with MPP newbuild - Splash247 .
The MBL/Nova Marine partnership won the government tender with a proposal centred on an MPP newbuilding designed to carry containers, fuel, vehicles and livestock.
ombugge
October 6, 2025, 12:32pm
563
US Customs provided over the weekend more details about the upcoming hiked port fees for Chinese-linked tonnage, due to come into effect next week. The notice makes clear: the burden for determining liability lies squarely with the vessel operator,...
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
There are three pricing levels.or $120 per container discharged.
Some relief is baked in: LNG tankers are exempt from fees under these annexes.
PS> So loading containers in US ports is free then? Maybe they don’t count on too much US export in containers after the Trump tariffs chicks in for real?
Are they doing the same to ALL the US owned and built ships visiting Chinese ports? 
