On Tuesday 27 February 2018, 24 experts in five conference sessions discussed how Eastern Mediterranean region could become emissions-free through the application of electrification technologies in ports and vessels.

The Conference entitled “Powering zero-emission marine transportation” organised by the European co-funded elemed project attracted more than 200 delegates from marine & energy sectors, public bodies, port authorities and professional associations, at the amazing Lighthouse of SNFCC in Athens.

During his welcome speech Minister of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy P. Kouroumplis, announced the intention to convene a Committee to prepare the greek regulatory framework for electrification in ports and ships. The conference was also inaugurated by the Mayor of Piraeus I. Moralis and the Dean of School of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Professor G. Grigoropoulos.

The key outcomes of elemed project, the project policy recommendations for effective regulatory framework and the “Killini case”, the first on-shore power installation in Eastern Mediterranean, were featured at the first conference session.

The first panel discussion focused on zero-emission technologies for ports and vessels, where the design of an all-electric RoPax vessel developed within elemed project, the experience of port of Antwerp in implementing cold-ironing applications, available battery & power solutions as well as the capacity of greek companies to support the switch to greener marine transportation, were presented.

How ports could be transformed to emissions free energy hubs was the focus of the next panel discussion, where representatives from Ministry of Shipping, Port Authorities, Regulatory Authority of Energy & Cruise sector underlined the challenges and opportunities for ports to accommodate electrification technologies.

Notably interesting was the last panel discussion on greek islands potential to develop a sustainable insular ecosystem with the exploitation of electrification technologies. The Orkney islands’ experience of bridging renewable energy with marine transportation as well as strategies for supporting insular communities’ mobility and interconnections were at the forefront of the discussion.

 

Conference photos available here

Conference presentations will be uploaded shortly at www.elemedconference.eu

The Conference was held under the auspices of: Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy; Ministry of Environment & Energy; Piraeus Municipality; Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association; Hellenic Institute of Marine Technology; Hellenic Ports Association; Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members; Hellenic Chamber of Shipping; Association of Passenger Shipping Companies.

 

About elemed

Elemed (Electrification in the Eastern Mediterranean) prepares the ground for the introduction of cold ironing, electric bunkering and hybrid ships across the Eastern Mediterranean Sea corridor, aiming at eliminating emissions & noise in ports and surrounding urban area. It is a co-funded by European Union project, studying all technical, regulatory and financial issues related to the establishment of cold-ironing infrastructure, in four ports (Piraeus, Killini, Lemesos, Koper), involving three countries. Within elemed framework, the first pilot cold-ironing infrastructure in Eastern Mediterranean will be established in Killini Port.

Two-stroke MAN B&W engines Service Experience, by Peter Nerenst - Manager, Operation Department

Four-stroke MAN B&W engines Service Experience, by Lennart Wahl - Manager, Operation Department

Italian wine makers are the first to implement My Story™, a solution that will give consumers an easy glance into the contents of each wine bottle. Companies can now increase the transparency in their supply chain and demonstrate what lies behind the unique characteristics of their products.

The global quality assurance and risk management company DNV GL is at the annual GFSI Global Food Safety Conference in Tokyo announcing My Story, an off-the-shelf blockchain based digital assurance solution for the food and beverage industry combining deep industry expertise, physical independent audits with data collection and verification services.

My Story will provide insights into different characteristics and production processes behind the product enabling consumers to make their conscious purchasing decision. By scanning a QR-code, consumers can see the full history of the product and its journey from grape to bottle.

"My Story illuminates products and their supply chain for the benefit of consumers, who will have instant and in-depth access to key products characteristics such as quality, authenticity, origin, ingredients, water and energy consumption and more, all verified by DNV GL along the entire transformation process,” says Luca Crisciotti, CEO of DNV GL – Business Assurance.

"Brands, retailers and transformers will have the possibility to leverage on verified data to better understand their supply chain, while improving every aspect of products with reference to economic, quality, safety, environmental and ethical criteria,” continues Crisciotti. "Retailer and brands will be able to communicate about their products by a narrative in which commitments and key product attributes are verified by DNV GL, and accessible by consumers. My Story will progressively be expanded into other product categories in the food and beverage industry as well as other consumer driven industries".

Luca Crisciotti

The Italian wine sector is the first to use the new solution, with the four wine producers Michele Chiarlo, Ricci Curbastro, Ruffino and Torrevento being the frontrunners. They will feature the My Story label on their bottles in stores within the end of the year.

Federdoc, which represents more than 70\% of the Italian wine production considers My Story a very interesting initiative for the consumers. The Italian wine inspection authority Valoritalia, which provides data gathered during regulatory inspection activities, is involved in this project.

"My Story is our first solution based on our brand new Digital Assurance concept which already goes far beyond tracking a product from the point of origin up to the consumer. The VeChain powered Blockchain application will be available on DNV GL’s data management platform Veracity. This is only the first step of a longer journey in which we will leverage on the combined and coherent use of Blockchain, IoT, Data Curation and Artificial Intelligence to help customers building trust on their products, improving their performances and increasing efficiency in processes," says Digital Transformation Director in DNV GL - Business Assurance Renato Grottola.

 

About DNV GL

DNV GL is a global quality assurance and risk management company. Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, we enable our customers to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100 countries, our professionals are dedicated to helping customers in the maritime, oil & gas, power and renewables and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener.

About DNV GL – Maritime

DNV GL is the world’s leading classification society and a recognized advisor for the maritime industry. We enhance safety, quality, energy efficiency and environmental performance of the global shipping industry – across all vessel types and offshore structures. We invest heavily in research and development to find solutions, together with the industry, that address strategic, operational or  www.dnvgl.com/maritime

On 28 February 2018, the Director General of HELMEPA, Dimitris C. Mitsatsos and the Chairman of Dubai Council for Marine & Maritime Industries (DCMMI), Mr. Khamis Juma Buamim, signed the Inaugural Declaration of UAEMEPA, the United Arab Emirates Marine Environment Protection Association.

The signing ceremony took place at the beginning of the 9th Offshore Arabia Conference at Dubai in the presence of the Secretary General of IMO, Mr. Kitack Lim, UAE high standing functionaries and representatives of organizations and companies from within world shipping.

The new MEPA is the 7th consecutive association, to the creation of which HELMEPA contributed, following relevant request of the interested parties. Mr. Kitack Lim congratulated HELMEPA for spreading the volunteer spirit of MEPAs, whose Members sustain the financial operation of the associations. Apart from HELMEPA in Greece, these entities are today: CYMEPA (Cyprus), TURMEPA (Turkey), URUMEPA (Uruguay), AUSMEPA (Australia), NAMEPA (USA), UKRMEPA (Ukraine) and UAEMEPA.

HELMEPA offers the expertise it has gained during the 35 years of its existence to UAEMEPA, together with the wish to succeed in its mission for the protection of the environment in the fragile sea area of the Gulf.

“Shipbroking and Chartering Practice” - 8th Edition, released by Informa Law from Routledge as part of their book series called “Lloyd’s Practical Shipping Guides”.

By Evi Plomaritou, Anthony Papadopoulos

Now in its eighth edition, this classic text is a first point of reference for anyone looking to obtain an understanding of chartering and shipbroking practice. It provides hands-on, commercially-focused explanations of chartering business and invaluable advice on how the shipping market operates across a broad range of topics. The authors also deal expertly with the legal, financial, operational and managerial aspects of chartering, offering numerous case studies which clearly link theory to practice.

This new edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect the current trends in chartering practice, legal developments and standard forms of charterparties.

New to this edition:

• Enriched with practical examples covering crucial aspects of chartering and    shipbroking business, such as voyage estimations, freight conversions and tanker calculations.

• New material on day-to-day laytime principles, including "Laytime Definitions for   Charterparties 2013", associated commentary and relevant examples.

• Shipping Marketing as a modern tool of improving chartering and shipbroking   business.

• Expanded coverage on the economic background of chartering, including markets,   vessels, cargoes, trades and fixtures.

• Time Charter rates for all vessel types from 1980 to 2015.

• Updated review of well-known standard charterparty documents (inlcuding NYPE   2015), together with clauses and wordings commonly applying to various charter types.

• Analytical glossary containing typical terms and abbreviations used in chartering negotiations.

 

For more information visit:

Shipbroking and Chartering Practice, 8th Edition

For further details about our book, you may see below a short description by the editor, or click at “read more”, or simply use the following link:

www.routledge.com/Shipbroking-and-Chartering-Practice/Plomaritou-Papadopoulos/p/book/9781138826946?utm_source=outlook&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=170212637

 

 

Brazil’s Vale SA has sailed the first in a fleet of more efficient cargo vessels it’s using in a push to minimize the geographical advantage of its Australian rivals in sending iron ore to China.

The Yuan He Hai is part of a second-generation line of Very Large Ore Carriers, known as VLOCS or Valemaxes, that Vale will employ to deliver the steelmaking ingredient, primarily to its biggest customers in China. The freighter embarked from the Brazilian port of Tubarao, the company said by email Tuesday.

Shipbuilders are constructing a total of 32 such vessels for Vale by the end of 2019. The new “green" ships, which can haul 400,000 tons of ore, consume less fuel and emit 15 to 20 percent less carbon dioxide than the previous generation of vessels, said Vale, the world’s largest producer of iron ore.

Late last year, Chief Executive Officer Fabio Schvartsman said the Rio de Janeiro-based company’s cost-reduction strategy partly depends on the use of newer ships. While Vale mines some of the highest quality low-cost reserves in the world, it has the disadvantage of having to travel about 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) more than Australian competitors Rio Tinto Group and BHP Billiton Ltd. to reach China.

source:bloomberg.com

Nakilat has expanded its joint venture partnership with Greek shipping company Maran Ventures Inc., to include two additional LNG vessels.

Maran Nakilat Co. Ltd. was first established in 2005 with four jointly-owned LNG vessels, and was further expanded on several occasions. This new agreement increases the number of vessels jointly-owned by Nakilat and Maran Gas from 13 to 15 vessels. The two newly added vessels, Woodside Rogers and Woodside Goode, are equipped with modern technology and built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co (DSME). In addition, the two vessels are under long-term charter, and equipped with Dual Fuel Diesel-Electric (DFDE) propulsion models with a capacity of 159,800 cubic metres each.

Nakilat’s Chief Executive Officer Eng. Abdullah Al Sulaiti said, “Nakilat is extremely pleased that our strong partnership with Maran Gas continues to flourish since the first agreement signed in 2005. Strategic alliance with renowned partners has been fundamental to our success, and we are always looking for opportunities to grow our international presence. Nakilat now has ownership interest in 69 vessels, affirming our global leadership in energy transportation with the world’s largest LNG fleet. The company’s growth is a testament of our robust financial performance and strategic planning which has allowed us to further increase our fleet size and strengthen our international portfolio. This expansion comes as part of our efforts to maximize returns for our shareholders and support Qatar’s industry leading position as the world’s top LNG exporter.”

Chairman of Maran Gas, Mr John Angelicoussis said, “We are immensely proud of our partnership with Nakilat, one of the global leaders in energy transportation. We are delighted at this opportunity to further strengthen our long-term strategic relationship. We look forward to working closely together in the future, continuing to strive to provide a first-class service to all our LNG customers.”

About Nakilat

Nakilat is a Qatari LNG transport company providing an essential transportation link in the State of Qatar’s LNG supply chain. Its LNG shipping fleet is the largest in the world, comprising of 65 LNG vessels. Nakilat also owns and manages four large LPG carriers. Nakilat operates the ship repair and construction facilities at Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard in Ras Laffan Industrial City via two strategic joint ventures: N-KOM and NDSQ. Nakilat also offers a full range of marine support services to vessels operating in Qatari waters.

nakilat.com 

A slowdown in fleet growth should begin the recovery cycle from the second half of 2018, although freight rates will not reach the levels seen during the bull run of 2014-15, according to the latest edition of the LPG Forecaster published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.

2017 was one of the toughest years in the history for VLGC shipping as ample vessel supply squeezed the freight market. VLGC earnings in the spot market (on the benchmark AG-Japan route) averaged $12,500pd; way below the break-even rate of $21,000pd.

 

Shipowners are hoping for a better future as annual fleet growth is set to slow down from 16\% in 2016-17 to a more manageable 5\% over 2018-19. However, new ordering is also picking up, with seven VLGCs ordered in the first month of 2018 as owners look to position themselves for the next upswing in the freight cycle.

The above figure depicts Drewry’s freight rate forecast for VLGCs over the next three years, with rates improving from this year and strengthening further in 2019-20. However, rates are unlikely to touch the highs seen in 2014-15 when the bull run was led by a sudden pick-up in propane demand from new PDH plants in China. China already has its eight PDH plants up and running, and only two more plants are due to come on line in 2019. That will prevent any sudden spike in the country’s imports.

“Our outlook for 2018-20 suggests an average freight rate of $23,400pd, below the $28,800pd that was recorded between 2011 and 2013,” commented Shresth Sharma, senior analyst for gas shipping at Drewry. “The reason for the difference between average historical and future rates is that VLGC fleet ownership has become more fragmented since 2013 as many new players entered the market during the boom period of 2014-15. For instance, at the end of 2017, there were 62 companies in the VLGC sector, 17\% more than at the end of 2013. It goes without saying that fragmentation tends to reduce the bargaining power of shipowners with charterers.”
Source: Drewry

With four drone types in its arsenal, DNV GL has adapted its survey technology to various ship structures. Recently DNV GL reached a new milestone with its first offshore drone survey.

It's a gusty day in Gdynia, Poland, and outside the DNV GL station Leszek Alba is waiting for the wind to change. Alba is one of DNV GL’s 16 drone surveyors. Today, he is testing the Custom drone’s stability in different wind conditions and the stability of the video transmission – an important factor during the inspection of remote structural components in tanks and cargo holds.

Since DNV GL

New 7-Day Eclectic Cruises Call at Istanbul, Canakkale and Volos; New 7-Day 3 Continents Cruise Sails to Egypt, Israel and Turkey

Piraeus, Greece: Celestyal Cruises today announced its extended 2019 and new 2020 itineraries. In 2019 Celestyal Cruises will extend its season into December and return to Istanbul for the first time since 2016 with its new 7-Day Eclectic Aegean itinerary, which sails 6 departures from October 21^st 2019 through November 25^th 2019. This “eclectic’ cruise includes an overnight stay in Istanbul and calls at Volos, Greece, for excursions to the stunning mountains of Meteora, and to Canakkale, Turkey, for excursions to Troy and Gallipoli. The 7-Day Eclectic Aegean will also visit Heraklion and Santorini and, during its call at Mykonos, will depart at 2:00 a.m. so passengers can fully enjoy the nightlife of this cosmopolitan island.

Celestyal Cruises is also pleased to announce the launch of its 7-day “3 Continents” cruises in 2019, with 5 cruises in December 2019; the first departs from Piraeus on December 2^nd, while the fifth and final cruise sails from Piraeus on December 30^th. The 3 Continents cruise calls at Alexandria and Port Said, Egypt, at Ashdod, Israel, at Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey, at Limassol, Cyprus, and at Rhodes. Shore excursions at each of these ports will give passengers an authentic deep dive into the incredible history and culture of these storied destinations.

In 2020 Celestyal Cruises will continue its well-established 3- and 4-Day Iconic cruises and further strengthen its 7-day itineraries by offering a variety of choices to new and returning passengers. The 7-Day Eclectic Cruise will sail from April 6^th 2020 until the 11th of May, with a second series of cruises beginning on September 7^th and sailing through the end of October 2020. Celestyal Cruises’ 7-Day Idyllic Aegean cruises will sail from May 18^th through August 31^st, while the 3 Continents cruise will sail from March 2^nd through March 30^th and Nov 2^nd through December 28^th.

Celestyal Cruises’ extended 2019 and 2020 seasons are a first step toward its goal of sailing year-round Aegean cruises. All 2019 and 2020 cruises feature the award winning Celestyal Inclusive experience with all-inclusive drink packages, all meals on-board, entertainment, selected shore excursions, port and service charges and gratuities included in the fare.  

 

“Our 2019 and 2020 itineraries add 7 new ports of call to our Eastern Mediterranean product and bring us closer to our objective of sailing year-round in our home waters,” said Celestyal Cruises CEO Kerry Anastassiadis. “We are thrilled to be returning to Istanbul, and to give our passengers the opportunity to visit Ephesus, Troy and Gallipoli, as well as Volos, Greece, the gateway to the fabled mountain landscapes of Meteora, and with our new 3 Continents cruise, our passengers can now visit the Holy Land and the Pyramids, in addition to calling at our spectacular Aegean destinations. Given our recent Cruise Critic awards for value, Shorex and service and the addition of these incredible ports of call to our itineraries, we continue to give new and returning passengers more reasons to sail with us.”

 

About Celestyal Cruises

Celestyal Cruises is the home-porting cruise operator in Greece and the preeminent cruise line serving the Greek Islands and East Med. The company operates four mid-sized vessels, each one cosy enough to provide genuine and highly-personalized services. The foundation of the company’s philosophy is the ‘destination.’ Every cruise focuses on true cultural immersion, offering authentic, lifetime experiences both on board and on shore wherever its vessels sail.

Awards & Recognition

In February 2018 Celestyal Cruises received four Cruise Critic Cruisers Choice Awards: two first place awards, for Shore Excursions and Value, and two second place awards, for Service and Entertainment. In 2017 Celestyal Cruises was given the UK Editors’ Picks Award for Best Service by Cruise Critic, the world's largest cruise reviews site and online cruise community, as well as four Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards: Best (mid-sized), Embarkation, Entertainment, Shore Excursions and Value.

Corporate Responsibility

Celestyal Cruises is deeply committed to sustainability and ethical business practices. The company actively supports the local communities in the destinations it visits, particularly in the field of education. Since 2015, more than 1,200 students on the Greek islands of Milos, Patmos and Ios have enjoyed a ‘journey to knowledge’, by attending specialized educational programs, initiated by Celestyal Cruises. Additionally, Celestyal Cruises supports cultural NGOs to promote youth entrepreneurship, marine student development and child welfare.

ISO Certification 

The entire spectrum of Celestyal Cruises’ ship management, including technical, hotel and crew management, and offices, are certified in accordance with ISO 9001/14001 standards. The certifying authority is DNV-GL, which is by widely recognized as the biggest and most respected rating agency in the marine industry.

Connect with Celestyal Cruises:

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn