Shipping and Maritime

Commissioner Dye Leading FMC Initiative to Address Urgent COVID-19 Supply Chain Impacts

Rebecca DyeMarch 31, 2020 - The Federal Maritime Commission today issued an order authorizing Commissioner Rebecca Dye to identify operational solutions to cargo delivery system challenges related to Coronavirus-19.

The Order notes that “Recent global events have only highlighted the economic urgency of responsive port and terminal operations to the effectiveness of the United States international freight delivery system.  Given the Commission’s mandate to ensure an efficient and economic transportation system for ocean commerce, the Commission has a clear and compelling responsibility to actively respond to current challenges impacting the global supply chain and the American economy.  Accordingly, the Commission has determined there is a compelling need to convene new Supply Chain Innovation Teams to address these challenges.”

In addition to authorizing Commissioner Dye as the Investigating Officer for “Fact Finding No. 29 International Ocean Transportation Supply Chain Engagement”, the Order allows her to form one or more FMC Supply Chain Innovation Teams to support the efforts.

“The United States depends on reliable international ocean freight delivery to support the economic security of our country.  The maritime supply chain extends upstream and downstream from the ports and closely located logistics centers to American exporters and importers and keeping the system functioning is a priority of national importance.  This initiative is an effort by the Commission to do everything we can to eliminate pressing problems in the freight delivery system,” said Commissioner Dye.

Commissioner Dye will engage key executives to participate on the Innovation Teams.  These industry leaders will represent all facets of the ocean cargo system including public port authorities, marine terminal operators, beneficial cargo owners, ocean transportation intermediaries, liner shipping companies, drayage trucking companies, longshore labor representatives, rail officials, and chassis providers.

Commissioner Dye will commence her work by interviewing port directors to determine what steps they can identify to mitigate critical supply chain challenges.

“Small and medium-sized shippers are especially affected by a lack of cargo storage space and are running out of options of where to send shipments once offloaded and I applaud this contribution.   The Pacific Northwest Seaport Alliance has identified sites in their complex that can be used to stage cargo and containers off terminals.  I applaud their initiative.  We are calling on everyone engaged in moving ocean cargo to do what they can in this effort,” said Commissioner Dye.

Individuals wishing to provide information to Commissioner Dye may do so by writing to [email protected].

SOURCE: Federal Maritime Commission

 

G2 Ocean Appoints Sim Keat Lim as the New Vice President Pacific

Sim Keat LimFeb. 28, 2020 - G2 Ocean has appointed Sim Keat (SK) Lim as the new Vice President Pacific. He will responsible for leading G2 Ocean’s Pacific trades and further expanding the company’s reach of services in Asia.

Lim replaces Simon Baker, who has been assigned to develop new business opportunities in Africa and India and is moving to South Africa.

Formerly, Lim served as Global Shipping Head of Jakarta-based Asia Pulp and Paper, one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world.

“SK has in-depth and updated knowledge of the pulp and paper market, particularly in Asia. He has tackled many similar challenges in previous roles, and we are confident in his ability to shape our business, including launching and scaling new markets,” said Arthur English, CEO of G2 Ocean.

Lim has a double master’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in Shipping, Offshore and Finance from both Nanyang Business School and BI Norwegian School of Management.

About G2 Ocean

Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, G2 Ocean is a joint venture of two of the world’s largest open hatch ship-owning companies; Gearbulk and Grieg Star. Since the launch in 2017, G2 Ocean has become the largest deep-sea breakbulk carrier in the world, and also operates a substantial fleet of conventional bulk vessels.

G2 Ocean operates a fleet of approximately 125 vessels; the world’s largest fleet of open hatch gantry crane and jib crane vessels with box-shaped holds to maximise stowage and minimise cargo handling.

SOURCE: G2 Ocean

 

Shipping Decarbonization Hinges on Owners of Cargo, Not Ships

The single most important vessel-supply question for the coming decades is: Will the ocean shipping industry decarbonize on a global scale?

By Greg Miller for Freight Waves

Feb. 7, 2020 - The single most important vessel-supply question for the coming decades is: Will the ocean shipping industry decarbonize on a global scale?

Even those who view carbon reduction with contempt and are entirely focused on their own bank accounts take this question very seriously, given the enormous sums to be gained or lost. What’s at stake is nothing less than the long-term supply-demand balance of the world’s shipping network.

Decarbonization would reduce the number of vessels at sea, revolutionize ship designs, and force ocean freight rates higher to cover the added cost. For this to happen, ship owners must be denied the capital to finance new carbon-emitting ships, and they must be forced to decarbonize via binding International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations.

None of that is possible unless it’s supported by the cargo side: the world’s largest ocean shippers of oil, gas, ore, coal and grain, as well as the governments of the countries that have the most to gain from ocean trade, whether of bulk commodities or containerized goods — particularly countries in Asia.

The pro-decarbonization game plan was laid out in detail at the Hellenic-American/Norwegian-American Chambers of Commerce (HACC/NACC) Joint Shipping Conference in New York on Tuesday. Advocates claimed that not only ship finance but also cargo interests are on board.

The shipping banks launched a decarbonization initiative called the Poseidon Principles in June 2019. According to Citi Global Head of Shipping Michael Parker, the chairman of the Poseidon Principles, the charterers that ship the cargo are about to follow suit.

“There is a parallel initiative to the Poseidon Principles underway at the moment, currently code-named ‘The Charterers’ Charter,’” he disclosed. “They met with us when we started this process and diverged off because they were concerned that the banks would be too proscriptive.

“They are right behind us. We expect something to come out [of the charterers’ side] by October, where the main users of [dry and wet] bulk shipping will have a view about the emissions of the vessels. It won’t just be about the emissions. It will be about cargo owners coming to a common set of principles on what vessels they will charter.

Read the complete article at: Freight Waves

 

G2 Ocean Names Arthur English as New CEO, Succeeds Rune Birkeland

Rune Birkeland

Jan. 25, 2020 - G2 Ocean recently announced that Rune Birkeland decided to resign from his position as Chief Executive Officer. He will be replaced by Arthur English, Chief Commercial Officer, effective 1 January 2020.

Birkeland will continue to take an active part in the company as a Grieg Group representative.

Birkeland has been with Grieg for 15 years and served as CEO of G2 Ocean since its launch in 2017. During his tenure, Birkeland has helped build a strong foundation for G2 Ocean.

“I look back at the last three years with great satisfaction – it has been an incredible journey and a privilege to lead this business. I want to thank every single employee at G2 Ocean for helping to make it all possible,” Birkeland said.

Arthur English

Birkeland noted that Arthur English is the ideal candidate for the role of CEO at G2.

Arthur has been a major contributor to G2 Ocean’s growth and success over the last three years. Having worked side by side with him, I have appreciated his qualities and I am confident that we have found an ideal successor to lead the company into its next phase of growth,” Birkeland emphasized.

English has worked 25 years for Gearbulk and G2 Ocean.

“I am very honored to be given the opportunity to lead G2 Ocean together with more than 360 highly competent colleagues worldwide. It is with humility I take on this task,” English said.

Birkeland will support English closely in the coming months to ensure a smooth transfer of leadership.

About G2 Ocean

G2 Ocean is a joint venture of two of the world’s leading breakbulk and bulk shipping companies: Gearbulk and Grieg Star. The company operates the largest fleet of open hatch vessels worldwide, in addition to a substantial fleet of conventional bulk carriers.

SOURCE: G2 Ocean

 

SCA's Ship Owning Business is Moving Home to Sweden

SCA OstrandJan. 25, 2020 - SCA Group at the beginning of January announced that it is moving its vessel registration home to Sweden, forming SCA Shipping AB. The measure is the result of the new Swedish tonnage tax system.

“Gathering our entire shipping business is a more logical solution,” says Per-Anders Westin, Finance Manager SCA Logistics.

SCA's shipping operations have been located on the Isle of Man for a number of years; however, some 10 Swedish companies, among them SCA, have applied to the Swedish Tax Agency to move their shipping businesses back home from 1 January. This is the result of a change to taxation regulations for vessel ownership.

“Thanks to the tonnage tax, more shipping companies will be registering here in Sweden instead of abroad,” says Per-Anders.

This change will not result in price rises for customers

In conjunction with this, there will be changes to what are known as Liner Terms and Conditions; however, this will not result in any changes to either administration or the cost to our customers. The tonnage tax system will make it easier to develop maritime-related businesses in Sweden.

“This is positive for Sweden and for the shipping community,” concludes Per-Anders.

The new company's impact on SCA

The new shipping company refers to our own RoRo vessels m/v SCA Ortviken, m/v SCA Obbola and m/v SCA Ostrand. The chartered container vessels m/v SCA Munksund and m/v SCA Tunadal will not be a part of the new company. From an employment point of view, the shipping company will not have employees on the vessels. There have also been some adjustments for the systems relating to finance, invoicing and transport. All of these are prepared to work in the new shipping company from January 1, 2020.

Facts

1The Swedish Government's stated aim and expectations in establishing the Swedish tonnage tax regime is to increase the Swedish shipping industry's competitive situation and the proportion of Swedish flagged vessels. Shipping companies will pay corporate income tax on a calculated, standardized income based on the vessel's net tonnage. Qualified vessels are those primarily used in international shipping or domestic shipping in another country. The tonnage tax is applied in the majority of EU Member States that undertake significant commercial shipping operations. The Swedish tonnage taxation system is voluntary.

1The Swedish Shipowners' Association

SOURCE: SCA

 
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