The coronavirus pandemic led to highly exceptional conditions in the first quarter of 2020, with severe worldwide disruption of production processes and logistical chains. Closed factories, stricter border controls and restrictions on personal freedom of movement have disrupted society around the globe. This unprecedented situation and the consequences are affecting international trade hubs such as the port of Rotterdam. Throughput in the first quarter was 112.4 million tonnes, 9.3% down on the same period last year. It should be pointed out that volumes in container handling, LNG and biofuels during the first quarter of 2019 were at record highs.

Platform revolutionizes the cargo booking, outbound and inbound handling processes for JAL and its clients

An alliance of leading maritime companies desperately concerned about seafarer welfare and the viability of ocean supply chains in the midst of coronavirus restrictions has developed detailed crew changeover risk assessment plans.
However, it needs urgent political and regulatory support to enact them.

Representing more than 1,500 vessels and over 70,000 seafarers, the alliance includes D/S Norden, Grieg Star, Reederei Nord, Dynacom, V.Group, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL), Magsaysay, Augustea, Columbia Ship Management, Inchcape Shipping Services and Synergy Group.

WOC INVITES SUPPORT FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING CAMPAIGN FOR DEVELOPING WORLD SEAFARERS

World Ocean Council Re-extends Call for Assistance to Mariners Impacted by Coronavirus Pandemic

Since the start of the COVID 19 crisis, Europe’s ports have been doing everything possible to ensure the continuity of their operations and thus the security of supply. European ports have activated contingency plans to ensure that ports remain fully operational during this crisis. More than ever, European ports have been demonstrating their role as essential and critical infrastructures playing a crucial role in the supply of necessary goods.

• The CMA CGM Group and its subsidiary CEVA Logistics are mobilizing their expertise and logistical resources to respond to the national emergency
• CEVA Logistics will deliver 20 million masks as well as medical supplies to France by Sunday, April 12^th
• CMA CGM is preparing a maritime bridge to ensure that France is supplied with medical equipment

Three thousand masks were donated by the Chinese construction giant CCCC to the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority. Parcels were delivered today, following a request of collaboration made by President Pino Musolino.

VOS LOGISTICS REPORTS 9% TURNOVER GROWTH IN 2019

• Turnover €342 million; consolidated EBIT €7 million, solvency enhanced to 23,5%
• Reinforced proposition in distribution, warehousing and crossdocking through the acquisition of SNEL Shared Logistics
• Covid-19 virus: safety of staff first, maintaining quality of service and dealing with uncertainty

The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and the Republic of Latvia have signed a 10-year loan agreement of EUR 500 million to finance additional government expenditures from mitigating the impact of the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic.

LESSONS FROM CALIFORNIA’S BIOFOULING MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS – GLOFOULING PROJECT WEBINAR

WOC Reaches Out On Lessons Learned Through Implementing and Enforcing California’s Biofouling Management Regulations: GloFouling Project Webinar, 23 April

Drewry’s latest forecast for multipurpose and heavylift (MPV/HL) shipping confirms that if the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is contained by 4Q20, the expected demand growth for breakbulk and project cargo will stay positive but remain very weak.

The credit outlook for container shipping companies has worsened as they grapple with today’s difficult operating conditions brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, a global recession this year and likely subdued longer-term growth.

In a three-year Business Finland BioFlex project, VTT and partners are exploring how suitable fuel oils made from biomass and waste plastics are for power plants and ship diesel engines. The aim is to determine the most ecologically and economically sustainable way to replace fossil fuels.

In Finland, the city of Lappeenranta has prepared a climate program for the next ten years during the past winter. The city wanted to involve companies and residents in the preparation of the program. Therefore, Lappeenranta organized multiple workshops with different themes like energy, transport, and construction. Plenty of useful ideas and suggestions came up in the workshops.

Paris, 7 April — UNESCO’s International Bioethics Committee (IBC) and World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) have issued a joint statement to guide policy makers and inform the public about essential ethical considerations that need to be addressed during the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.