| |
Local News
 Fortis BC’s expansion proposal for the small liquefied natural gas plant on Tilbury Island in Delta, is facing scrutiny in an environmental review. The Phase 2 expansion would increase LNG storage capacity at Tilbury, adding up to 3.5 million tonnes of LNG production for a total of 4.4 million tonnes, about one-third the size of the first phase of LNG Canada’s project that is under construction, and could potentially tap into rising demand for LNG as fuel for ships. The proposal is facing opposition on issues ranging from the climate impacts of LNG to safety.
|
 Vancouver’s recently launched G3 Terminal is transforming Canada’s grain supply chain. The modern system saves Western Canadian farmers’ time and money by keeping their grain moving to market and ensures overseas customers have fast and reliable access to high quality Canadian crops. Construction on G3 Terminal began in North Vancouver in March, 2017 and is now substantially complete as planned, with the facility safely and efficiently taking in grain by rail and loading it onto ships for the last several months. The terminal is designed with a focus on high velocity grain receiving, shipping and best-in-class environmental and safety standards, representing the next generation of grain terminal design. The facility can receive up to three 150-car trains on its loop track, unique among grain exporting terminals in Canada. Trains quickly unload while in motion and travel back to G3’s Prairie elevators without detaching from their locomotives.
|
 Clear Seas is celebrating a milestone: five years of providing research on issues around sustainable marine shipping – from underwater noise, oil tankers, air pollution from ships and more – to over 200,000 website users, most of whom are in Canada. During its first five years, Clear Seas has become key to building awareness about commercial marine shipping and to reach Canadians of all ages and backgrounds, from policy makers, researchers, and educators, and anyone who wants to learn more about marine shipping issues.
|
Government
 The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, has announced that Canada has joined the Global Ocean Alliance. The Alliance’s goal is to advocate for the protection of at least 30 per cent of the world’s oceans through the establishment of marine protected areas and other effective area-based marine conservation measures by 2030. Since 2015, the Government of Canada has worked in partnership with provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, and environmental and industry organizations to increase the protection of our oceans. The Government of Canada is continuing to work toward its target of protecting 25 per cent of marine and coastal areas by 2025, and 30 per cent by 2030.
|
 The Government of Canada has issued an advance contract award notice, signalling its intention to purchase the motor vessel Villa de Teror as an interim measure to replace the ferry MV Madeleine. The MV Madeleine is 39-year-old, 6,807 gross ton vessel that is used as the primary vessel for service between Îles de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, and Souris, Prince Edward Island. Last year, the government announced that Chantier Davie Canada Inc. will build a replacement vessel, which is expected to be ready in 2026. Once the purchase has been completed, Transport Canada intends to rename the MV Villa de Teror as the MV Madeleine II. When the permanent replacement built by Chantier Davie enters into service, the government will sell the MV Villa de Teror.
|
US News
 The Soo Locks had to be shut down for more than five hours on Sunday after a 736-foot Canadian freighter, Atlantic Huron, lost power as it approached the system’s big Poe Lock, striking the west center pier. The impact damaged the freighter and the pier. No one was injured, and the amount of damage to pier will be better assessed by divers. The main lock system itself was not damaged, and no pollution was seen in the water.
International News
 Governments around the world are expressing their appreciation to seafarers and pledging to urgently resolve crew change issues that have arisen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Representatives of governments attending the International Maritime Summit on Crew Changes held on 9 July 2020 acknowledged that failure by governments to resolve these issues will have significant impact on maritime transport. The statement acknowledged the inability to conduct crew changes and noted that the health and wellbeing of seafarers is paramount and is inextricably linked to the continuing safety and efficiency of ship operations.
|
 Yang Ming has been successful in their promise to significantly reduce carbon emissions over the last decade. In 2019, Yang Ming fleet’s average carbon intensity (CO2 emissions per transport work) per Teu/Km significantly reduced by 51% compared with the level in 2008, from 99.4 g/teu-km to 48.1 g/teu-km, accomplishing the IMO target of reducing carbon intensity by at least 40% by 2030, eleven years ahead of schedule. To achieve the targets, several long-term strategies were undertaken, including implementing 12 vessel modification and optimization projects, and accelerating the vessel renewal plan by eliminating vessels over 20 years of age and adding ten 2,800 TEU class, twenty 14,000 TEU and fourteen 11,000 TEU class echo-friendly smart vessels.
|
 The Sailors’ Society has announced the appointment of new Chief Executive Officer, Sara Baade, starting in September 2020. Sara has a strong background in management and strategic policy and brings extensive experience in leading an international welfare charity from her current role as CEO of The Army Families Federation. Her career also includes working as a senior civil servant for the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, a directorship at the charity UK Skills and substantial experience in investment banking.
|
 China Navigation (CNCo) has announced its intention to separate its dry bulk shipping activities from its liner shipping and fleet management business and establish Swire Bulk as a standalone privately held company headquartered in Singapore. Swire Bulk was established as a division of China Navigation in 2012 and has grown the business rapidly over the last eight years. Following the acquisition of Hamburg Sud Tramp from Maersk Line in 2019, Swire Bulk has become the largest part of CNCo’s business, operating a fleet of up to 150 vessels predominantly in the handysize and supra/ultramax sectors. John Swire & Sons Ltd will remain the ultimate parent company for Swire Bulk. The target date for the separation is January 1, 2021.
|
 MSC has joined the Smart Maritime Network, an industry membership group focused on increasing the compatibility, standardization, and harmonization of the technology used in the shipping industry. Launched in 2019, Smart Maritime Network has the goal of providing a platform to promote the benefits of enhanced integration, standardisation and data sharing among stakeholders within the maritime and transport logistics sectors.
|
Upcoming Events
July 24 - COS Liner Committee Meeting
July 29 - COS Operations Committee Meeting
Aug 3 - COS Office Closed Civic Holiday
Aug 5 - COS Board of Directors Meeting
Ship of the Week
Last Friday, Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's Provincial Health Officer, joined a small number of Seaspan Shipyards employees and special guests to break the customary bottle of champagne against the bow of the future CCGS John Cabot, officially launching the third state-of-the-art Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV) for the Canadian Coast Guard. Dr. Henry began her career as a medical officer with the Royal Canadian Navy, and was invited by Seaspan to officially launch the vessel in recognition of her exceptional leadership and tireless efforts to keep British Columbians safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and to slow the spread of the virus in Canada. CCGS John Cabot is the third Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV) built and launched by Seaspan Shipyards under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Her sister ships, the CCGS Sir John Franklin, now stationed in Victoria, British Columbia, and the CCGS Capt Jacques Cartier, stationed in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, are already in service. Following sea trials and upon delivery to the Coast Guard, anticipated later this summer, the CCGS John Cabot will be based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Video at https://vimeo.com/435638969.
- Length: 63.4 metres
- Type: Fishing Support Vessel
- Built: 2020
- GT: 2701
- DWT: 900
|
|
