seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Why Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line Stocks Fell Today
A dangerous new strain of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly.
Joe Tenebruso Dec 21, 2020 https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/12/21/why-carnival-royal-caribbean-a...

What happened

Last refinery in the Philippines shutters
Sam Chambers December 21, 2020 https://splash247.com/last-refinery-in-the-philippines-shutters/

The last refinery working in the Philippines will close next month. Petron said the decision to close its loss-making 180,000 barrels a day refinery was a temporary one and it will reopen when market conditions improve.

15 sailors missing as cargo ship sinks off Vietnam
Islamuddin Sajid | 18.12.2020 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/15-sailors-missing-as-cargo-ship-s...

Panama-flagged vessel was taking clay from Malaysia to Hong Kong, crew includes 11 Chinese, 4 Vietnamese nationals

At least 15 crew members are missing as a Panama-flagged cargo ship capsized in rough seas off Vietnam, local media reported on Friday.

PMMA unveils historical marker in Intramuros
Yashika F. Torib December 9, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/12/09/business/maritime-business/pmma-u...

Rene Escalante (right) of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and Commodore Joel Abutal, PMMA Superintendent PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PMMA

We have a shared responsibility for bringing our seafarers home
21/12/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/we-have-a-shared-responsibility-for...

The holiday season is approaching fast for much of the world’s population and will be an opportunity for many to spend time with family and friends. But for thousands of seafarers, the ongoing crew change crisis deprives them even of the hope of being home in time for the holidays.

As the Seafarer Crisis Continues, MSC Calls for Bulk Carrier Anastasia Resolution
December 20, 2020 https://www.maritimeprofessional.com/news/seafarer-crisis-continues-call...

The bulk carrier Anastasia, stuck off the coast of China with crew change request unheeded since mid-2020, has become a rallying point for MSC in urging governments to work together to find a solution.

Maersk Warns of Africa Piracy Risk After Cargo Ship Attacked
Verity Ratcliffe December 20, 2020 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-20/cargo-ship-hijacked-e...

A container ship owned by A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S was attacked off the West African coast, prompting the company to warn of a rising risk from piracy in the area.

Conquering Christmas blues at sea
Yashika F. Torib December 16, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/12/16/business/maritime-business/conque...

China's trade war with Australia is having very real consequences for stranded seafarers
Kai Feng 20 Dec 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-20/china-australia-trade-spat-coal-s...

Intensifying trade tensions between China and Australia are now leaving seafarers in limbo, as dozens of ships remain stranded near the Chinese coast.

COVID-19 Fuels Abandonment of Ships – and Their Cargoes and Crews
K. Oanh Ha and Bruce Stanley | December 18, 2020 https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2020/12/18/594596.htm

From the deck of their tanker, Captain Samig Nabiyev and his crew could see the smoke and fire rising over the Port of Beirut, 900 meters away. When the flaming warehouse exploded, the force of the blast knocked Nabiyev flat on his back.