After such a chaotic and crazy year like 2020, we started the new year by returning to what we at FleetMon.com truly care about. The answer came to mind immediately – Our community, of course! It is all those great people enjoying their time uploading unique vessel images and adding vessel information to the datasheets. You guys add value to our platform every day! Therefore, from now on, we would like to put the spotlight on our community members, introducing one ship spotter or maritime enthusiast every month on the corporate blog.
The community is growing! This month, we start with a new member joining FleetMon.com in September 2020: Ship spotter phduck2k from Greece. He uploaded 120 vessel photos already and has been ship spotting practically all his life.
While international shipping is making intensive efforts to demonstrate its environmental awareness, for example by introducing cleaner propulsion systems, it is creating negative headlines elsewhere.
We encounter increasing reports on losses of large quantities of containers on the high seas as a result of severe storms and other extreme weather conditions. The World Shipping Council (WSC) recently released its 2020 update showing that, on average, 1,382 containers are lost at sea each year.
The most spectacular example is the 2019-built Japanese 14,000 TEU freighter “ONE Apus” (IMO 9806079), which lost over 1,800 containers on Nov 30 2020 in the middle of the Pacific being en route from China to the US west coast. Initially, media reports stated that over 1,900 boxes were swept overboard by a storm. Some 64 dangerous goods containers were lost as well, alongside 54 with fireworks, eight with batteries, and two with liquid ethanol. On Dec 8 2020 the ship has arrived in Kobe, where the big clean-up and safety check-up has started.
Top 5 container ships with most freight loss
The loss of large amounts of cargo due to difficult weather conditions occurs equally for all shipping companies. FleetMon.com has put together a Top 5 of the “biggest losers” of freight in the container shipping industry.
#1: Container ship ONE Apus
End of November 2020, container ship ONE Apus will go down in history with 1816 containers lost in the North Pacific west of Hawaii. 64 contained hazardous goods like fireworks, batteries, and liquid ethanol.
in Sponsoringby Tanja LohrmannBotha will be the first person to attempt this Trans-Atlantic crossing alone
Capetonian, Zirk Botha, will depart on his 7000km solo Trans-Atlantic row from Cape Town to Rio de Janeiro, on Saturday 5 December 2020, leaving from Granger Bay Marina, at 09:00. Botha will be the first person to attempt this Trans-Atlantic crossing alone.
The 59 year-old Botha is undertaking the extreme challenge in support of the environment and sustainable development. The crossing requires him to row completely unassisted for approximately 100 days, over approximately 7000kms (3800 Nautical Miles) in often treacherous weather conditions.
“I will have no supporting safety boat, and I can expect to experience large waves and swells, not to mention the threat of numerous tanker and other large vessels bearing down on me as I move through the shipping lanes.”
A software developer voluntarily supporting seafarers
The home office of AIS Partner Andrew. In the background, you see the port of Vancouver and the FleetMon AIS antenna on the left.
Applying to become an AIS Partner was super easy. I just filled out the form, and shortly afterwards an AIS support member reached out to me. I sent FleetMon my shipping address, picked up the station from the post office, and connected all the components. My office has a high elevation and line-of-sight to the harbour, so I just mounted the antenna, plugged the antenna into the AIS receiver, and then plugged the receiver into my router.
Summer is almost over! This year, we definitely had a lack of socialising & Team events with our favourite crew. In late August finally, we chartered the KAEPP N BRASS for a special get-together. What a fun and legendary JAKOTA | FleetMon Summer Sail 2020. Enjoy our little photo gallery.
in Maritime Knowledgeby Tanja LohrmannMS Monarch and MS Sovereign after reaching the shipbreaking yard in Aliaga, Turkey end of July 2020
With the global pandemic and another global recession looming on the horizon, luxury is the first thing to go. The luxury cruise industry is struggling. The situation is the worst that tourism has faced since the 9/11 attacks. The idea of being confined to a tiny room in a ship infested with coronavirus is an especially unappealing image. The demands for cruise liners have sharply plummeted, many workers have been laid off and divisions shut down. Quite obviously the ships are sold as is evident from the case of Pullmantur Cruises which operated from Spain and had a substantial fleet of cruise ships. After around 150 crew members of one of the ships, the MS Horizon, tested positive for the coronavirus, the company was forced to halt operations. Its ships, the MS Sovereign and MS Monarch were stripped of valuables and sold for scrap. But what happened to the glamorous ship after it outlived its usefulness?
Maersk Drilling eyes for investment in new carbon-negative energy. After it’s successful deployment in the Aerospace Industry, the shipping and offshore sector will soon see the deployment of carbon-neutral energy.
In early 23 July, Germany’s last commercial sailing cargo vessel in service AVONTUUR moored in the port of Hamburg, returning from her 5th journey across the Atlantic maritime traffic route. The captain and 15 crew members had been sailing for over seven months.
“After over 200 days on the high seas without being able to go on shore leaves and with the constant uncertainty in mind caused by the coronavirus, the crew is now looking forward to finally arriving”,
reports owner, shipping operator, and captain Cornelius Bockermann.
I supply the database with a range of master data encompassing geographical elements such as ports and industrial zones which provide a reliable benchmark for the interpretation of AIS messages sent by vessels in the traffic area.
