This week, we covered the sadly all-too-familiar scourge of sexual assault at sea, the familiar theme of Russia’s attempts to bypass sanctions and a shipping veteran’s return to his old employer.
When Hope Hicks joined the US Merchant Marine Academy to become a seafarer, her time as a cadet at sea should have been the highlight of her university experience. But to her horror, she became the victim of a sexual crime on board a Maersk Line Ltd ship while she was undergoing her ‘sea year’. Hitherto known only as Midshipman X, Hicks said in a 2,000-word essay that she had been raped. She is subsequently taking action against the US-flagged division of container shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk.
Reports suggest the US and senior economists are having serious doubts over the wisdom behind the UK and European Union’s ban on insuring Russian crude shipments, due to be phased in next year. The fear is that a ban could send crude prices sky-high, and officials are calling for the proposals to be tweaked.
Indeed, Russia’s economy has fared better in the face of the unprecedented sanctions tidal wave than many in the West would have hoped. One of the reasons for that is the willingness of countries such as India to continue, and expand, their trading relationship with Moscow. This week, TradeWinds learned that the Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has taken on about 70 vessels controlled by Russia’s Sovcomflot (SCF Group), which allows them to continue trading under the auspices of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). IRClass denied such a transfer had taken place, contradicting available information on the IACS website.
And finally, Jens Martin Jensen raised eyebrows earlier this year when he rejoined his old boss John Fredriksen’s empire as chief executive of Seatankers. But just months later, the deal-making veteran is returning to former employer Athenian Tankers in a surprising move. Jensen said the role did not work out as planned, adding that there were “no dramas” associated with the switch.
