Page 38 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2022

ON THE SEAFRONT

in freight rates. However, in the case of contain- wind farm” from its neighbour Hornsea 1. With even
erships, whether port congestion continues or not larger projects under construction in the North
will also play an essential role in this market’s Sea, it is unlikely to keep this title for long.
performance. Efforts to find alternative energy sources to
replace Russian natural gas have intensified as
GLOOMY OUTLOOK FOR GRAIN SUPPLY the energy crisis besets the planet. Offshore wind
Scorching temperatures and arid conditions during projects take about five years from planning con-
the Northern hemisphere summer have been dry- sent to full operation, so they are considered an
ing crops, and, at the same time, the food crisis attractive method of energy production.
due to the war in Ukraine is intensifying.
In the US, recently released estimates from Pro 2021 PSC INSPECTIONS IN AUSTRALIA
Farmer regarding corn and soybean crops are 4% IN NUMBERS
lower than the official government forecasts. Pro- The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
duction output is crucial, as it will determine grain released its annual report on Port State Control
prices for the upcoming months. According to the inspections in 2021, which includes some inter-
US Department of Agriculture, there will be a 5% esting data.
decrease in corn production and a 2% increase in In 2021, AMSA inspectors carried out 2,820 PSC
soybean production. inspections, a 6.65 per cent drop in the inspection
In China, the worst drought since the early 1960s rate from 2020 (3,021 PSC inspections). The PSC
in central and southwestern areas and floods in inspection results for 2021 saw a slight decrease
the northeast threaten the harvest of hundreds in the detention rate of ships from 5.9 per cent
of million tons of grains. Rice harvests along the in 2020 to 5.6 per cent (the peak in 2011 was 9.2
Yangtze River and the Sichuan basin, the regions per cent). The most frequent reason for detentions
where half of the country’s rice is produced, have was the incomplete implementation of the safety
been severely impacted. According to Chinese management system, as defined by ISM.
commodities broker Yongan Futures Co., total corn A total of 26,400 arrivals were recorded at Austra-
output is also estimated to drop by 4.5mn tons due lian ports by 6,170 foreign-flagged ships in 2021.
to floods. The above losses will increase demand The average age of vessels calling at these ports
for imports and push prices upwards. The country was 11 years. Bulk carrier arrivals increased by
is now turning to the US for imports amid soaring 3.2% in 2021, to 14,814, while vehicle carrier arriv-
Brazil soybean prices. als increased by 19.6% and general cargo arrivals
India’s rice harvest picture is similar, with produc- by 12%. Due to pandemic restrictions, cruise ship
tion expected to drop by 10% in the upcoming arrivals fell significantly (from 536 in 2020 to just
harvest season. Ukraine’s grain is leaving its ports 34) last year.
smoothly – on 30 August, the country’s Ministry AMSA emphasised that the quality of ships sailing
of Infrastructure announced that approximately through Australian ports continues to be high as
1.5mn tons of grains had been exported from the the average deficiency rate remained relatively
country’s ports. However, this does not seem to be constant, increasing slightly from 2.1 deficiencies
improving grain prices. per inspection in 2020 to 2.2 deficiencies per
The European Commission projects this year’s crop inspection in 2021.
at 59.3 million tonnes, which, if realised, would be Regarding the distribution of vessels by registry
a 7-year low. inspected by AMSA last year, 22.1% (624) were
Source: Intermodal – Weekly Market Report (Week Panamanian-flagged, 15.2% (429) Marshall Islands-
34) flagged, 13.4% (378) Liberia-flagged, 12.7% (358)
flew the Hong Kong flag and 8.4% (238) the Sin-
THE LARGEST WIND FARM IN THE WORLD gapore flag. Of the vessels inspected, 42 were
BEGINS OPERATIONS Greek-flagged.
The Hornsea 2 wind farm, described as the larg- Finally, iron ore and coal were Australia’s largest
est in the world, is now fully operational. Situ- exports by value, followed by gas exports.
ated roughly 55 miles off the coast of Yorkshire,
England, Hornsea 2 can generate enough electric- SHOCK DECISION BY TURKEY RATTLES
ity to power about 1.3 million homes. THE WIDER REGION
A decade ago, renewables could meet just 11% of The Turkish authorities made a sudden and unprec-
the UK’s energy needs. In 2021, this increased to edented move affecting the smooth functioning of
40%, mainly due to the increase in power gener- trade and, by extension, shipping.
ated from wind energy. Turkey’s excessive 400% increase imposed on
Hornsea 2 has taken the title of “world’s largest ships crossing the Bosphorus as of 7 October

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