News round-up: Lack of pilot communication, digital partnerships and offshore upturn

The lack of communication between the pilot and Master of the MSC Centaurus was highlighted in a British investigation in the vessel’s collision with a quay wall at Jebel Ali last year that fell a quay crane and in injured 10.

Lack of pilot and Master communication highlighted in CMA CGM Centaurus Jebel Ali berth collision

Wärtsilä meanwhile focused on using digitalisation to make marine operations safer including a joint autonomous tug project in Singapore with PSA Marine and the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Wärtsilä in autonomous 'IntelliTug' project with MPA and PSA Marine as it launches Acceleration Centre

Wärtsilä’s Marco Ryan on digitalisation, collaboration and pragmatic solutions

Also in Singapore it was announced that the man who has speared headed many of the port’s digitalisation moves, Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) chief executive Andrew Tan, would be retiring from government service at year end.

Quah Ley Hoon named as chief executive of Singapore MPA replacing Andrew Tan

The scrubber debate continued with Scorpio Group order 146 units, while the Union of Greek Shipowners said they shouldn’t be allowed at all, a statement seemingly at odds with some its own members investments.

Scorpio's massive scrubber order an 'opportunity to burn cheap fuel'

Union of Greek Shipowners critical of IMO allowing scrubbers for 2020 sulphur cap compliance

There was some good news in the offshore marine market with signs of an upturn

Offshore contractors prepare for upturn

In container shipping there was more bad news though for Japanese joint venture Ocean Network Express

ONE forecast to lose $600m in first year due early IT issues, high fuel prices