Shipping

Combat the current high levels of piracy IMO reports that Saudi Arabia has lent its support to the Code of Conduct designed to combat the current high levels of piracy in the Indian Ocean.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed the Code of Conduct on the Suppression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Code of Conduct), on 10 March, becoming the 13th country to do so.His Excellency Dr. Jubarah Bin Eid Alsuraisry, Minister of Transport of Saudi Arabia, signed the Code on behalf of his Government, during an official visit to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following the instructions of King Abdullah, exerts every effort to build bridges of co-operation with countries all over the world, especially by taking initiatives and participating in an effective way in order to achieve stability and world security, whether through the United Nations and its specialized agencies, or through continuous co-operation with all countries in this field, Dr. Jubarah Bin Eid Alsuraisry said.IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos welcomed the signing by Saudi Arabia as a boost to the effective implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct...

This is on Designating Parties-In-Interest in Marine Casualty Investigations On January 25, 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard Commandants Office issued CG-545 Policy Letter 3-10, which was intended to clarify the Coast Guards procedure regarding the designation of Parties-in-Interest in marine casualty investigations. This result was the culmination of a lengthy appeals process spearheaded by Legge Farrow attorneys. The primary issue that the Coast Guards new policy addresses is when and how parties may participate in Coast Guard investigations, and what materials they may have a right to receive and/or review. Following 9/11, the Coast Guard implemented a number of bureaucratic policies which were designed to protect information collected during marine safety investigations. Often, persons meeting the definition of a Party-in-Interest were denied that status by the Coast Guard who asserted that it was only conducting an informal investigation. Surprisingly, the COSCO BUSAN was also deemed an informal marine casualty investigation. Under this policy companies and individuals who were part of investigations were foreclosed from even reviewing evidence the Coast Guard was collecting, and were unable to be present at witness interviews to cross-examine witnesses. The Coast Guard often took the position that when it labeled an investigation informal, mariners or...

Improve awareness of the Helpline services We are extremely glad to state that the new website: www.sailorshelpline.org has been developed to improve awareness of the Helpline services which are available for seafarers and fishers in crisis, despair and emotional distress. We provide advice and support to seafarers sailing on ships operated by fly by night operators. We also promote awareness of seafarers rights and issues. Founded in 2002, Sailors Helpline (Regd), is based in the port city of Chennai- India, is serving the maritime community of India with emergency social services. Sailors Helpline is a non-profit and non-governmental organization.The ongoing work of the Helpline is made possible by a dedicated corps of volunteers who consist of lawyers, active seafarers welfare workers and port chaplains, who are dedicated in assisting seafarers and fishers.The Helpline provides free and confidential information and referrals for Seafarers. Our close association with various seafarers assistance network nationally and internationally, facilitates us in assisting the seafarers during the hour of crisis.In India the Seafarers Helpline is the pioneer NGO working for the betterment of the families of missing seafarers and accident victims. Sailors Helpline enjoys broad-based maritime community support. Some of the best maritime/legal minds and talent...

Join Greenhouse Gas(GHG) Reduction Program ClassNK Chairman and President Noboru Ueda announced to the press today that ClassNK will commit 2.2 billion yen (US$25 million) in research and funding as part of its participation in a national joint R&D program to reduce maritime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. ClassNKs commitment will cover more than 25% of the projects total budget of 8.5 billion yen (US$95 million) through 2012. The announcement was made at a press conference today where Mr. Ueda outlined the classification societys objectives for 2010.During the conference, Mr. Ueda, who will become the Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) this July, stated that, Classification societies must take a leading role in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. He continued by saying, Our commitment as an industry must go beyond merely helping to establish goals for reducing maritime emissions. We must actively contribute to developing, funding, and promoting concrete, practical technologies to make the achievement of these goals a reality. The commitment we are making today is an important step in that process.The R&D program is part of a national effort to reduce GHG emissions established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT) last...

Schoellers joint venture with Tsakos VideoSource:shipmanagementinternational

What being an InterManager Secretary General means VideoSource:shipmanagementinternational

Security problems reveal Maritime Authority report criticises safety system on board Danish shippers massive oil processing tanker. A raging fire that resulted from a gas compressor explosion aboard Maersk-owned oil tanker Ngujima-Yin in spring 2009 could have been quickly brought under control had the ships security precautions been in place, according to a report released yesterday by the Danish Maritime Authority.The incident report, compiled by the authoritys accident investigation department, cited numerous safety violations aboard the 333-metre long ship primarily due to inoperative or faulty equipment. The Ngujima-Yin operates off Australias northwestern coast and is the largest floating production storage and offloading ship in Australian waters.Among the problems cited in the report were three fire-extinguishing devices that were not properly maintained and an alarm-triggered surveillance system that did not function. The latter problem made it difficult for the crew to determine where the compression burst had originated.The report added that the faulty equipment on the ship has made the crew lose its confidence that the Maersk Ngujima-Yin is a safe place to work.Maersk disagrees with much of the authoritys claims and has let the authority know about its dissatisfaction with the report.The Ngujima-Yin was repaired and out on the water...

Prosecution of fine The Port of Trieste has advised that, with effect from 3 March 2010, vessels using fuels with a sulphur content exceeding 0.10% by mass (in contravention of EU Directive 2005/33/EC) will be prosecuted with fine of between Euros 15,000 and 150,000 (usually 30,000 for the first offence). Exemption to the law will not be granted anymore and all eventual special authorisations issued in the past are cancelled, it states.This means that ship and port safety may be sacrificed purely in order to generate local harbour funds.Trieste Port does go on to say that a reduction of the fine may be requested according to the European Recommendation (2009/1020/EU of 21.12.2009) within 30 days from the notification of fine, showing evidence of steps taken by ship operator, class and boiler manufacturer to complete the work enabling the vessel to burn fuel according to the EU Directive. However once a fine reduction application has been submitted, Trieste Port points out that the supporting documents are subject to evaluation by the officer on duty; if this evidence is considered insufficient to merit a reduction of the fine to the minimum, then the fine could rise to the maximum set by law...

Shipping Lane Patrols Make Major Hit On Somali Pirates Operation Atalanta, the attempt by an EU joint force to restrict and eliminate pirate attacks has scored a major victory this week. The operation has two primary purposes, firstly to ensure the safe passage of vessels destined to bring aid on behalf of the World Food Programme (WFP) safely to those who need it in the African state and secondly to try and ensure no attacks take place on ordinary freight and container ships and particularly the many oil tankers whilst they transit the Gulf of Aden.After some successful escort details previously, the ESPS Navarra, completed accompanying the Indian Dhow Faize Sultane Kwhaha from Oman across to the port of Bosaaso in northern Somalia just last week, the dhow laden with WFP goods. Now a French frigate the Nivose reports she has seized 35 alleged pirates in just three days with an aggressive system of detection and pursuit operations. Staring on Friday four such operations were launched and by this morning and, in company with other EU Navfor vessels and an aircraft also on secondment and believed to be from the Armada Española Air Arm (Spanish Naval Air Service), plus supporting...

The recession and stepping down as BSM CEO VideoSource:shipmanagementinternational