Exxon Wins, Shipping Loses
The US Supreme Court ruled on the Exxon Valdez case today in Exxon's favour, but failed to decide the central maritime law question for shipping. Exxon has already spent USD 3.3 billion on clean-up, fines and voluntary payments. At stake was whether Exxon was liable for an additional USD 2.5 billion in punitive damages after its loss in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court ruled that these punitive damages were excessive and should be equal to the amount paid in compensatory damages, or USD 508 million. So, Exxon has won a USD 2 billion victory. However, shipping advocates were more focused on how the court would rule on Exxon's maritime law arguments. Exxon had argued that Clean Water Act pollution penalties pre-empt punitive-damage liabilities. The Supreme Court rejected this argument.

Date: 28 June2008

Vessel Catches Fire At Drydock World Yard
In yet another accident at a Singapore shipyard, a ship engineer suffered severe burns following a fire on board a supply vessel berthed at the Drydock World facility yesterday. A Ministry of Manpower spokesman clarified to Fairplay, however, that he was not a yard employee and was part of the ship crew. The condition of the engineer, a New Zealand national, is said to be stable. Nevertheless, the ministry has issued an order to stop work at the shipyard until further notice. On June 17, two workers of the yard died during hot work either due to lack of oxygen or exposure to toxic gases.

Date: 28 June 2008

USCG Announces New Rule Regarding NTVRP
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) issued a notice on June 23, 2008 to inform US and foreign-flag non-tank vessel owners and operators that effective August 22, this year, it will begin enforcing the requirement to prepare and submit a Non-Tank Vessel Response Plan (NTVRP) for certain non-tank vessels. This change in enforcement policy now formalises the need for owners and operators of non-tank vessels that trade with the US to ensure that they have submitted up-to-date and comprehensive vessel response plans to avoid becoming subject to Coast Guard enforcement actions.

Date: 27 June 2008

Slower Steaming Is 'Better' Option Than Emissions Trading
The Chief Operating Officer of DNV Maritime, has called for a global commitment to cut vessel sailing speeds. Tor Svensen said it would be a more practical way for reducing bunker consumption and cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than CO2 trading schemes. Svensen told the Malaysian Ship-owners' Association Conference this week that establishing an emissions trading system for CO2 would be "enormously difficult "Instead of starting a system, we should look at speed limits and slowing the speed of ships," Svensen said. Lloyd's List also quoted Svenson as saying that a 20% reduction in speed would cut fuel consumption and emissions by 40%. "There's a need for a joint effort to try and reduce speeds at sea," he was quoted as saying. Svensen further said that he supported a voluntary system, preferably framed by the International Maritime Organisation rather than enforced speed limits.

Date: 27 June 2008

Safety Alert At Singapore Yards
The Ministry of Manpower's safety officers will be conducting inspections of all the yards in the Republic of Singapore, starting next week. This follows the death of three workers and 19 injuries in separate accidents in a span of just two weeks. The smaller and medium-sized yards will be placed on a special focus. The fatalities have triggered the council to emulate the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI's) urging a break from work to review safety processes. The chairman of Keppel Offshore and Marine welcomed the move and said "Safety matters are an essential part of Keppel Offshore and Marine's operations. Over the course of this week and next, all Keppel yards will implement a 'time-out' session for about an hour during their morning safety briefings".

Date: 26 June 2008

Newer Design Improves Fuel Efficiency
South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) claims that a new device will considerably reduce fuel consumption, while increasing the ships' speed. This has been achieved by fitting of a 'Pre-swirl Stator' in front of the propeller that helps maximize the propeller efficiency by improving the water inflow angles to the propeller. The sea trial of a VLCC of 320,000DWT capacity, fitted with this device showed an increase of speed by 0.2% and reduction in fuel consumption by 4%. The Pre-swirl stator will be further fitted in about 20 ships, including VLCC as well as container vessels.

Date:26 June 2008

Ship's Crew Found Innocent
A South Korean court has cleared the master and first officer from charges of negligence following an accident involving a barge, which hit the tanker. Seosan Court in South Korea however did find the tug captains guilty and sentenced one to three years imprisonment and the other to one year. Despite allegations by Samsung's lawyers that the ship was at fault in not getting out of the way, the court disagreed. The barge operator Samsung Heavy Industries was fined USD 29 million, according to reports. In December, around 12,000 tonnes of crude oil was spilled following a collision between the oil tanker and a barge off Taean County, South Chungcheong Province, blackening beaches and fish farms along the west coast. The barge carrying a crane, separated from its two tugboats and collided with the tanker.

Date: 25 June 2008

AMSA Raises Ship Levy
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority will introduce the second phase of Canberra's revised Protection of the Sea Levy on July 1. The rate will increase from 7.7 cents to 9.6 cents per net registered ton per quarter. The levy funds AMSA's management of the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by other Noxious and Hazardous Substances, and the National Maritime Emergency Response Arrangements (NMERA). It applies to ships visiting or operating in Australian ports that are 24m or more in length and have on board more than 10 tonnes of oil in bulk, as fuel or cargo, at any time during a quarter when the vessel is in an Australian port.

Date: 25 June 2008

More Than 800 Perish As Ferry Capsizes
More than 800 Filipinos have perished in one of the worst maritime disasters in history. According to reports, 140kmph winds from Typhoon Fengshen capsized ferry owned by local operator as it made its way from Manila to the centre of the country around noon on Saturday. The ship sank off Sibuyan Island in Romblon Province. Twenty eight survivors have been found alive, local radio reported today. The group made it to a small village in Quezon Province in the centre of the archipelago after drifting at sea for more than 24 hours, radio dzBB reported. The Philippine Coast Guard is coming under intense scrutiny for allowing the vessel to depart the capital despite the clear danger presented by Typhoon Fengshen, which had already ripped through the centre of the country on Saturday and was heading north.

Date: 24 June 2008

Hanjin Heavy Told To Top Work At Subic
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) directing Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp to suspend construction activities at the Hanjin shipyard in the wake of a freak accident that killed one worker and injured four others last Friday afternoon. SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza ordered the issue of the CDO to Hanjin Construction Corp. Ltd. (HCCL) "The (safety) situation at the shipyard has become alarming," Arreza said. Initial reports stated that a employee of HCCL was killed last Friday when a formwork at the dry-dock construction site collapsed due to strong winds.

Date: 24 June 2008

Movement of Dangerous Goods During Olympic Games - China
The P &I Club's local correspondent has collated the following information: 1. During the period 15 June 2008 to 10 October 2008 monitoring of the safe carriage of hazardous cargo by sea, as well as anti-pollution activities, will be enhanced. 2. During this period, vessels carrying hazardous cargo should follow the requirements outlined in Shanghai MSA Notice No. 275 (2005) which concerns the safe carriage of hazardous liquid goods in bulk by sea, including regulations with regard to the control of age and type of ships. Vessels are also required to fulfil necessary convoy measures. 3. During the period July 20 to August 31, 2008 the following restrictions shall apply: a. Approval will not be given for any of the following operations: i. Entry and operation of ships carrying radioactive, explosive, or toxic cargo ii. Hold cleaning with crude oil in port iii. Lustrating air operations in port. b. Precautionary control will be carried out on ships carrying hazardous liquid goods in bulk. Ships requiring entry into port during the restriction period, carrying hazardous liquid cargoes in bulk other than those classed as radioactive, explosive, or toxic, will be allowed entry/exit under close monitoring by the MSA and with strict compliance with regulatory measures. Such vessels can only expect approval for entry and exit during the restriction period if the cargo owners and related port operation organisations submit, in writing to the MSA, the movement schedule, emergency contact list, and precautionary plan for the ship before 15 July 2008.

Date: 23 June 2008

Terrorist Admits To Targeting Ports
US and European ports and other freight handling facilities are thought to have been targets for an admitted terrorist, who pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction against targets in the two continents. Christopher Paul, 44, a US national also known as Abdul Malek and Paul Kenyatta Laws, pleaded guilty in an Ohio courtroom and agreed to a 20-year prison term.. Intelligence sources in Washington told Sea Sentinel that domestic and overseas ports were probably on Paul's target list.

Date: 07 May 2008

Crew Will Define Future Of Shipping
Intertanko Chairman Nicky Pappadakis believes that a "significant number of Filipino officers are over-qualified and under-performing. They need both the paper certificate and the knowledge." Crew is the most important thing now, commented Capt Nicolo Terrei, GM at the academy, "everyone is talking about it". He explained that an officer’s familiarisation with the company culture and master were essential. "They understand that they can have a career with the company in the long term". This could also go part way to solving companies’ skills shortage, it was acknowledged. Meanwhile, speaking to Fairplay’s sister publication Safety at Sea International, Pappadakis said, "From 1961 to now we have gone from being fully under-regulated to fully over-regulated". Taken too far, regulations can be off-putting to potential recruits, he indicated, and cited criminalisation of seafarers as counter-productive to recruitment. The "human element is a burning issue," Pappadakis said.

Date: 07 May 2008

Ban On Organotin Compounds
Ships will no longer be permitted to apply or re-apply Organotin compounds, which act as biocides in their anti-fouling systems. Ships shall either not bear these compounds on their hulls or external parts or, for ships already carrying these compounds on their hulls, a coating will have to be applied that forms a barrier to prevent them leaching from the underlying non-compliant anti-fouling systems. These compounds dissolve in sea-water, killing barnacles and other marine life that has attached to the ship. In November 1999, IMO adopted an Assembly resolution that called on the Marine Environment Protection Committee to develop an instrument, legally binding throughout the world, to address the harmful effects of anti-fouling systems used on ships. The Convention will be a law as of September 17, 2008 and will apply to ships flying the flag of a Party to the Convention, as well as ships not entitled to fly their flag, but which operate under their authority, and to all ships that enter a port, shipyard or offshore terminal of a Party. It will apply to all ships, including fixed or floating platforms, floating storage units (FSUs), and floating production storage and off-loading units (FPSOs). Concerns regarding ships being delayed whilst undergoing inspection have been addressed by the Convention. The result is that according to a clause in Article 12, a ship shall be entitled to compensation if it is unduly detained or delayed while undergoing inspection for possible violations of the Convention, the report noted.

Date: 06 June 2008

New IMO Publications
A new consolidated edition containing all IMO adopted performance standards for ship-borne radio-communications and navigational equipment is now available. The new edition incorporates all the existing and revised performance standards adopted up to November 2007, including: Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS); Integrated Navigation Systems; Ship-borne GALILEO receiver equipment; Survival craft AIS search and rescue transmitters (AIS-SART); Functional requirements for long-range identification and tracking of ships; Ship-borne voyage data recorders (VDRs) and ship-borne simplified voyage data recorders (S-VDRs); Navigation lights, navigation light controllers and associated equipment; and provision of radio services for the GMDSS. The 2008 edition supersedes the 2002 consolidated edition. <Source: IMO>

Date: 05 June 2008

Posidonia 2008 Sees A Sea Of ‘Green’ Initiatives
"While shipping’s CO2 footprint is a meagre 4.11% of total emissions despite being accountable for a massive 90% of the transportation of goods and raw materials world-wide, the industry continues to introduce innovative technologies and reinvent business practices in a joint effort to help protect the environment," said Themistocles Vokos, Chairman, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A. the organiser of the world’s biggest international maritime event being held at the Hellenikon Exhibition Centre from June 2 - 6. Classification societies, shipyards, software providers, marine lubricants suppliers, water treatment specialists and pollution control experts are just some of the sectors, which have launched environmentally-friendly initiatives at this year’s Posidonia, at a time when the industry is well aware of the increasing evidence of significant cost savings generated through the effective implementation of environmentally-friendly innovations. <Source: Posidonia 2008>

Date: 05 June 2008

UNSC Allows Navies To Tackle Piracy In Somalia's Waters
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously voted to allow countries to send warships into Somalia's territorial waters to tackle pirates. The resolution allows countries, having an agreement with Somalia's interim government, to use any means to repress acts of piracy for the next six months. Twenty-six ships have been attacked by pirates in the waters in the past year. The vote comes at a time when the UN has launched peace talks with factions involved in Somalia's conflict. While aid agencies say that some 6,000 civilians have lost their lives in the past year in Mogadishu, it is also believed that piracy is rife off Somalia's 1,800 mile-long coast. Somalia's coastal waters are near shipping routes connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and the country's government is unable to police its own coastline. The resolution was drafted by France, the US and Panama. Although France originally wanted to expand the motion to allow piracy to be tackled in other areas, such as West Africa, China, Vietnam and Libya said that they had voted for the measure as it only applied to Somalia, and did not affect the sovereignty of other countries. Meanwhile, diplomats are of the opinion that the UNSC action is significant because it uses the force of international law to allow navies to chase pirates and armed robbers. <Source: BBC News>

Date: 04 June 2008

Marine Safety Investigation Report Of Fire Onboard Cargo Ship
The fire was caused when a fitter was removing steel brackets, welded to the hatch covers, with oxy-acetylene cutting equipment. In the process of removing the brackets, a hole was inadvertently cut in the aft cargo hold hatch cover. As a result, sparks and molten metal fell into the cargo hold and onto the pallets of cargo stowed below. When smoke was sighted and the alarm raised, the ship's fixed fire extinguishing system was used to flood the cargo hold with carbon dioxide, and the ship was brought alongside a wharf where the local fire fighting authorities took control. Despite several methods to extinguish the fire, it was four days before the fire was confirmed extinguished and not before the hold was flooded with approximately 700 tonnes of water via the fire monitor on an offshore supply vessel. The ship's master, its crew and the fire-fighters were found not armed with documentation, clearly outlining the location, and types, of dangerous goods that would be encountered during the emergency response onboard the ship. The fitter removing the stoppers from the cargo hold hatch covers could not read English and hence could not fully understand the requirements of the ship's safety management system hot work permit. Any safety notices, policies, guidelines and instructions should be available onboard in the working language of the crew.

Date: 2 June 2008

S Korea Building World's Largest Containership
STX Shipbuilding of South Korea reports it has completed the design of a 22,000teu containership that at 450 metres in length would be the longest ship to ply the oceans. Two alternative versions have been designed, one with a single propeller and the other with twin propellers. Compared to the world's largest existing containership, the new design represents a 50% increase in capacity and some 50 metres extra in length. "The 22,000 TEU marks a breakthrough in the sense that the 20,000 TEU was once considered as the limit a containership can get in terms of its transport capacity both in terms of technology and economy," said STX in a statement. <source: Seatrade Asia Online>

Date: 31 May 2008

IMO Secretary-General Commissions Nigerian MRCC
A key link in the plan to provide effective search and rescue coverage off the coast of Africa has been completed with the commissioning, by IMO Secretary-General Mr Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, of a fully-equipped regional Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Lagos, Nigeria. The Lagos MRCC covers nine countries (Benin, Cameroon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe and Togo). The new MRCC will play a considerable part in achieving the overall objective of safeguarding life at sea and increasing the chances that those who find themselves in distress will be able to reach shore safely, while, at the same time, strengthening the region's response to enhanced maritime security and any threat posed by pirates and armed robbers. <source: IMO>

Date: 31 May 2008

World’s Shipping Showpiece To Open In Athens
The global maritime community is converging in Athens en masse next week as the world international shipping exhibition is gearing up to display its 21st edition. The exhibition boasts of participants from 80 countries, 21 national pavilions and an exhibition floor spanning a one-level area of 28,100 square metres at the Hellenikon Exhibition Centre. Leading international companies representing the full spectrum of shipping and vertical sectors including shipbuilding and repair yards, shipbrokers, insurance, P&I Clubs, banks, port authorities, classification societies, shipping surveyors, vessel registration, suppliers, high-tech equipment and technical support will exhibit their wares and services at the four-day event.

Date: 30 May 2008

Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia Start Joint Plan To Protect Straits
Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have started implementing the co-operative mechanism to protect the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The implementation of the Co-operative Mechanism for the Straits of Malacca and Singapore was officially announced here at a forum on May 27. The three littoral states and user states of the Straits agreed to set up the "Aids to Navigation Fund", which will be managed by Malaysia for the next three years on rotation basis. A Projects Co-ordination Committee (PCC) was also set up to oversee the implementation of projects in the Straits, including the removal of wrecks from the Straits under the "Traffic Separation Scheme", co-operation and capacity-building on hazardous and noxious substance preparedness and response in the Straits. The committee would also supervise the setting up of tide, current and wind measurement systems for the Straits to enhance navigation safety.

Date: 30 May 2008

USCG Marine Safety Alert
Ensure all watertight decks and bulkheads are inspected periodically to verify that there are no unprotected openings or improper penetrations that will allow progressive flooding, and that closure devices are in place and in working order. Ensure that all crewmembers are familiar with the locations of the watertight doors and weather-tight closures throughout their vessels. Knowing the locations of watertight and weather tight closures should be part of the crewmember vessel familiarisation process. Ensure water accumulation is minimized and all spaces are kept dry unless permitted by the stability instructions provided to the master or individual in charge. Ensure bilge-high level alarms are arranged to provide the earliest warnings of abnormal accumulation. The high level bilge alarms should be set as low as possible to the deck or bilge, well and positioned along the centermost area of the compartment or in a location at which the fluids will gravitate first.

Date: 15 May 2008

India Reduces Safe Manning For Bulk Carriers
In order to tackle the shortage of officers onboard India has temporarily reduced deck officer complement from four to three for bulk carriers of less than 30,000 dwt. The engineering staff complement will remain at four. The DGS order said that the rate of accidents and general efficiency of adherence to nautical and safety certification requirements would be studied during this period to decide if the dispensation should be extended or made into a national regulation, and whether revised safe manning documents should be issued, or withdrawn.

Date: 15 May 2008

Oz Fines SYMS Garbage Ship
Unlawful disposal of garbage into Port Phillip Bay has earned the owners and master of a Chinese container-ship, a fine of over USD 39,600 in a first such prosecution by Victoria's Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Crewmembers on-board Hong Kong-registered 2,535teu ship were observed dumping bags later found to contain plastic bottles and bags, paper, cigarette packets and butts, and food scraps, when sailing from Melbourne. <Source: Fairplay>

Date: 14 May 2008

Marshall Islands Accede To Five Major IMO Conventions.
The Marshall Islands have acceded to five key IMO conventions. These are: the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (1996 London Convention Protocol); the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention); the Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, 1988 (2005 SUA Convention); the Protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf, 1988 (2005 SUA Protocol); and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (2001 Bunkers Convention). <Source: Marine Global Net>

Date: 14 May 2008

Bulker Carrying Coal Sinks Off Zanzibar
A bulk carrier carrying coal from South Africa, sank off Zanzibar on May 1, around midnight. As per the last report, nine seamen are feared dead in the incident. While four seaman were said to be from Singapore, four were from Philippines and one from Kenya.

Date: 05 May 2008

Georgia Gets Tough On Sewage Water Regulations
The Association has been advised of a recent incident in Baum, where a Member was been fined USD 44,978 for the infringement of Georgian Regulations related to the discharge of treated sewage. Two pollution inspectors from the Georgian Environment Department boarded the ship to check the IOPP Certificate, ISPP , Oil Record Book Part 1, Garbage storage area, Ballast water reporting form, density of one ballast tank, the soundings of the ER tanks and the sewage plant, taking samples from the final output stage of the latter. After two hours, with seven coastguard officers and four Pollution Control Department Officials on board, the master was advised that the sewage sample had not passed the test as per Georgian regulations. After several further hours of investigation, the master was issued a document stating that the ship had been detained pending payment of a regulatory fine of approximately GEL 65,000. During this time the ship's sewage overboard discharge valve was closed and sealed by the authorities. The matter is being investigated, but the crew report the sewage plant is fully approved by the ship's flag state and is in good working order. Source <UK P&I Club>

Date: 05 May 2008

Melbourne Eases Dredging Restrictions
Better-than-expected progress in the deepening of Port Phillip Heads has allowed Port of Melbourne Corp to relax draught restrictions at the port entrance one month ahead of schedule. Earlier, the POMC had decreed a maximum draught of 10.6m

Date: 03 May 2008