The European Commission tightens up the guidelines for member states Brussels will give new guidelines to Port State Control regarding the enforcement of the low-sulphur rules while the European Commission will put forward the revision of the European Unions 2005 sulphur directive, which it will be in accordance with the 2015 and 2020 emission deadlines made by the IMO.A member state which has transposed the directive into its own laws then it is has to inform the commission and prove conformity. A tick box approach will ensure if the general meaning of the directive is the same in any national legislative text. This text has to be in accordance with the EU and the IMO. The percentage of sulphur in a fuel used in the emission control areas is below 0.1%and the other waters of Europe below 3.5% as of next year, and 0.5% as of 2020. The commission will then begin to ensure that member states properly enforce this text. It is now producing stricter guidelines to ensure that any non-compliance by vessels is detected.The commission is also looking to produce guidelines on how each member state reports its data. Brussels now wants to tighten up to ensure that...

The second engineer was unable to open the lift shaft doors A large container vessel was in port, undergoing a preliminary environmental compliance inspection, which, among other items, required the pit of the lift shaft (lift trunk) to be checked for oil residues. The lift car (elevator cage) was at the designated position on the lowest deck, but the second engineer was unable to open the lift shaft doors to gain access to the lift pit.The chief engineer intervened to resolve the problem. Without stating his intentions, he entered the lift car, climbed through the escape hatch on the top, and shut the hatch behind him.The second engineer reset the lift controls, incorrectly assuming that the chief engineer had taken manual control of the lift from the panel on top of the lift car. However, the chief engineer had not done so, and when the second engineer reset the system, the lift was returned to its normal automatic operating mode.Suddenly, possibly in response to a random call from a higher deck, the lift car moved upwards at its usual operating speed and trapped the chief engineer against the door sill of the deck above, asphyxiating him. It is not known...

Aims to create a socially and environmentally responsible maritime sector Some of the biggest names in shipping today called on the industry to take far-reaching action to create a maritime sector which is socially and environmentally responsible and profitable.Members of the Sustainable Shipping Initiative, a global coalition drawn from across the sector, launched a Case for Action analysing the global trends which will shape the future of shipping, and announced: "Our goal is to transform the global shipping industry and the wider maritime sector, establishing a new, sustainable approach as the norm."They called on industry leaders to:-create a shared vision of how the industry should develop over the next 30 years;- prepare for greater scrutiny and demands from customers and society with regard to social and environmental performance;- build and convert ships to the highest standards of energy efficiency in anticipation of high and volatile fuel prices and demands for low-carbon performance;- drive the development of co-ordinated, progressive legislation that rewards sustainability;- develop innovative business models that encourage long-term investment and take into account social and environmental obligations.Soren Stig Nielsen, Head of Sustainability, Maersk Line, said: "By creating a shared vision for sustainable growth, we can plot a new ambitious...

Urge not to sign up an opt out clause The International Chamber of Shipping recommends member states to the International Maritime Organization not to sign up to an opt out clause in the Athens Protocol on passenger insurance liability.ICS chairman Spyros Polemis expressed his warning to cruise and ferry operators at a conference in London yesterday .He illustrated that an opt out clause on limiting passenger compensation to $1m in the case of an incident would see insurers refuse to sign contracts with operators."Source: Safety4Sea

They recognise and encourage excellence in welfare facilities and services for seafarers The International Committee on Seafarers Welfare (ICSW) has launched the first International Seafarers Welfare Awards to recognise and encourage excellence in welfare facilities and services for seafarers.The awards will recognise companies, ports, welfare organisations and individuals who provide excellent welfare facilities and services to seafarers on land or at sea. They will be presented by IMO Secretary Efthimios Mitropoulos at an event in London on 1 December 2010.Roger Harris, ICSW Executive Director, said: Without seafarers we wouldnt get the essential goods and services we need to live our lives and run our economies, as shipping is responsible for transporting 95% of the worlds trade. Seafarers welfare is crucially important and thats why weve launched these awards. We need to ensure that seafarers are valued, their role recognised, and their wellbeing protected and enhanced.The ITF is supporting the awards, alongside the IMO, International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Shipping Federation (ISF), and the International Christian Maritime Association ICMA.Seafarers can make nominations directly for the seafarer centre, port and shipping company of the year awards through a dedicated website www.seafarerswelfareawards.org or by post and email. The deadline for seafarers nominations is...

Neither rescue training nor emergency skills The Transport Accident Investigation Commission says two crew members who died on a Korean logging ship had no warning of the dangers of organic cargo, no rescue training and no emergency skills.The commission on Wednesday released its findings on the death of the chief officer and the bosun of the TPC Wellington at Port Marsden in May last year.The chief officer lost consciousness while he was climbing into the ship's hold and fell from the ladder onto the logs below. The crew member who tried to save him also passed out, fell and died within minutes.The Commission says the men were killed by a lack of oxygen and the presence of toxic gases caused by the organic decomposition of logs.It says oxygen levels in the hold were 1% - 3% - low enough to cause unconsciousness in seconds.The Commission says the dangers from organic cargoes are well known in the maritime community, but the ship's crew had had no warnings on those hazards, no rescue training and no emergency drills.It says it will forward its findings to the International Maritime Organisation.Source: Radio New Zealand News

The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Shanghai  signed a formal agreement to exchange information, technical expertise and best practices to expand use of shore power at the Port of Shanghai. The signing ceremony concluded the sixth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, China's Vice Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi. The annual conference brings the two nations together to address mutual challenges and opportunities on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti hailed China's growing interest in reducing vessel emissions as part of its larger efforts to improve air quality. Garcetti said the EcoPartnership strengthens ties established in 1998 under a Los Angeles-Shanghai Friendship Port Agreement. "Los Angeles continues to see the health and economic benefits of green growth, and we are eager to support our No. 1 trading partner as it expands its shore power program," Garcetti said. "We are honored to share our knowledge and experience with the Port of Shanghai and support this progressive environmental initiative at the world's largest port," said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. "We...

NEAR-MISSES reporting NEAR-MISSES reportingISM Code section 9.1 states "The SMS should include procedures ensuring that non-conformities, accidents and hazardous situations are reported to the Company, investigated and analysed with the objective of improving safety and pollution prevention."Extract from the IMO "Guidance on near-misses reporting" - Annex to MSC-MEPC.7 Circ.7:► Companies should investigate near misses as a regulatory requirement under the "Hazardous Occurrences" part of the ISM Code► Investigating near misses is an integral component of continuous improvement in safety management systems► A "just culture" features an atmosphere of responsible behaviour and trust whereby people are encouraged to provide essential safety-related information without fear of retribution► It is a crucial requirement that the company clearly define the circumstances in which it will guarantee a non-punitive outcome and confidentiality► The company shall provide training and information about its approach to "just culture" near-misses reporting and investigation for all persons involvedDefining near-miss:A sequence of events and/or conditions that could have resulted in loss. This loss was prevented only by a fortuitous break in the chain of events and/or conditions. The potential loss could be human injury, environmental damage, or negative business impact (e.g., repair or replacement costs, scheduling delays, contract violations, loss of...

Improvements in ship safety is now turning into a negative trend. "Statistics show that the accident frequency has started rising from a historic low. This trend is supported by increased pay-out from the insurance companies.Technology, rules and compliance will never bring us to the expected level of safety without focusing stronger on the human element," Tor E. Svensen said."Historically, the safety focus on shipping has been on technical improvements. Most employees dealing with the operation of the vessel in a shipping company have a technical background. Audits and inspections are strongly focused on technical compliance. This technical focus has brought major improvements to ship safety. Now," Mr. Svensen said, "is time to increase focus on the soft issues.""The improvement potential is great," Svensen claims. "DNV has made some observations when performing audit and projects for shipping companies. These show that much of the training offered could be more effective with more time spent on actual training of higher quality. Shipping companies struggle to deliver training on soft skills, and few companies measure the effects of their training."Possible initiatives to improve safety level include safety culture mapping, crew resource management training, and safety performance monitoring through leading and lagging indicators."Public and...

A group of industry experts and sustainability professionals met in London to discuss DNV GL's latest report which outlines vital links between the economy, societal well-being and good governance in addressing key sustainability challenges. "In terms of additional costs from climate change, our estimates range from five to 20 per cent of GDP," said Bjørn Haugland, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer at DNV GL. "These added costs will just increase and increase." DNV GL's research identifies 36 ‘barriers to sustainability' ranging from economic and market barriers, to policy, societal, and behavioural. The scale of the problem can seem oppressive, but Haugland insisted these problems can be overcome if businesses and politicians frame the response as an opportunity to innovate, open up new markets, and meet customer demands. "We believe there is a need to put the focus on the opportunities," he said. "For corporate leaders and politicians to speak a positive narrative is so important as it directs so much activity in society. "We believe it is possible to create a thriving economy, it is possible to stay within the limits of the planet and it is possible to create a society for nine billion people to live...