Oil major Shell has been fined £60,000 after a serious injury of a technician by a gas cylinder on one of the company’s North Sea platforms. The incident took place in November 2014 on the Brent Delta installation, when a gas cylinder unexpectedly discharged, causing projectiles to strike a worker.
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited the US-based shipbuilding company Vigor Marine Inc. over 16 ‘willful and serious violations’ following an inspection at its facility in Portland, Oregon. The company faces proposed penalties totaling $370,358.
The Government of the Virgin Islands was awarded $221,935.86 for clean-up costs, as a result from the oil spill involving the freighter ‘Vagabond’, owned by Caribbean Transport Ltd., back in 2006. This is the first matter of this kind that has been taken to the High Court.
The European Council added six entities to the list of those subject to restrictive measures over actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. The six companies are involved in the construction of the Kerch Bridge, connecting Russia to the illegally annexed Crimean peninsula.
Custom fines for difference between quantities reported and the final stevedores’ figure have been a potential issue for bulk vessels trading in West African countries, especially in countries such as Benin, Togo and the Ivory Coast which have a high demand for imported bagged commodities like sugar or rice.
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited five contractors for safety and health violations, after three employees were fatally injured and two others critically injured on an explosion onboard a towboat in Calvert City, Kentucky.
The West of England P&I Club informed of an increase in fines for those polluting Australian waters. As of 1 July 2018, the maximum fine for a spill in Commonwealth waters has increased to $4.2 million for a Master and $21 million for a corporate Owner or Charterer.
The US Federal Maritime Commission completed compromise agreements with eight freight forwarders, recovering a total of $618,000 in civil penalties. The agreed penalties resulted from investigations by the Commission’s Area Representatives in Houston, and New York/New Jersey, and by Washington D.C. headquarters staff.
The owner of a small fishing vessel has been fined a total of £15,628 after being prosecuted by the HM Coastguard for operating an unsafe vessel and failing to comply with the small fishing vessel code of practice. The vessel had been subject to a pre-arranged inspection by the UK MCA at Boston and had a catalogue of deficiencies related to emergency procedures and lifesaving equipment.
The Nigerian Ports Authority will restore the services of the four shipping companies, including Maersk Line and Cosco, whose operations were suspended as they did not comply with the directive of acquiring and operating holding bays for their containers. The companies have been given two weeks, beginning from July 20.
