The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has ordered Russia to ‘immediately’ release 24 Ukrainian sailors who were seized along three naval ships off Crimea in November. Meanwhile, Moscow claims the sailors violated its maritime border.
Steampship Mutual’s Rohan Bray, Director Eastern Syndicate, Hong Kong Office, reports that the Hong Kong Government and Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China signed up to an arrangement which will mean each can make and enforce orders in aid of arbitrations conducted in the other jurisdiction.
The US Coast Guard has detained several Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)-flagged ships operating in the US during the first quarter of 2019, for purportedly failing to follow, or fully implement, a Safety Management System (SMS), the RMI announced.
Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore announced the commence of marine soil investigation works at Sungei Jurong. The investigation works will begin from May 21 2019 to September 14, and will take 24 hours per day, including Sunday and Public holidays.
MPA Singapore announced it will carry out a hydrographic survey in Straits of Malacca and Singapore, aiming to improve navigation and smooth uninterrupted passage in the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
The Bahamas Maritime Authority launched a guidance on the early implementation of amended regulation 3.2.5 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).
Iran could target US commercial ships, including oil tankers, sailing through key Middle East waterways, as one of the threats to US interests posed by Tehran, the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) said in an advisory posted on Thursday.
In accordance with the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the US Coast Guard announced it is establishing new base pilotage rates and surcharges for the 2019 shipping season, effective from 10 June. This rule will result in an increase in pilotage rates.
The Marine and Port Authority of Singapore published a marine notice concerning dredging works off Jurong Terminal. The notice is applicable to mariners operating in Damar Laut Basin and will be in effect from 13 May 2019 to August 30 2019.
The International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) alerts ship brokers and managers to closely check the terms of their charterparty agreements prior to signing, in order to avoid future mistakes. ITIC pointed out that it has seen a number of claims caused by ship brokers and managers concerning their recollection of a charter party wording, as opposed to checking what the charterparty actually said. On this occasion, ITIC reimbursed the full claim of $150,000.
