USCG published instructions for mariners whose credentials were lost due to Hurricane Dorian. Duplicate Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMCs) may be issued free of charge to mariners whose credentials were lost or destroyed as a result of the hurricane or subsequent flooding, USCG said.
The US Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance published a new policy letter to provide guidelines to District Commanders, Sector Commanders, and Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) when considering requests for vessels to participate in hurricane relief efforts.
The North P&I Club informed that the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued a maritime security advisory for the Red Sea. This comes after a maritime threat has been reported in the Red Sea near Yemen. Vessels are suggested to exercise caution when sailing through this area.
According to the MPA Singapore, because of the presence of haze, the visibility in the Singapore Strait and port waters could be significantly reduced. Namely, it has been reported that the average 24-hour PSI level is between 101 and 200. This PSI level range is considered as unhealthy.
Gard issued a statement alerting about the incidence of fraudulent bills of lading, adding that the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is a believer of prompt dissemination of relevant information is key to successful prevention and control.
US authorities criminally charged climate change protesters for shutting down the largest US energy-export port for a day by dangling from a bridge. The protest organized by Greenpeace closed part of the Houston Ship Channel on Thursday.
The Republic of Cyprus issued an Order in 1974 declaring the ports of Famagusta, Karavostasi and Kyrenia, in Northern Cyprus, closed to all vessels. This means if a vessel is found to have called to, or drifted into waters of, one of these ports, it can expect to face penalties in next calls to any of the open ports.
The International Group of P&I Clubs issued a circular providing an update on the US sanctions on the government of Venezuela and Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA). On 5 August 2019, the US increased its sanctions programme against Venezuela, with the Executive Order 13884.
Following the deadly fire and sinking of the small passenger vessel ‘Conception’ off California last week, which claimed the lives of 34 people, the US Coast Guard issued a new bulletin to remind mariners of regulations related to firefighting and lifesaving aboard passenger vessels.
The US Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register the availability of the Merchant Mariner Medical Manual, Commandant Instruction Manual, to assist the industry in evaluating a mariner applicant’s physical and medical status, to meet the requirements of the merchant mariner medical certificate.
