Tag: BIMCO

English version With reference the article "Panamanian flag versus Paris PSC MoU" related to sanctions against ship detained by the Paris MoU, thePanama Maritime Authorityhave recently issued an English version of the below-linked Resolution No. 106-24-DGMM, suspending the Occasional Inspection on board Panamanian-flagged vesselsolder than20 years for which next port of arrival is a country which is a member of the Paris MOU.Source: BIMCO

Ships as the consumers of maritime technology These are exciting times for the shipping industry if one considers those who operate ships as the "consumers" of maritime technology.There is both the incentive and the demand for change and improvement represented by the need for cleaner, more sustainable ship operation, and the undoubted pressure coming from the cost of fuel.There is a "triangle of progress" that is completed by the ship owners, shipbuilders and regulators and as we have seen in the past, when political pressure, economic necessity and technological development get together, things start to happen! We can see progress emerging in a generally more open and "questing" attitude among ship owners, with a substantial number of the more progressive companies encouraging, if not actually sponsoring, technical development in a way that we have not seen for a number of years.We should be encouraged by the way in which quite radical thinking on such matters as new ship propulsion systems is being seriously contemplated and energetically researched. The "all-electric" ship, nuclear cassettes, fuel cells, and the emergence of an LNG fuel infrastructure are all products of this open minded attitude so evident in the industry. Environmental pressure groups will claim ...

Issue affecting international shipping finance Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO, Peter Sand, spoke last week at the Inaugural Scandinavian Shipping & Ship Finance Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark on 6-7 April 2011.The conference organisers had assembled an international line-up of industry experts and participants, all of whom stood ready to offer their expertise and views on some of the most important issues affecting international shipping finance and shipping investment today.The event provided an excellent opportunity to share the latest information and insights on key areas influencing our business.The BIMCO presentation was focused on the order book in the main shipping segments, dry bulk, tankers and containerships as well as the current and future challenges for ship owners and shipyards.Touching upon the latest on orderings and deliveries for dry bulk, tankers and containers Sand said that owner must not be tempted by low newbuilding prices to order new ships as overcapacity is already putting pressure on the freight rates.Action like that, already seems to have been taken onboard in particularly by ship owners in the dry bulk sector. They have surprised on the upside in first quarter of 2011, as the number of contracting of new ships is at the lowest level ...

Transiting the North-Eastern Pacific Ocean Region Further to the article "The Effects of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan on Shipping", BIMCO has received the below message and attached advice on the "Potential Risks to Shipping Transiting the North-Eastern Pacific Ocean Region or in the Vicinity of Japan due to Radioactivity Release from Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant" from the World Nuclear Transport Institute (WNTI).In the days following the earthquake, tsunami and the incident at Fukushima power station, WNTI had several requests on the situation regarding the power station and the possible dangers associated with the release of radioactive material.The WNTI has developed the attached document which to some degree tries to explain the situation regarding the Fukushima incident, however as can be appreciated, the situation is changing every day, and therefore the attached paper provides information on various organisations where the latest information regarding advice and radioactive readings can be found.Source: BIMCO

Into force from 1st April 2011 With effect from 1st April 2011 Orkney Islands Council, as Harbour Authority for Scapa Flow, increased the Flotta Terminal Comprehensive Harbour Charge by approx 2.5%, as follows:-Segregated Ballast and Double Hull oil ships will be charged GB Pounds 1.59 per G.T. (Previously GB Pounds 1.55) Gas ships will be charged GB Pounds 1.59 per G.T. (Previously GB Pounds 1.55)Please note carefully that these increases DO NOT apply to tankers performing ship-to-ship cargo transfers inside Scapa Flow.Source: BIMCO

Action on the issue of maritime piracy The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has come out in support of a joint campaign launched by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Intertanko, Intercargo, BIMCO and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) that urges governments to take firm action on the issue of maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia.The campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the human and economic costs of maritime piracy, urges governments around the world to prioritise six key actions:Reducing the effectiveness of easily identifiable motherships;Authorizing naval forces to hold pirates and deliver them for prosecution and punishment;Fully criminalizing all acts of piracy and intent to commit piracy under national laws, in accordance with their mandatory duty to co-operate to suppress piracy under international conventions;Increasing naval assets available in the affected areas;Providing greater protection and support for seafarers; andTracing and criminalizing the organisers and financiers behind the criminal networks.So far in 2011, 13 vessels have been hijacked by suspected Somali pirates, with a total of 243 crewmembers taken hostage.In addition, six crew were kidnapped from a vessel that was hijacked and then left adrift in the Indian Ocean. Of most concern, however, are the seven murders committed by ...

Equipment tests and inspections Operators are kindly reminded about the USCG requirements related to test and inspection of equipment used for transfer of oil and other liquid substances i.e. bunker or cargo hoses.In accordance with the below, any such shipboard equipment shouldas a minimum be tested annually under a static liquid pressure at least 1.5 times the maximum allowable working pressure, and it is highly important to keep a record of these tests readily available on board.US CFR 33 156.170 - Equipment tests and inspections(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, no person may use any equipment listed in paragraph (c) of this section for transfer operations unless the vessel or facility operator, as appropriate, tests and inspects the equipment in accordance with paragraphs (b), (c) and (f) of this section and the equipment is in the condition specified in paragraph (c) of this section.(b) During any test or inspection required by this section, the entire external surface of the hose must be accessible.(c) For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section: (1) Each nonmetallic transfer hose must: (i) Have no unrepaired loose covers, kinks, bulges, soft spots or any other defect which would permit the ...

Seen as a threat by American and European unions Liner shipping executives flying across the Pacific next month might not be aware they could be enjoying the benefits of what has been called the most important development in aviation since the invention of jet aircraft. The likelihood is the airline they will be using is a partner in one of two new American-Japanese joint ventures that have been granted exemption from anti-trust regulations by the relevant agencies in the US and Japan. The approval of immunity last year came as the debate in shipping over how it is treated around the word by competition authorities was being re-ignited. Liner shipping had been thrown into turmoil by the crash of 2008, leading to reductions in capacity through vessel lay-ups and slow-steaming that in turn caused disruptions to supply chains and to extreme volatility in rates. Shippers criticised the lines which in turn blamed the restrictions imposed on them by competition regulators. Aviation was not without its own turbulence as it struggled to emerge from the recession only to be hit by clouds of volcanic ash and snowbound airports in Europe. At the same time it was flying through the storm of ...

Nantucket East DMA established NOAA Fisheries Service announces that a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone (Dynamic Management Area - DMA) has been established in the vicinity of eastern Nantucket to protect an aggregation of right whales sighted in this area on 14 March 2011. This DMA is in effect immediately through 29 March 2011. Mariners are requested to route around this area or transit through it at 10 knots or less.Nantucket East DMA (5 right whales sighted) -- active through 29 March 201141 36N40 53N069 56W068 60WSource: BIMCO

Limitied number of VPR sent We understand from USCG that only a limited number of the expected updates regarding the Vessel Response Plan (VRP) amendments for the salvage and marine fire fighting requirements have been sent in, even though the deadline is 22 February 2011.The updates are regarding owners/operators of tanker vessels in meeting regulatory compliance for the Salvage and Marine Firefighting Regulations (SMFF) (33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 155 Subpart I) and the CAPS "Dispersant" Regulations (33 Code of Federal Regulations Part 155 Subpart D).VRP staff members can be contacted by calling the VRP Help desk line at +1 202 372-1000. USCG will also be monitoring the VRP E-mail folder [email protected]. In order to meet your obligation to have your vessel response plan updated and submitted to the Coast Guard by 22 February 2011, the Coast Guard requires receipt of your submission by16:00 Eastern Standard Time.Source: BIMCO