Norwegian class DNV GL announced it provided the first ever certification to a fishing aquaculture farm. Ocean Farm 1 is the first salmon farm designed and built for exposed operation, with a novel design that combines solutions from aquaculture and the offshore industry.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) officially announced that Certificate on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC) and Certificate on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (CLB) document are the first certificates to be issued electronically.
As Australia Post outlets are closed in multiple smoke and fire affected areas of Australia, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said its ability to get approved certificates and permissions may be impacted. Australia has been involved in a months-long wildfire crisis.
The Bahamas Maritime Authority has recently issued guidance and instructions concerning the Bahamas policy and procedures relating to the approval and acceptance of seafarer training or instruction for seafarers employed or engaged onboard Bahamian ships.
The Bahamas Maritime Authority issued a bulletin providing all relevant parties with guidance on the medical examination and certification requirements for seafarers in accordance with the Bahamas Merchant Shipping Act, STCW as amended and ILO MLC (2006) requirements.
The Seychelles Maritime and Safety Administration (SMSA) issues to Seychellois seafarers certificate of competency (CoC) as the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) provides a new sector of internationally recognised certified maritime studies for the purpose.
USCG published a proposal in the Federal Register to increase from 3 years to 7 years the period within which qualifying sea service aboard vessels of the uniformed services can be used to satisfy the requirement for recent sea service to qualify for a Merchant Mariner Credential with a national officer endorsement.
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 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.
China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate in the issuance, use and acceptance of Electronic Certificates to facilitate port clearance and Port State control inspections.
