During her opening address on the enforcement of the 2020 sulphur cap, MPA Singapore’s Chief Executive, Quah Ley Hoon, said that vessel will be chosen for inspection according to a risk matrix. The matrix will consider the compliance option of the ship and if a Fuel Oil Non-Availability Report has been submitted.
MPA Singapore, in collaboration with Singapore Shipping Association, has published the second edition of two technical guides on the impending 0.5% fuel oil global sulphur limit by the International Maritime Organization.
As IMO announced, France is the 29th State to sign up to the IMO treaty on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F). According to the announcement, the Convention sets the certification and minimum training requirements for crews of seagoing fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and above.
Theresa May, prior to stepping down as Prime Minister, announced that she will follow the commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, making Britain the first major economy to do so. The regulation includes domestic and international shipping emissions.
The Arctic Council’s Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum convened for the third time since its inception in 2017, in London from 3-4 June, under Iceland Chairmanship. The aim of the Forum is to support the effective implementation of IMO’s International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code).
The Union of Greek Shipowners and the Hong Kong Shipowners Association met in Hong Kong to discuss the results of MEPC 74 and the ongoing issues, as well as how the industry can best contribute to successful developments. The two associations said that they remain fully committed to the UN IMO decisions.
International maritime regulators expect that the establishment of safety rules for autonomous ships will be a lengthy process, despite the fact that researchers have advanced relevant technology, saying that robot ships could be a reality in the oceans in the next few years.
ICS has launched its Annual Review 2019, in which it provides an in-depth insight into the most pressing issues that shipping is facing nowadays. As the review says, shipowners are mostly concerned regarding the successful implementation of the 2020 global sulphur cap, which will apply from 1 January 2020. However, the report analyzes other pressing issues as well, such as keeping an updated STCW training regime, the UN Law of the Sea Implementing Agreement, piracy and possible economic risks.
On the sidelines of Nor-Shipping exhibition last week in Oslo, IMO hosted a special event to highlight some of the challenges and the solutions around encouraging women to take up seafaring roles. This comes in line with IMO’s enhanced efforts during the last year to empower women in the maritime community.
A wide-ranging discussion during the “[email protected]” event in Oslo, Norway explored various topics regarding unlocking the full potential of Africa’s blue economy. Three separate expert panels discussed addressed competition among different maritime sectors, ocean governance and the importance of complying with international regulations especially IMO’s ship safety, maritime security and environment rules.
