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What’s the future of shipping industry?

"Sustainable development" is the buzzword for the future of the shipping industry, according to Mr Koji Sekimizu, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).Mr Sekimizu, who is in town for the Singapore Maritime Week, spoke to Channel NewsAsia on the challenges and opportunities for the global shipping industry.Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.The definition is according to the World Commission on Environment and Development's (the Brundtland Commission) report, "Our Common Future".Some 90 per cent of global trade is carried by sea.World seaborne trade figures bounced back from the financial crisis in 2009 and grew almost seven per cent to 8.4 billion tons in 2010.This mode of transport remains critical to the continued growth of the world economy.But the shipping industry needs to embrace new technology to ensure its sustainability for the future.Mr Sekimizu said: "There are a number of potential risks involved that may hinder the development."One of them is regional action to be taken. The shipping industry is really an international industry that needs to be supported by global standard."That's why international shipping industry is always promoting the value of global standard."When ...

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IMO Secretary-General Visits Singapore under MPA ‘s Distinguished Visitors Programme

Singapore's (MPA) Distinguished Visitors Programme from 22 to 26 April 2012 Singapore played host to Mr Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) Distinguished Visitors Programme (DVP) from 22 to 26 April 2012. Established in 1997, the DVP aims to engage senior maritime personalities who are prime movers and key opinion makers in the international maritime community.The DVP focuses on establishing and boosting good and long-lasting relations with these personalities and their organisations, as well as strengthening bilateral maritime relations. Mr Sekimizu was appointed Secretary-General of the IMO on 1 January 2012.A seasoned IMO diplomat with an impressive career in the IMO Secretariat, Mr Sekimizu began his career in the Ministry of Transport of Japan in 1977 as a ship inspector, before moving up to assume maritime safety and environment related positions in the Ministry. Mr Sekimizu joined the IMO Secretariat in 1989 and has held various senior appointments in the IMO like Director of the Maritime Safety Division from 2004 to 2011 and Director of the Marine Environment Division from 2000 to 2004. Engagements in SingaporeThis morning, Mr Sekimizu met with Minister for Transport and Second Minister for ...

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New proposals to tackle crimes at sea

Guidelines to address concerns related to alleged serious crimes and persons missing at sea The United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed to a proposal put forward by the United Kingdom, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), and the Philippines to develop guidelines to address concerns related to alleged serious crimes and persons missing at sea. All twenty four delegations that spoke after the proposal had been presented expressed their appreciation and supported it without exception.Building upon an earlier proposal from CLIA, the United Kingdom led a coalition of government and industry stakeholders in support of the proposal.UK Shipping Minister, Mike Penning said:"Taking a cruise should be a safe and enjoyable experience. However we have been reminded in recent years that crime exists at sea as it does on land, and we should be certain that there are effective mechanisms in place to respond to this. I am grateful to those at the IMO, our partners CLIA and the Philippines for their help in making such valuable progress. I would now urge all other flag states to get behind this important proposal."CLIA President and CEO, Christine Duffy, said:"CLIA greatly appreciates the extensive leadership and commitment of Minister Penning, the United ...

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IMO Legal Committee, 99th Session

16 20 April 2012 The IMO's Legal Committee (LEG) held its 99th session on Monday 16 through Friday 20 April 2012 under the Chairmanship of Mr Kofi Mbiah (Ghana) who was re-elected for a further year as also were his Vice Chairmen Mr Jan de Boer (Netherlands) and Mr Walter de Sa-Leitao (Brazil).Following is a short summary of salient points on items of greatest interest : CONSIDERATION OF A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE LIMITS OF LILABIITY OF THE PROTOCOL OF 1996 TO LLMC76. This item occupied a great deal more time than any other. Basically there were 2 submissions : The first was by 20 States whose major proponent, Australia, cited amongst a few examples, the PACIFIC ADVENTURER in which limits of liability, as calculated under LLMC 76/96 for a bunker fuel oil spill, fell significantly short of the cost of responding to the incident. They thus proposed a maximum increase on the originally-adopted limits by 6% per year, (equating to a total of 147%) calculated on a compound basis, with effect from 1 October 1996 for entry into force in 2015. The other submission, by JAPAN, purported to provide inflation rate analysis based on objective data and to propose ...

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Limits of liability for shipping raised with adoption of amendments to 1996 Protocol

Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Amendments to increase the limits of liability in the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims were adopted by the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), when the Committee met for its 99th session in London.The LLMC Convention sets specified limits of liability for two types of claims against shipowners - claims for loss of life or personal injury, and property claims (such as damage to other ships, property or harbour works). Taking into account the experience of incidents, as well as inflation rates, the limits set in the 1996 Protocol have, in recent years, been seen to be inadequate to cover the costs of claims, especially those arising from incidents involving bunker fuel spills.The new limits are expected to enter into force 36 months from the date of adoption, on 19 April 2015, under the tacit acceptance procedure. The Convention provides for a virtually unbreakable system of limiting liability. Shipowners and salvors may limit their liability except if "it is proved that the loss resulted from his personal act or omission, committed with the intent to cause such a loss, or recklessly and with ...

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LLMC Increases ICS Supports IMO Agreement

IMO to increase LLMC limits by 51% The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which represents all sectors and trades and over 80% of the global shipping industry, and leads shipowner representation at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Legal Committee, has expressed strong support for the agreement reached by IMO this week to increase the limits of liability under the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Convention 1996 (LLMC), by 51%.In addition to general maritime claims, the new LLMC limits, which will come into effect in three years' time, will apply to claims under IMO Conventions governing liabilities for bunker spills (other than claims covered by the Civil Liability Convention) and wreck removal once the Nairobi Convention enters into force.ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe remarked: "Throughout the debate at IMO over the past two years ICS has observed that the industry was open to a discussion of increases, but that these had to be based on agreed criteria, namely claims history, inflation, and the effect on the cost of insurance. In the event, the final increases agreed by IMO seem to be a reasonable outcome."He added: "It remains to be seen what economic impact the new limits will have on the ...

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Titanic remembered by IMO Secretary-General

Secretary-General Mr. Koji Sekimizu recalls the improvements to passenger ship safety IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has issued a video message ahead of the anniversary on Saturday (14 April) of the sinking of the Titanic, remembering all those who lost their lives in the tragic accident, recalling the improvements to passenger ship safety introduced as a result of that incident and acknowledging the need for continual improvement and enhancement of safety at sea.The text of the message is reproduced below."One hundred years ago today, 14th of April, Titanic struck an iceberg, while on her maiden voyage between Europe and the United States. Within a few hours, more than 1,500 people had perished in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic, transforming what was then the world's most celebrated ship into a name forever associated with disaster."The Titanic disaster prompted the major shipping nations of the world, at that time, to take decisive action to address maritime safety. It led to the adoption of the first international convention on safety of life at sea, SOLAS, in 1914."International Maritime Organization can trace its own roots back to the Titanic disaster. In its aftermath, the requirement for an international standard-setting body to oversee maritime ...

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New international regulations for flag States well underway at recent meeting of IMO

Denmark has strived to make it mandatory for member States to undergo a IMO audit Together with a number of other countries, Denmark has strived to make it mandatory for member States to undergo a so-called IMO audit. This ensures that the countries implement the obligations following from the international conventions on maritime safety and protection of the marine environment. Until now, the IMO has had a voluntary system. At the meeting, important steps were taken towards making this mandatory so that it will apply to all countries from 2015. The 20th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation (FSI) was held from 26 to 29 March 2012.At the meeting, work was also being done on new regulations for classification societies, new guidelines for port State control and accident investigation as well as guidelines for how new regulations on marine equipment must apply to ships under construction.Source: Danish Maritime Authority

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IMO Sub-Commitee On Flag State Implementation Summary

IMO FSI 20th Session Update, 26-30 March 2012 The IMO's Sub-Commitee on Flag State Implementation (FSI) held its 20th session on Monday 26 through Friday 30 March 2012 under the Chairmanship of Captain Dwain Hutchinson (Bahamas) and Vice Chairman, Ms Julie Gascon (Canada); both were elected for a further year during the meeting.A Drafting Group on 'Harmonisation of Port State Control Activities' was formed, together with three Working Groups viz (1) Casualty Analysis (2) Review of the Survey Guidelines under the HSSC and the Annexes to the Code for the Implementation of Mandatory IMO Instruments, and (3) the Development of a Code for Recognised Organisations. Following is a short summary of salient points emanating from the meeting on items most relevant to Intermanager members: MANDATORY REPORTS UNDER MARPOL. 40,056 ships were boarded for Port State control in 2010 whilst the total number of ships detained in port or denied entry for MARPOL violations was 574, or 1.4% of those boarded. Discrepancies were reported for 560 ships under the IOPP Certificate, 1642 for Oil Record Book and 1,350 ships for MARPOL equipment. There were many reports of alleged inadequacies of reception facilities that arose in 2010 but no indication to date ...

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