Tag: IMO

Effort to extend warning areas Five new areas for navigational and meteorological warnings in the Arctic will go fully operational this summer.With the increased amount of maritime traffic in the arctic regions, the International Maritime Organization endorsed efforts in 2006 to extend navigational and meteorological warning areas into the Arctic.Five new areas were established in June last year. Canada, Norway and Russia will maintain the new areas and ensure information and data is kept up to date.

Call for better information from anti-piracy agencies and operators A ship register official has defended flag states against accusations they are failing to employ best practices to prevent pirate attacks and has called for better information from anti-piracy agencies and operators.Arsenio Dominguez of Panama Shipping Register told a recent IMO piracy workshop in London that flag states are sometimes aware of pirate attacks only from media reports and cannot take steps to improve onboard security and awareness without better feedback.

Nominations must be submitted to reach IMO by 15 April 2011 This annual award was established by the Organization to provide international recognition for those who, at the risk of losing their own life, perform acts of exceptional bravery, displaying outstanding courage in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment.2011 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea:nominations must be submitted to reach IMO by 15 April 2011Nominations are scrutinized by an Assessment Panel made up of members of non-governmental organizations* in consultative status with IMO, under the Chairmanship of the Secretary-General. Subsequently, a Panel of Judges meets (under the Chairmanship of the Chairman of the Council, with the participation of the Chairmen of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Legal Committee and the Facilitation Committee) to consider the recommendations of the Assessment Panel and to select the recipient of the Award. The recipient of the Award is invited to a special ceremony at IMO to receive a medal and a certificate citing the act of exceptional bravery performed.There are three categories of honour: first, the Award itself, for the nominee judged to have performed the most outstanding act of ...

New model for ro-ro sector energy efficiance A new model for ro-ro sector energy efficience is to be sent to the International Maritime Organization as a replacement to its current design and operational indexes.Hans Otto Kristensen of the Technical University of Denmark has created a methodology that could replace the flawed and inaccurate indexes, which the IMO is struggling to adapt for the sector.The IMO has devised three tools that it will present to member states for approval this year. These are the energy efficiency design index, the energy efficiency operational indicator and the ship energy efficiency management plan.Source: Safety4Sea

Health or transportation safety hazards Radioactive material from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant is gradually spreading outside Japan into the global atmosphere but at extremely low concentrations that do not present health or transportation safety hazards, according to the United Nations organizations closely monitoring the situation.Japanese authorities confirm that all airports in the country, with the exception of Sendai which was affected by the tsunami of 11 March, continue to operate normally for both international and domestic operations. Continuous monitoring around these airports confirms that radiation levels are well within safe limits from a health perspective. For updates, travellers visiting Japan by air are advised to consult a dedicated website established by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau: http://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/flyjapan_en/.Japanese authorities also confirm that all international seaports not damaged by the earthquake and tsunami are operating normally and that no health risk has been detected around the ports, based on the results of measurements of radiation levels by local governments. Further information covering all aspects of the response of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, as well as information regarding the radiation dose in Tokyo Bay can be found on the following websites:http://www.mlit.go.jp/page/kanbo01_hy_001411.htmlhttp://www.mlit.go.jp/kowan/kowan_fr1_000041.htmlScreening for radiation of passengers arriving ...

Concept to minimise the amount of oily bilge water in machinery spaces The Integrated Bilge Water Treatment System (IBTS) concept was promoted by Japan and recognised by the IMOthrough its MEPC.1/Circ 642 as an excellent concept to minimise the amount of oily bilge water generated in machinery spaces and with an integrated means to process the oily bilge water and oil residue (sludge).In principle, the IBTS is a concept of an installation containing a bilge primary tank and proper control of the flow of drain streams, aiming to segregate as much as possible oily streams from the drain streams of clean water, and avoid their admixture.Unfortunately, ships which use oily water separator systems based on the IBTS concept have reported negative experiences with port state control officers who are not convinced that ships can generate significantly low oily water volumes.To avoid this, Japan and the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) have suggested that ships equipped withinstallations based on the IBTS concept are given a Statement of Fact, which is a check list acknowledging that the installation follows the IBTS as described in MEPC .1/Circ. 642.INTERTANKO and other ship owner organisations supported the promotion of IBTS. INTERTANKO recommended that Governments ...

System makers busy Manufacturers of electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS) are reducing prices and being pushed to add more functionality as more shipowners and managers order equipment.All vessels over 500 gt will be required to install at least one Ecdis system by July 2018 to be compliant with recent rules laid down by the International Maritime Organization.The industry has a set of rolling deadlines that will keep the system makers busy for the next seven years.Source: Safety4Sea

Two pirates With the release of the RAK Afrikana, held by Somali pirates with 11 Indian sailors among its crew, the number of Indian sailors held by Somali pirates is now 53.The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today informed that the Indian sailors had been held during the capture of the ships including MV Iceberg - Panamian Flag, MV Suez - Panamian Flag, MT Asphalt Venture - Panamian Flag, MT Savina Caylyn - Italian Flag and MV Sinin - Panamian Flag.The MEA release said that the UN Security Council and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are working on prevention, guidance, reporting and cooperation to mitigate piracy."One Indian naval ship has been deployed in the Gulf of Aden to escort Indian shipping interests since 2008. Following recent incidents of pirate attacks closer to Indian western shores, the Indian Navy has increased its vigil and neutralized two pirate "mother ships" and captured 43 pirates," it added.The MEA release further said that the Directorate General of Shipping, Government of India has issued numerous advisories, circulars and notices on the recommended traffic corridors, protocol with Indian naval ships, precautions to be taken and areas to be avoided."It is also necessary for flag States to ...

Cutting carbon emissions from the world fleet A straight fuel oil levy on all ships has been given cautious backing by the Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee as the least harmful option among market based mechanisms for cutting carbon emissions from the world fleet.The London-based committee, which has often played the significant role of a think-tank as well as representing Greek shipping offices in the UK, gave measured support for a fuel levy as "the more suitable mechanism".But this was on the provision that any mechanism should be designed and implemented by the International Maritime Organization and any revenue resulting should be directed by the IMO, and purely for environmental benefit.Source: Safety4Sea

Take on a more dynamic role Brutal murders of seafarers in recent weeks galvanised the Global Maritime Education & Training Association (GlobalMET) to take the bull by the horns. Instead of waiting for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to come up with a lasting solution to the problem of piracy, it has decided to put its act together,take on a more dynamic role by ensuring that within the training and education programme sufficient awareness is created so that seafarers closely adhere to the Best Management Practices, which can assure safety while in piracy infested waters.The conference it organised on 28th February in Mumbai on "Piracy - Orchestrating the Response" (conforming with the IMO theme for 2011) it became evident at that it has more on its hands then it bargained for.With regards creating awareness on piracy among seafarers Capt Rod Short, Executive Secretary of GlobalMET said that the Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention did not have the necessary direction for the seafarers for tackling piracy. The next amendment to the STCW convention was only due in 2015. Dr. Agnihotri, Director General of Shipping, Government of India cautioned, "Many are looking at piracy as a business opportunity. It ...