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Indian shipping firms to carry Iran crude despite reduced insurance

Tough new European Union sanctions Indian shipping firms will continue to transport Iranian crude even if limited insurance coverage due to tightening Western sanctions leaves them financially exposed to a spill or accident, a top executive and industry sources said.Tough new European Union sanctions aimed at stopping Iran's oil exports to Europe also ban EU insurers and reinsurers from covering tankers carrying Iranian crude anywhere in the world from July. Around 90 percent of the world's tanker insurance is based in the West, so the measures threaten shipments to Iran's top Asian buyers China, India, Japan and South Korea.The sanctions seek to stem the flow of petrodollars to Tehran to force the OPEC member to halt a nuclear program the West suspects is intended to produce weapons.Shipping Corp of India, which is the country's largest shipping firm, Great Eastern and other Indian tanker firms have asked state insurers to step in and provide up to $50 million in third-party liability coverage per tanker voyage.The amount is a fraction of the typical $1 billion coverage that a supertanker carrying around 2 million barrels of crude would have from reinsurers against personal injury and pollution claims.India's shipping companies would run the risk ...

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EU seeks bigger Indian role against piracy

More warships in the area are needed Even as India presses for "clear demarcation" of piracy-infested waters as well as clarity on the issue of deploying armed guards on merchant ships, the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) wants New Delhi and other independent players to deploy more assets to fight sea pirates in the Indian Ocean.Holding that Somali pirates had now even started carrying out attacks in the Northeast Indian Ocean region after facing heat in the Gulf of Aden, EU NAVFOR operation commander Rear Admiral Duncan Potts said more warships in the area from independent players like India, China and Japan would be a stronger deterrent against pirates.India, however, wants all nations to come together under the UN flag to battle the menace of piracy before it becomes "cancerous" by developing a nexus with terrorism. Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma, during the recent Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in South Africa, stressed the need for "clear demarcation'' of piracy-infested waters as well as setting up "standard operating procedures'' to boost inter-operability among the different navies and taskforces operating in the region.In wake of the recent killing of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast by Italian naval personnel ...

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Keeping the Indian Ocean safe from pirates

India and the EU cooperate to tackle piracy India and the EU will be working together to help tackle a problem that has dealt severe harm to international shippingThe worst affected areas lie off the coast of Somalia, Yemen, the Singapore Strait and Indonesia," explains the EU's new ambassador to India, Joao Cravinho.In 2011, according to International Maritime Bureau figures, there were 439 verified attacks on merchant vessels worldwide, of which 237 involved Somali pirates. Twenty-eight of the 45 hijackings happened off the Somali coast.Piracy has had a profound impact on the international shipping industry. Nagesh Rao, a senior Indian Shipping Ministry official, said shipping companies are being forced to take out war insurance to guard against the risk. Alarmed over the prospect of hijacking, their crews are demanding huge compensation.Rao said shipping lines based in the EU, South Korea and Japan have been requesting help from India in securing their ships. To date no Indian merchant vessel has been attacked, but Indian seamen have been kidnapped and freed only after ransoms were paid by their EU employers.According to Cravinho, the problem has made it increasingly harder for European shipping companies - already reeling from losses caused by the global ...

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CMA CGM Inaugurates Its New Headquarters in India

Located in Mumbai CMA CGM, the world's third largest container shipping company, has inaugurated on April 18, 2012, its new head office in India, located in the heart of the Mumbai business district.Installed in a new modern building with easy access by road and public transport, the new premises were inaugurated in presence of the CMA CGM delegation conducted by Jacques Junior Saadé and Elie Zeenny with Mr DP Goel, CMA CGM partner in India and Ludovic Renou, Managing Director of CMA CGM India.After a traditional Indian benediction ceremony, Shri. L. Radhakrishnan chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Mr. Jean Raphael Peytregnet French Consul in Bombay inaugurated the new offices and cut the red ribbon.The new office will enable teams to deliver a premium service to Indian customers. With more than 3000 sqm of modern spaces, the new design of the office is in full compliance with the image of CMA CGM offices worldwide.This inauguration was also the opportunity for CMA CGM to assert its ambitious development program for India in a challenging period for the whole shipping sector. CMA CGM support the economic growth of India connecting the country to the world with 7 weekly services. "CMA CGM ...

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India proposes norms for Indian Ocean anti-piracy patrols

Preparing a naval standard operating procedure to jointly fight piracy With the Indian Ocean region infested by Somali pirates, India is spearheading an effort to create a naval standard operating procedure (SOP) for the 32 littoral nations of the region to jointly fight the menace.The effort at preparing the SOP is currently in progress at the India-initiated Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) that is in progress in South Africa since Wednesday, according to the Indian Navy here.IONS came into being in February 2008 when India invited the navy chiefs of the 32 littoral nations, including Pakistan, for the first session of the initiative in New Delhi.The 2012 edition of IONS is chaired by the South African Navy chief. Indian Navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma is in Cape Town to attend the meet.The IONS meet was declared open by South African Minister for Defence and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu Wednesday.The proposal for a common SOP for all Indian Ocean region's navies was made by Verma while addressing the IONS Thursday and the issue was discussed by the navy chiefs from the region Friday, and Indian Navy official said.Chairing a panel discussion, Verma highlighted the contributions of the Indian Navy in addressing ...

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IndiaUS Naval Cooperation

Counter-piracy operations Last Saturday in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the 16th annual "Malabar" exercise started, as part of ongoing cooperation between U.S. and Indian military forces. These 10 days joint exercises will consist of both ashore and at-sea trainings, including seminars on air defence, carrier aviation operations, integrated anti-submarine warfare operations and counter-piracy operations, ending on April 16th.The U.S. naval budget has undergone cuts and the resizing of the naval fleet since 2006 has led to significant reductions in ships number, despite news of future increases.India recently increased military expenditure with the purchase of two Russian-built nuclear submarines and plans to further strengthen anti submarines capabilities. China's increased military and naval capabilities explain India's attractiveness as a partner for the U.S. in the region.Source: Neptune Maritime Security

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Indian maritime environment fragile

According to the Indian Coast Guard Sending out an early warning to the country's security establishments about the prevailing conditions on the high seas, a senior Coast Guard official on Thursday said that the Indian maritime environment was 'fragile.' Addressing a gathering of past and future mariners during the culmination of 49th National Maritime Day celebrations here, Inspector General Satya Prakash Sharma, Commander of Coast Guard (East Region), said, "Not many incidents of sea piracy and petty thefts on board vessels on Indian waters were being reported to the Indian Coast Guard as much as they were reported with international organisations outside the country.""I am pained to inform you that not on many occasions, these incidents (of piracy and petty thefts encountered at mid-sea) get reported at the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Indian Coast Guard," Sharma said.However, instant communication (about such events) is made to the Piracy Reporting Centre of the IMB (International Maritime Bureau) at Kuala Lumpur and ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia) of Singapore, the Commander said."It is important for us to neutralise any such incidents instantly rather than give it wide publicity as it ...

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Guidance on fishing activities off the Indian coast

Notice re mistaking fishing boats with pirate skiffs Following a recent incident where armed guards on board a tanker off the Indian Coast mistakenly fired at a fishing vessel, the Indian Director General of Shipping has published Merchant Shipping Notice No. 7 of 2012 "Navigation off the Indian coast - transgressing of fishing nets - mistaking fishing boats with pirate skiffs".The Notice contains general guidance on fishing activities off the Indian coast, including a warning that fishing vessels may head towards ships they believe may be approaching their nets in an effort to alert the bridge watchkeeping officer.In addition, vessels with armed guards are urged to report their presence to the Indian Navy / Indian Coastguard when within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). India's EEZ currently extends 200 nautical miles from the coast and may be extended in due course subject to a decision by the United Nations.Members are advised to forward the information contained in the Merchant Shipping Notice to their vessels if there is a possibility that they may enter India's EEZ with armed guards on board.Members requiring further guidance should contact the Loss Prevention department.Source: The West of England P&I Club

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SOS Campaign calls on India to support its seafarers

India to support its 120,000 Indian seafarers The campaign is using the country's celebration of its seafarers to remind Indians of the continuing threat faced by its 120,000 seafarers and their families.Alastair Evitt, chairman of SOS SaveOurSeafarers, says:"Despite the international community's strenuous efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the world's seafarers continue to face the fear and anguish of attack in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, while going about their job of keeping world trade moving through this area."India has the second largest seafaring population and the second largest nationality held by Somali pirates. Out of 256 seafarers currently hijacked, kidnapped and held on their vessels by Somali pirates, 65 are Indian. Moreover out of the 40 additional seafarers being held ashore, with no ship to be ransomed, at least 7 are Indian. Hostages suffer both physically and psychologically while being held prisoners for ransom, and their families also suffer huge anguish for their loved ones."Since the launch of the SOS campaign last March, we have played a significant role in increasing awareness and interest worldwide of the realities of Somali piracy. We have helped to persuade governments to show more determined political will in ...

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India: Emission Norms for Shipping

Regulating GHG emissions The Indian Ministry of Shipping issued a press release stating that it has initiated necessary steps for survey/inspection of Indian ships to ensure compliance with IMO mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from international shipping as follows:International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted mandatory measures to reduce emissions of Green House Gases (GHGs) from international shipping. For this purpose a new chapter on energy efficiency of ships has been added to the Annex VI of the International Convention for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). India is a party to this Convention. These measures include, inter-alia, provision for Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships, which will improve the energy efficiency of ships. With respect to the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP), the Directorate General of Shipping has initiated necessary steps for survey/inspection of Indian ships to ensure compliance. This information was given by the Union Minister of Shipping, Shri G.K. Vasan in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.Source: Press Information Bureau, Government of India

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