Tag: INTERTANKO

The Decision indicates a prohibition on making funds On 7 June 2011, the EU Council published a Council Decision indicating its intention to add six port authorities to its list of 'designated' persons or entities who will fall within the current sanctions in force against Libya.Freezing of assets of these six port authorities will begin once the Regulation implementing the Council Decision has been published. This is expected early next week.The six listed port authorities controlled by the Gaddafi regime are: Port authority of Tripoli Port authority of Al Khoms Port authority of Brega Port authority of Ras Lanuf Port authority of ZawiaPort authority of Zuwara The Decision indicates a prohibition on making funds, financial assets to economic resources, available to these port authorities directly or indirectly, e.g. payment of port fees. So anyone subject to EU jurisdiction will not be able to pay any dues to the authorities listed. What is not clear is whether the prohibition could be circumvented by, for example, making the payment to the port through a third party. The Regulation may clear up this ambiguity.There is a 'prior contracts' exemption for contracts concluded before the entry into force of the Decision until 15 July ...

A view to improvingcompliance of operators Operators are reminded that the Maritime Security Centre - Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) is now issuing a monthly compliance report relating to "Best Management Practices" to shipping industry associations and flag states, which lists vessels which have not complied with one or more of the three main requirements of BMP: registering with MSCHOA, reporting to UKMTO, having visible SPMs (Self Protection Measures) in place.As previously advised, INTERTANKO has now been contacting (confidentially) Members listed in these reports as not being fully compliant with BMP, with a view to improving Member compliance.INTERTANKO understands that there may be reasons why a particular vessel has not complied, such as the presence of armed guards onboard, but irrespective of this we are urging all our Members to ensure that their vessels comply with BMP at all times and in all circumstances, but specifically to verify compliance with the 3 main elements listed above.INTERTANKO continues to strongly urge all Members to support the military, by reviewing their security procedures, by ensuring that their ship masters are fully complying with BMP 3, by hardening their ships against piracy attack (deploying self-protection measures), by keeping the military advised at all times ...

Provides detailed information relative to ladders not up to the SOLAS standard In its report to the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee, the fifty-fifth session of the Sub-committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV 55) had requested the International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA) to provide detailed information to the Ship Design and Safety of Navigation Sub-committees, relative to specific ladders their members were asked to climb that were not up to the SOLAS standard.The campaign was run during one week at the end of September 2010, and involved the membership of IMPA, together with colleagues in the European Maritime Pilots' Association.Three years have passed since the last safety campaign was conducted. That campaign was carried out in response to a peak in fatalities to pilots and launch crews in 2006.IMPA has noted a slow decline in the level of defects, which, though still quite high, is at least heading in the right direction.IMPA is optimistic that the inclusion of pilot ladders in the ship's safety equipment inspection regime under the changes to SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 23, proceeding through the 27th IMO Assembly in autumn 2011, will have a profound effect on the standard found in future campaigns/surveys.Click here to view the ...

These incidents led vessels drifting to coastline or requiring assistance to emergency anchorage INTERTANKO has received a Safety Alert Bulletin from International Marine Transportation Limited (ExxonMobil) saying that there has been an increase in the number of incidents attributable to main engine control failures. In a number of cases, such incidents have led to vessels drifting relatively close to the coastline, or requiring to be assisted to an emergency anchorage.This bulletin is to highlight this increasing trend and to encourage an internal review of main engine control system (remote/emergency) operations, inspections and maintenance procedures, aimed at minimising such failures.Prudent passage planning includes assessing the potential for the loss of propulsion and identifies mitigating actions to address such events. However, only the rapid restoration of propulsion control will ensure the safety of a vessel, its crew and the environment.To view the Safety Alert Bulletin click hereSource : INTERTANKO

These incidents led vessels drifting to coastline or requiring assistance to emergency anchorage 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EL X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 INTERTANKO has received a Safety Alert Bulletin from International Marine Transportation Limited (ExxonMobil) saying that there has been an increase in the number of incidents attributable to main engine control failures. In a number of cases, such incidents have led to vessels drifting relatively close to the coastline, or requiring to be assisted to an emergency anchorage.This bulletin is to highlight this increasing trend and to encourage an internal review of main engine control system (remote/emergency) operations, inspections and maintenance procedures, aimed at minimising such failures.Prudent passage planning includes assessing the potential for the loss of propulsion and identifies mitigating actions to address such events. However, only the rapid restoration of propulsion control will ensure the safety of a vessel, its crew and the environment.To view the Safety Alert Bulletin click hereSource : INTERTANKO

Opportunities in floating power stations Shipping companies must cut overheads as fuel costs rise, and diversify into niche markets such as building floating power stations to ride out the current depressed market, top shippers said on Tuesday.Oil tanker freight rates have hit their lowest levels since 2009 in recent months and dry bulk earnings have also struggled as a glut of vessels hitting the market has outpaced demand.Profitability in shipping has also been hurt by rising operating costs resulting from a spike in oil prices which are near multi-year highs due in part to political unrest in the Arab world."The market today is the worst since the Black Plague," quipped Tor Olav Troeim, vice-president of Frontline, the world's biggest independent oil tanker group, during a shipping conference, revealing the mindset of many shippers.He added that the downturn in the oil tanker market had only begun and could take five years before it may improve again."How we can survive this cycle? We need to make sure costs are low ... This will be important in the years to come."Another executive expected the market to pick up earlier than Frontline anticipated."One would hope that by 2013 you start seeing the (supply-demand) gap ...

It also concerns the designation of places of refuge for ships in distress At the end of April the European Commission published a report on the implementation of Directive 2002/59/EC. This Directive, which in the meantime has been amended as part of Europe's 3rd Maritime Safety Package, establishes a Community vessel traffic monitoring and information system (SafeSeaNet), but it also concerns the designation of places of refuge for ships in distress.The Commission's report reveals a satisfactory implementation of the provisions by the EU Member States. It focuses on the implementation of the vessel traffic monitoring aspects of the Directive. It stresses that the Member States have lived up to expectations as regards the setting up of on-shore AIS stations and the sharing of maritime traffic information through SafeSeaNet.A small exception to this concerns WETREP, the Western European Tanker Reporting System, which is operated by six European coastal states. According to the report, these Member States have expressed doubts on the obligation of exchanging WETREP data through SafeSeaNet. However, the Commission is confident that a practical solution can be found.As regards accidents and incidents at sea and places of refuge the Commission reports that all coastal Member States have legally transposed ...

A milestone has been reached Readers will remember from previous articles that INTERTANKO is a member of the Industry Lifeboat Group (ILG), which was instrumental in the creation of the "Proposed Guidelines for the Evaluation and Replacement of Lifeboat Release and Retrieval Systems".At this week's meetings of the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 89), the Committee:- approved the draft MSC circular on Guidelines for Evaluation and Replacement of Lifeboat Release and Retrieval Systems;- adopted the modified amendments to SOLAS regulation III/1;- approved the draft MSC circular on early application of new SOLAS regulation III/1.5;- adopted the modified amendments to the LSA Code and decided on their application date;- adopted the draft MSC resolution on amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81 (70)), as amended.INTERTANKO voiced its support for the proposed Guidelines in Plenary. However, like other members of the ILG and many Member States, INTERTANKO was of the opinion that it would be premature to close-out the lifeboat release hook topic in its entirety. The ILG has identified several elements which have not been addressed in the proposed Guidelines:- Vibration;- Secondary safety systems.The ILG recognises that vibration can potentially be a major factor in the ...

Response Plans for Hazardous Substances The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed regulations regarding Tank Vessel Response Plans for Hazardous Substances and Marine Transportation-Related Facility Response Plans for Hazardous Substances.These proposed regulations were published (in 1999) to implement the requirements put into place by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, but were never published as Final Rules. As a result of the lapse in time since the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Coast Guard has reopened the comment period to allow for any additional or updated comments and feedback before publishing these as Final Rules.INTERTANKO had, in response, submitted comments to the USCG in March 1999. However following discussions within the Association's Chemical Tanker Committee (CTC) and its Chemical Tanker Committee, Americas (CTSCA), it was decided to review the comments submitted in 1999 and to submit fresh, updated comments. INTERTANKO has also liaised with the Chamber of Shipping, Americas (CSA) and the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG) who have also submitted comments.The comments submitted to the USCG in response to their request for comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) can be accessed hereINTERTANKO, on behalf of its Members, continues to work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard ...

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 ...