Tag: maritime law

US Congressman Peter DeFazio introduced the “Stop Sexual Assault and Harassment in Transportation Act,” that requires passenger airlines, railroads, transit agencies, operators of passenger vessels, and certain bus companies, to prescribe formal policies on sexual harassment of employees and passengers in transportation.

The University of London's City Law School and the Dubai International Financial Centre Academy of Law have announced a joint venture to launch the Gulf region's first specialised Masters in Maritime Law, set to begin in early 2019 in Dubai, intended for law graduates, lawyers and working professionals across the maritime sector.

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Portuguese tonnage tax scheme, which, together with a scheme to support seafarers, will encourage ship registration in Europe and contribute to the competitiveness of maritime transport, while preserving employment and promoting high environmental standards.

Following Seatrade's conviction of illegally selling vessels for demolition in South Asian yards, in breach of the EU Waste Shipment Regulation, the Swedish P&I Club recommended shipowners to take greater notice of the regulations when considering demolition. This was the first time an EU shipowner has been held criminally liable for such case.

As recent developments in shipping see a rising interest in blockchain technology, Beatrice Russ, Partner, Ince&Co and Joanne Waters, Senior Registered Foreign Lawyer, Ince&Co, explored expected advantages, as well as potential legal and commercial issues, with respect to the implementation of the new solutions.

ECSA and WSC have called on EU Institutions to implement a new European reporting formalities framework that benefits maritime carriers and the wider EU economy, noting that the current complex, repetitive and duplicative reporting requirements result in productivity losses for carriers, but also create unnecessary workload for ship crews.

The European Commission decided to send letters of formal notice to Cyprus, Greece and Malta for not levying the correct amount of Value-Added Tax on the provision of yachts, as this could generate "major distortions of competition and featured heavily in the coverage of last year's 'Paradise Papers' leaks."

UK MCA issued a marine guidance note outlining key points in shipowner liability following the implementation of MLC Convention 2006, in connection with the loss or foundering of the ship; financial security to assure compensation in the event of death or long-term disability of a seafarer due to occupational injury; and liability for burial/ cremation costs.

Cameroon-based law firm Henry, Samuelson & Co. advised on the law governing ship arrest as an executory measure in the country. Ship arrest in Cameroon is governed by CEMAC merchant code of 03-08-2001 revised in July 2012 and the Brussels convention of 1952 on the Unification of Certain Rules on the Arrest of Ships.

The Seafood Slavery Risk Tool, originally created with Liberty Asia, Seafish and the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership and now jointly run by the aquarium with Liberty Asia and SFP, produces a rating indicating the likelihood that human trafficking, forced labor and hazardous child labor are occurring on fishing boats in a specific fishery.