Tag: Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator joined the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) as an Associate Member. MACN's aim and that of its members is to work towards reducing maritime corruption, especially in the interface between ship and port. Marshall Islands will be providing real time reporting and information sharing.

According to the USCG, the 308-foot Chinese-flagged commercial fishing vessel, Ou Ya Leng No. 6, was grounded on Taka Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The 24 members of the crew were rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules crew which arrived on January 2 in the area to help. The cause of the incident remains unknown. 

Mr. Richard Dias, Regional Technical Manager for International Registries (Far East) Limited, which provides administrative and technical support to the Marshall Islands Registry, talked about port State control (PSC) from a flag State perspective, noting that there is a balance between the flag State’s role of providing service and enforcing regulations.

Ahead of the 2020 sulphur cap, Transparency International said that the IMO should give the new working group a remit that allows it to effectively increase public scrutiny and civil society participation. The NGO is also worried that some of the Member States could obstruct IMO's reform.

The Republic of Marshall islands issued a notice to remind that the 31st December 2018 is the SEEMP Part II deadline under MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 22.2. The Administrator encourages RMI-flagged ships subject to this requirement to submit their SEEMP Part II to their ROs as soon as possible before the year-end deadline to avoid non-compliance.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands issued guidance for compliance with both the global IMO data collection system for fuel oil consumption of ships and the EU system for Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV). The document underlines that these two data collection schemes are not harmonized.

According to the Marshall Islands, Port State Control deficiencies are being issued, mostly in Belgium, over cadet working hours. Namely, most training agreements do not include overtime, however some inspections have showed that cadets are often working excessive overtime hours. 

Under SOLAS Chapter IV, some vessels are required to have 'Ship Radio Stations', which are to be licensed and the vessels must carry certain related documents and publications. The Republic of Marshall Islands updated the requirements of documentation regarding Ship Radio Stations for its vessels. 

International Registries, Inc. and its affiliates (IRI) announced that the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry will not follow competitors by levying surcharges and commissions on vessel documents and certificates issued on its behalf by the Classification Societies.

Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator published a notice to ensure shipboard occupational health and safety programs. It also presents work restrictions that are considered as hazardous for seafarers under 18 years, according to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.