Tag: North Club

Interim guidance for private maritime security companies (PMSC) during IMO's 90th session The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has agreed interim guidance for private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high risk area during its 90th session.A copy of MSC.1/Circ.1443 - interim guidance to private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high risk area, can be read here.MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.1 has been revised and replaced with MSC.1/Circ.1405/Rev.2 - revised interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the high risk area, can be read here.Changes made between Rev.1 and Rev.2 of MSC.1/Circ.1405 can be found here.The MSC has also produced interim guidance on the recommended practices that flag states are encouraged to apply, within the framework of their national law, in order to ensure that counter piracy measures are implemented as effectively as possible.MSC.1/Circ.1444 - interim guidance for flag states on measures to prevent and mitigate Somalia-based piracy, can be read here.The IMO is expected to publish a further two Circulars relating to maritime security which will be ...

Information by the North of England P&I Club As a result of the continued loss of life to personnel entering shipboard spaces in which the atmosphere is oxygen-depleted, oxygen-enriched, toxic or flammable, the Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation during its 27th session adopted the Revised Recommendations for Entering Enclosed Spaces aboard Ships.The revised recommendations which were adopted by Resolution A.1050(27) on 30 November 2011 replace Resolution A.864(20).A copy of the revised recommendations can be read here.Source: The North of England P&I Club

Information by the North of England P&I Club The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revised their Safety in the use of abrasive wheels guidance following the introduction of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 as amended and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98), a copy of the abrasive wheels guidance can be found here.The guidance aims to reduce accidents and injuries resulting from either wheel breakage or contact with a running wheel.The guidance contains detailed information on the markings that must be included on all abrasive wheels; this includes amongst other information the following: test record, restriction of use, expiry date (3 years from date of manufacture for wheels used in hand held applications) dimensions and maximum operating speed. Full details of the marking system can be found on page 7 and 8 of the abrasive wheel guidance.Should an accident involving abrasive wheels occur whilst a vessel is in a UK ship yard, then the requirements of this guidance would be enforced by the HSE.Source: The North of England P&I Club

Cargo liquefaction continues to be a serious physical and economic hazard for shipping Around 120 members of the Greek shipping community attended a seminar on cargo liquefaction hosted by the Piraeus office of the 150 million GT 'A' rated North P&I club.According to associate director and head of the Greek office, Tony Allen, 'Cargo liquefaction continues to be a serious physical and economic hazard for shipping worldwide and the high turnout last night shows it remains a particular concern for our Greek owners and operators'.The event at the Piraeus Marine Club focused on the safety, regulatory and practical issues which arise when shipping cargoes prone to liquefy together with the legal and commercial aspects facing masters when suspect cargoes are presented for loading.Allen told delegates, 'North recognises and continues to support the ongoing efforts of its members to ensure the safety of their vessels and crews when shipping cargoes likely to liquefy. We will continue in conjunction with the International Group of P&I Clubs and other industry bodies such as Intercargo and BIMCO to promote prudent and safe practice.'He confirmed North is fully committed to supporting the International Group's initiatives to put pressure on local shippers and authorities in countries ...

Pratap Shirke of Australian shipmanagement group ASP - new chairman The directors of the North P&I club have appointed Pratap Shirke of Australian shipmanagement group ASP as its new chairman.He succeeds Albert Engelsman of Dutch shipping group Wagenborg, who has completed his four-year term of office.Shirke has served as a director since 1994 - initially with the Newcastle P&I club, which merged with North in 1998 - and was elected Norths vice-chairman in May 2007. He was also chairman of the clubs investment committee for 13 years.He was confirmed as Norths chairman on 19th October 2011 at the clubs board meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.Commenting on his appointment Shirke said, "I look forward to continuing the excellent progress North has made under the stewardship of my predecessor Albert Engelsman. During his term of office the club has grown from 72 mill gt to 150 mill gt total entered tonnage and boosted free reserves by 65%."Despite uncertain times ahead for all P&I clubs, I will ensure we continue to build further on Norths three strategic pillars of membership quality, financial strength and service excellence," he said.Shirke is a director of ASP Ship Management Group based in Melbourne, Australia, which - ...

Helping its members to identify the right AMSPs The 'A' rated 150 million GT North P&I club has joined forces with specialist maritime intelligence, investigation and crisis management company GRAY PAGETM, to vet armed maritime security providers (AMSPs) on behalf of the club's members.In partnership with GRAY PAGETM, North's aim is to help its members identify AMSPs whose governance and operations meet - at the time the vetting is carried out - the professional, legal and ethical standards required by a shipowner or operator contemplating the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board a vessel entered with the club.'An increasing number of shipowners and operators are considering the use of armed guards to defend their vessels and crew from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean,' says North director, Mike Salthouse. 'Despite recent IMO guidelines on the appointment of privately contracted armed guards, this remains a complex decision".On 23 May 2011 the IMO's maritime safety committee (MSC) published Interim guidance to shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships in the 'High Risk Area' (MSC.1/Circ.1405). Although not endorsing the use of PCASP, nor addressing ...

Pirate attacks, political sanctions and drug trafficking havebecome critical issues Over 100 representatives from the German shipping community attended a seminar entitled 'Sanctions, Drugs and Guns' in Germany on 15 September 2011, which was hosted by the 'A' rated 150 million GT North P&I club.Simon Williams, North's associate director and joint regional head for Germany, told delegates that pirate attacks, political sanctions and drug trafficking were becoming critical issues for the global shipping industry and its insurers. 'It is thus vital that we debate these issues as fully and openly as possible in the search for practical solutions,' he said.The event at Le Royal Méridien hotel in Hamburg focused specifically on dealing with political sanctions, drug smugglers and armed pirates, with Iran, Venezuela and Somalia cited as examples respectively. Speakers included North FD&D associate director Mark Robinson, claims manager Henry Woods, senior claims executive Joanne Clark, claims executive Catherine Doyle and a representative of Terra Firma Risk Management, which specialises in negotiated solutions to kidnap and piracy.According to Doyle, 'With the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre recording 326 piracy attacks and 33 hijacked vessels already in 2011, and guidance published in May by the International Maritime Organization on the ...

In Singapore on 16-21 October 2011 The 'A' rated 150 million GT North P&I club is launching an Asia-Pacific version of its highly popular one-week residential course in P&I insurance and loss prevention next month. The first course will take place at the Shangri La's Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore on 16-21 October 2011.According to the club's head of loss prevention Tony Baker, 'We have been running a one-week residential course in P&I insurance and loss prevention in the UK for nearly 20 years now. It has been attended by hundreds of delegates from all over the world, many of whom have since moved on to senior positions in the shipping industry.'In that time North has grown to one of the largest P&I clubs in the world and nearly a quarter of our tonnage now comes from the Asia-Pacific region. We have therefore decided to hold an Asia-Pacific version of the course based in Singapore. It is primarily tailored to the needs of our members' seagoing and shore-based staff in the region but is also open to other representatives of the Asia-Pacific maritime community.'The aim of the course is to provide a comprehensive introduction to P&I liabilities in respect of ...

Regarding piracy in Somalia and Gulf of Aden The North of England P&I Club issues LP Briefing Piracy - GOA and Indian Ocean regarding piracy in Somalia and Gulf of Aden.Since the beginning og 2011 more than 150 piracy attacks have been reported off the Coast of Somalia and the number of vessels hijacked by pirate gangs currently stands at 21 with over 350 marines held hostage.While this region was know to be volatile and subject to piracy incidents for a number of years, a new political force emerged in Southern Somalia during 2006 with an apparent mandate to eradicate local pirate activity.Please click here to view the LP Briefing Piracy - GOA and Indian OceanSource: The North of England P&I Club

Information provided by the North of Engalnd P&I Club The North of England P&I Club issues circular rgarding IG charter party clause for bulk cargoes that may liquefy as follows:As part of the IG's response to the continuing problems faced by members when fixing to carry IMSBC Code Group A cargoes (thosewith a propensity to liquefy), the Claims Co-op SC has produced a comprehensivecharter partyclause that it considers suitable to protect the interests of members.Solid bulk cargoes are to be presented for carriage, loaded, (and where necessary trimmed) only so far as lawful and harmless, and always in compliance with all applicable international regulations, including IMSBC Code 2009 (as may be amended from time to time).All time taken in complying with such regulations, or as a result of non-compliance shall be for Charterer's sole time and expense (whether as hire or as laytime/demurrage as applicable). Charterers shall be responsible for any and all additional costs, expenses and liabilities whatsoever incurred in such compliance or as a result of any non-compliance. The Charterers are to provide certificate(s) of test from a laboratory which must be approved in advance by Owners at Owner's absolute discretion, and such certificate(s) of test must show ...