The US Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is seeking public comment on a proposal to amend the requirements regulating personnel permitted to serve as a person in charge (PIC) of fuel oil transfers on an inspected vessel.
On 7 August 2019, a total of 46 states signed the new UN Convention on international settlement agreements resulting from mediation (the Singapore convention on mediation), at a ceremony at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.
The US Coast Guard has approved Inland Towing Operators Working Together (ITOW) as a third-party organization (TPO) to carry out certain functions in accordance with Subchapter M, the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE) announced on 5 August.
For autonomous shipping to gain regulatory and societal acceptance, this technology must be at least as safe as traditional ships, said the UK P&I Club in a new paper. A successful approach to change would be to develop regulations in tandem with technological advancements, always maintaining the focus on safety.
On 5th August, President Trump issued Executive Order 13884, reinforcing sanctions against Venezuela. The order targets the government of Venezuela and blocks all its assets and property in the US, while prohibiting the Venezuelan government to use the US financial system.
The Government of India published the Sea Cargo Manifest & Transhipment Regulations 2018 (Regulations framed under the Customs Act, 1962) following a number of extensions and amendments, which came into force on August 1, 2019.
The USCG Commandant, Adm. Karl Schultz, launched a marine bulletin reminding all coast guard military personnel that the use, possession, manufacture, or distribution of marijuana is a violation of federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The rule goes into effect immediately, and violations are punishable by up to two years of confinement, forfeiture of all pay and dishonorable discharge.
USCG updated its reporting forms for providing a written report of a marine casualty. Owners, operators, managers, and masters for US flag vessels, and for foreign vessels which make port calls should ensure that they have available the latest forms from the USCG.
The Australian Department of Agriculture announced the extension of the prohibition on live sheep exports to or from the Middle East to September 22, 2019. Prior to concluding to this decision, the department took under consideration available science and evidence, and also public feedback.
A new draft policy letter issued by USCG last week, concerning viability testing in BWMS under VIDA, is breaching the VIDA text asking for “best available science” by not accepting the Most Probable Number (MPN) method, argued Jad Mouawad, CEO, Mouawad Consulting.
