Tag: regulatory update

Panama, Norway, Greece and other actors are co-sponsoring a proposal originally tabled by Japan to curb the carbon intensity of existing ships through use of an Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), much like the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) which is mandatory for new ships.

The USCG Office of Port and Facility Compliance recently updated its FAQS on Seafarers’ Access to Maritime Facilities rule, adding FAQ 13 and FAQ 14. For the records, the rule was first issued on 1st April and came into force a month after on 1st May 2019.

Recent attention has been focused on the reduction of the global sulphur cap from 3.50% to 0.50% - but don’t forget there are lower sulphur level requirements in designated MARPOL emission control areas and areas defined by regional governmental entities.

IMO 2020 has been in effect since 1 January 2020. From 1 March 2020, the carriage ban on non-compliant fuel oil will enter into force, helping to support implementation of the global sulphur limit. To support the safe and consistent sampling of fuel oil being carried for use, and the enforcement of the carriage ban, IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR), meeting this week (17-21 February), will finalize draft guidelines for the verification of the sulphur content of the fuel oil carried for use on board a ship. 

Uruguay's Coast Guard Authorities have issued a new by-law, “Disposición Marítima N° 172”, which establishes the mandatory compliance with the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code.

The Indian Customs’ new Sea Cargo Manifest and Transhipment Regulations (SCMTR) will be implemented on 16 February 2020. The new regulation will bring changes in timelines and requirements for advance notice by vessels arriving in India and exports through ships out of India.

Associations representing shippers, freight forwarders and port service providers object to the inclusion in the Commission’s 2020 Work Programme of the decision of the Commission to extend the Consortia Block Exemption for another four years.

The VGP is a USA Clean Water Act, NPDES permit that authorizes discharges incidental to the normal operation of vessels greater than 79 feet in length. The 2013 Vessel General Permit that replaced the 2008 Vessel General Permit, has incorporated a new requirements for a submission of an electronically annual report by February 28th covering activities conducted from January 1st, till December 31, of previous year.

The UK Maritime CoastGuard Agency (UK MCA) launched a Merchant Shipping Note concerning merchant shipping and fishing vessels (health and safety at work) regulations 2010, replacing MSN 1889 (M+F), informing of biological agents and the risks arising.

India has exempted very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) used by ships from import tax, federal budget documents for 2020/21 show, in an effort to reduce costs for local shipping companies.