Tag: regulatory update

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.

In this article, SQE Marine provides information about the current situation on Chinese emissions regulations. Specifically, China relevant authority has set three ECA’s in China area in which from 01-01-2019, all vessels should use (all time) fuel with 0.5% m/m sulfur content.

From 14 January 2019 OCIMF extended access to the TMSA reports to include non-OCIMF members who are registered as SIRE recipients. This move aims to ensure that more information is available to more users, and it will help to improve safety and marine assurance in the industry.

IMO’s Polar Code aims to ensure that ships operating in the Arctic and Antarctic areas consider extremes of temperature and make sure critical equipment remains operational. Draft guidance for navigation and communication equipment intended for use on ships operating in polar waters is expected to be finalized by the current session of the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue.

Transport Canada published a bulletin, clarifying the Canadian requirements about the maximum height of timber deck cargoes above the vessel’s weather deck and the measurement of the height. Transport Canada has noticed several occasions where the maximum height of the timber deck cargoes allowed on deck was questioned because of different interpretations.

Gard Club summarizes the 2019 maritime regulatory landscape. The marine industry experienced many regulations coming into force on 2018, with the same expected to happen in 2019. These regulations regard crew, safety, environment, cargo, and certification. 

The second set of amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) for improving crew safety and welfare have entered into force, as of 8 January 2019. The amendments, agreed in 2016, are comprised of additions to the guidelines of Regulation 4.3. They cover health and safety protection and accident prevention. 

From 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020, new pollution fine tariffs are applying in Turkey. The London P&I Club informs about the fines and suggests ways to prevent them from taking place. The fines regard petroleum, dirty ballast and garbage and sewage.

OCIMF published an information paper on 'Transfer of Personnel by Crane Between Vessels', focusing on the use of an onboard crane for personnel transfer, that has risks. This paper addresses those risks and provides guidance that should be used in the risk assessment process to determine the method of transfer, comparing transfers using a crane to transfers using a pilot ladder and transfers using an accommodation ladder.

The UK P&I Club informed that new articles have recently been added to the Turkish Commercial Code. These articles make it compulsory for parties to refer their commercial disputes to mediation before starting proceedings in court. According to Mr. Sertac Sayhan of Sayhan Law Office, this means that cargo claims have to be taken firstly to a Mediator before being lodged at the Competent Court.