Tag: regulatory update

USCG published a proposal in the Federal Register to increase from 3 years to 7 years the period within which qualifying sea service aboard vessels of the uniformed services can be used to satisfy the requirement for recent sea service to qualify for a Merchant Mariner Credential with a national officer endorsement.

Following the EU evaluation on energy taxation, Malta's Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said the country is against the removal of tax exemptions on aviation and shipping fuels from the Energy Tax Directive. The remarks were made on the sidelines of the Informal ECOFIN meeting in Helsinki.

Cyprus plans to abolish ship initial registration fees as part of its efforts to attract competitiveness and attract more ship registrations, Deputy Minister for Shipping Natasa Pilides announced on Friday, during a briefing at the parliamentary committee on transport.

The Republic of Cyprus issued an Order in 1974 declaring the ports of Famagusta, Karavostasi and Kyrenia, in Northern Cyprus, closed to all vessels. This means if a vessel is found to have called to, or drifted into waters of, one of these ports, it can expect to face penalties in next calls to any of the open ports.

According to Reuters, the US House of Representatives passed a bill to exclude offshore oil and gas drilling off Florida. The bill is the first among the three that were  passed on Wednesday, September 11.

The US Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it may cease broadcasting Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) over Medium Frequency (MF) after first ensuring the information contained in NAVTEX broadcasts is available via IMO-recognized satellite services.

In light of the approaching 2020 sulphur cap, which sees vessels using fuel containing up to 0.5% sulphur, Maersk's Jacob A. Sterling tweeted that the cost of compliance will increase. Thus, Maersk issues a new Environmental Fuel Fee, and updates the existing Bunker Adjustment Factor. 

During a Hutchison Ports/IMO/IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) seminar, industry stakeholders questioned whether ports need international regulation. IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim stated that there are additional things to explore and improve the cooperation between shipping, ports and logistics.

ESPO submitted its proposals regarding the European Commission's review of the TEN-T Regulation 1315/2013 which kick started before summer. ESPO believes the new TEN-T guidelines should be adapted to recognise the role many seaports are playing in the field of energy and digitalization over their classical role.

IMO's Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers is meeting for its sixth session this week (CCC 6), on 9-13 September, where it is expected to validate a new IMO Model Course on Safe Handling and Transport of Solid Bulk Cargoes.