Tag: The Netherlands

HFO for sea-going vessels does not comply with European rules for chemicals, while there is insufficient report of what the fuel contains. Users, emergency services workers, competent authorities and terminals therefore do not have a reliable picture of the risks, according to investigations by ILT.

The Netherlands will impose a nationwide degasification ban for inland navigation vessels. The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Van Nieuwenhuizen wants the degasification ban to be introduced in the Netherlands by mid-2020. The degassing ban must provide about 95% less emissions by 2023.

Euler Hermes presented its Enabling Digitalization Index 2018, showing each country’s ability to provide the necessary environment for businesses to succeed in an increasingly digitalized global economy. The US, Germany and the Netherlands are the top 3, while out of the 30 top markets, 8 are in the Asia-Pacific region.

Simwave B.V. and Kongsberg Digital have completed the Site Acceptance Test of one of the largest maritime simulation suites ever delivered. This means that the new Simwave Maritime Center of Excellence in Barendrecht, Rotterdam is now fully operational. 

On 23 January 2018, the Dutch House of Representatives deals with the Merchant Navy Protection Act. The proposal allows the hiring of private security, in case a Vessel Protection Detachment of the armed forces is not possible, and concerns only the waters near Somalia, which is considered as a High Risk Area. 

Zeeland Seaports and Ghent Port Company signed a merger agreement on Friday 8 December, as all stakeholders agreed with the merger. The name of the cross-border merger port will be North Sea Port. The signing took place on a ship that symbolically sailed from Ghent across the Dutch border in the direction of Terneuzen.

Autonomous Shipping is a Joint Industry Project bringing together a Dutch consortium of maritime businesses, knowledge & educational institutions, service providers, and governments in a two-year applied research programme, that will look at ways to deploy existing technical solutions in autonomous shipping applications.

The North P&I Club, the Standard P&I Club and Sunderland Marine have been developing contingency plans, considering Dublin for the establishment of a subsidiary after Brexit. In addition, other P&I Clubs are exploring Luxembourg and Cuprys as new locations to ensure access to EU markets.

A bosun onboard the general cargo ship 'Garip Baba' lost his balance and fell to the poop deck, while carrying out maintenance routine tasks, injuring his back. He was transferred to a hospital and had to undergo surgical procedure. The Marine Safety Investigation Unit issued an investigation report on the incident.