On August 6, 2017, a scallop dredger sank and killed three of the four men onboard a small fishing boat off Shoreham, West Sussex, while its skipper was distracted by WhatsApp. On Monday December 2, a jury at Lewes Crown Court heard that David Brooks Marr was using his laptop computer and social media when he should have been on watch. BBC reports that the three men, aged 40, 41 and 50 drowned when seawater gushed into their boat.
In our column this time, we are excited to host an interview with Catherine Spencer, Chief Executive Officer, Seafarers UK who suggests to look into any problematic situation with a different mindset and certainly stop any assumptions. With regards to her recent role as the CEO of Seafarers UK, Payroll Giving is top of her agenda, she states, encouraging other maritime organizations to collaborate and assist in ensuring excellence for all people onboard.
The UK Major Ports Group highlights the importance of the UK ports, and their part in the country’s economy, as 95% of the UK’s trade with the rest of the world is being transferred through the sea, via the British ports.
The Associated British Ports (ABP) invested £2.3 million in a new energy efficient crane to benefit customers at the Port of Newport, boosting the port’s efficient operations and handling capabilities.
UK will take back 42 containers filled with plastic waste that had been illegally shipped to Malaysia, according to a joint statement by Malaysia’s environment ministry and the British High Commission on Monday. These had arrived at Penang Port between March 2018 and March 2019.
In light of the upcoming elections in the UK and the feeling of uncertainty, the British ports Association launched its six key policy priorities for the 2019 UK General Election, paying attention to a swift to Brexit, safety, planning, connectivity, making the most of UK maritime, and fisheries.
The UK Labour Party published its pre-elections manifesto reporting an £11 billion windfall tax on oil companies and delist procedures from the London Stock Exchange those who make no efforts in tackling climate change. In its manifesto, the Party discussed all urgent matters that affect the UK today, paying extra attention to the energy sector and the importance of moving towards more sustainable and green actions.
The British ports Association along with ABPmer issued a white paper highlighting the importance of masterplanning to the development of coastal regions, as well as improve ports’ communication through their strategies and visions with stakeholders.
Four Nigerian and Liberian stowaways were convicted from a UK court for the crime of affray for supposedly throwing fecal matter and threatening the crew of the Grimaldi con/ro Grande Tema last year. The defendants were cleared of the more serious charge of attempted hijacking.
Twenty-five stowaways were found inside a refrigerated container on board a Britannia Seaways ferry. The vessel was sailing from the Netherlands to its final destination in United Kingdom. While en route to Felixstowe, the personnel discovered the stowaways, due to the fact that they heard sounds coming from the cooling container.
