Tag: UK

Stricken MSC Flaminia Nears UK Coast

China Maritime Centre launches in London

Twelve foreign flagged ship under detention in the UK during May 2012

Seafarers Awareness Week from 25 June to 1 July Seafarers UK, the leading charity for seafarers in need, funds support for victims of piracy when freed from captivity. Survivor Chirag Bahri tells his story... http://www.seafarers-uk.org/

Judith Tebbutt's case A British woman freed from captivity by Somali pirates in March told a Kenyan court on Monday she had never seen the man accused by Kenyan authorities of her kidnap, dealing a potential blow to the prosecution's case.Judith Tebbutt, who testified from Britain via a video link, was abducted from a remote beach resort near the Somali border in September by gunmen who shot dead her husband, David, before escaping by speedboat."I have never seen this man before," Tebbutt said, referring to the Kenyan suspect Ali Babitu Kololo."He was not one of the men who took me out of the banda (beach cottage). He was not present on the boat (nor) held me during the time I was in captivity," she told the court.Kololo, who was sacked from his job at the Kiwayu Safari Village several months before the attack, faces charges of robbery with violence and kidnapping with intention to murder. Robbery with violence is a capital offence in Kenya.Kenya has had stable diplomatic relations with war-torn Somalia, but sent troops into its troubled neighbor last October in pursuit of al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels, accusing the militants of cross-border attacks on its territory.Kololo has pleaded ...

Contract with Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani Wärtsilä Hamworthy has won a contract from Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. to supply two Membrane BioReactors (MBRs) to the 141,000gt newbuilding under construction for Carnival group member P&O Cruises.Hamworthy has delivered more than 25 MBR advanced wastewater systems to the world's largest cruise ship operator, Carnival. The company's MBR system produces the highest quality discharge without requiring any addition or generation of chemicals that are hazardous to the environment or vessel operation. For this contract Wärtsilä Hamworthy will also be responsible for UV polishing. The 3,611 passenger capacity vessel is set to enter service in March 2015. It will be the largest to be constructed for the British market and the order includes an option for a second vessel.P&O Cruises is the UK's leading cruise operator and the new vessel will be targeted specifically at British clientele in a key growth market for cruises, according to Micky Arison, Carnival group chairman and chief executive.Incorporating a twin-line funnel profile, the newbuilding will reflect the highest technological standards as well as a stylish interior décor.Kevin Robertson, Sales Director, Wärtsilä Water Systems, said: "Carnival group is once again showing confidence in the ability of Hamworthy's advanced ...

New guidance issued to UK-flagged ships Armed guards on ships in the Indian Ocean have permission to fire first to fend off Somali pirates, under new guidance issued to UK-flagged ships.Foreign Office minister Henry Bellingham said the new advice was clearer than earlier versions and was intended to give security teams instructions on when they can act.Mr Bellingham made his remarks in a Commons debate on Somalia, called to discuss a report on the country by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.He told MPs: "The starting point must be our current common and statute law - which is pretty clear on what you can and cannot do."We make it clear it is illegal to use force for retaliation or revenge."If a security attachment believes a threat is imminent, it is not necessary for them to wait for the aggressor to strike the first blow before using reasonable and precautionary force to defend themselves."It's that of a graduated response."Mr Bellingham said if a boat was spotted but was not obviously engaged in an act of piracy, it would be illegal to use force against it - though this would not forbid firing any warning shots.Source: news.scotsman.com

Mauritius is the latest in a series of countries to agree to take suspected pirates for prosecution Mauritius is the latest in a series of countries to agree to take suspected pirates for prosecution.This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allows for the transfer of suspected pirates from Royal Navy vessels to Mauritius for prosecution. The UK has signed MOUs with the Seychelles (2010) and Tanzania (2012).The UK is leading international work with countries in and around the Indian Ocean to build penal, judicial and law enforcement capacities, and to encourage regional states to change national laws to allow prosecution of cases where they have been detained at sea with piratical equipment, but no actual piracy attack can be proved.We particularly want to see an end to pirates being captured and then released purely because there is nowhere to prosecute and imprison them. We must break the piracy business cycle. A key part of achieving this is the willingness of countries in the region to take suspected pirates for prosecution.Today the Prime Minister joined a meeting between FCO Minister Henry Bellingham and Mauritian Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam in Downing Street to sign an agreement which will allow the Royal Navy to ...

Strategic objectives for the merchant fleet and seafarer employment and training Nautilus is urging UK government ministers to come up with a detailed maritime policy document, setting out clear strategic objectives for the merchant fleet and seafarer employment and training.The Union's call comes after business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk told a meeting in London that when he took up his post he had been shocked to find there was no industrial strategy for the maritime sector.In a letter to Mr Prisk and shipping minister Mike Penning, Nautilus says it is supportive of the Marine Industries Leadership Council initiative to boost British maritime by developing greater dialogue between the sector and government departments and setting targets for growth.But, general secretary Mark Dickinson warns, 'there continues to be a lack of coherent approach to the maritime sector from the various government departments that have interests in the area' - with many examples in recent years in which measures to support the shipping industry had been undermined by conflicting actions taken by different departments.In particular, he adds, there has been no defined shipping policy since the previous government's Charting A New Course document, published in 1998, which contained 33 'action points' to ...

UK prime minister David Cameron has failed to ease concerns that seafarers could suffer as a result of plans to restrict ransom payments to Somali pirates.The maritime professionals' union Nautilus International wrote to Mr Cameron to highlight fears that crew members could pay with their lives if governments go ahead with plans to outlaw ransom payments when ships are hijacked.In a letter to the union, Mr Cameron says the UK is seeking to establish an international task force to examine ways to 'bring about an end to the culture of ransom payments'. The PM said he hoped shipping industry partners would 'engage fully' with the task force and 'offer constructive advice' to it.But Mr Dickinson said the PM's response had not succeeded in easing the union's concern that any moves to prevent payment of ransoms could jeopardise the safety of seafarers being held captive.'Whilst no one wants to see large sums of money being paid to pirates, politicians have failed to provide any realistic alternative,' he added. 'Ransoms are the only way in which we can ensure the safe return of seafarers, and it is clear from a number of cases that any attempt to frustrate the payment can put ...