Flag State
ChartCo Now Has Flag State from Cyprus
U.K. broadcaster of marine information by satellite, ChartCo, has been granted Flag State Approval from Cyprus, thus bringing the number of flag states that have formally approved the ChartCo broadcast service to more than 20. Strategically important to ChartCo, Cyprus is the home base of myriad ship managers and owners. In addition, many vessels choose Cyprus as their flag state, even if they do not originate from the island.
Foreign-flag Ship Detentions in UK
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) detained 9 ships in UK ports during December 2012 after they failed Port State Control (PSC) inspection. Latest monthly figures show that there were five new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in UK ports during December 2012 and four vessels remained under detention from previous months. Only three vessels remained under detention at the end of December. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last twelve
Dr. Payer: Flags and Class Must Should Work Closer
Closer cooperation between flag states and class societies will help to minimize casualty damage to people, property and the marine environment and result in better casualty reports, Dr Hans Payer, chief executive of Germanischer Lloyd told top level representatives of the world maritime industry and flag states at the Mare Forum conference on Flag State Quality and Regulatory Governance in Athens on September 20, 2002.
ICS Publishes New Flag State Table
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its latest annual Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table - see www.ics-shipping.org/flag-performance.htm The Table collates various data available in the public domain. Under the supervision of ICS's member national shipowners' associations, the presentation of the Table for 2011 has been modified slightly in order to address feedback from governments.
DNV: Need for windfarm construction vessels growing rapidly
Dubai: 2013 marks the start of a period of rapid growth in the windfarm construction vessel market and it coincides with new operational demands that require careful consideration, particularly in the design of jack-up systems. DNV highlights the need for owners and yards to consider both class and flag state requirements when evaluating limited operation designs. At least 20 new windfarm installation vessels will be required by 2020 only to meet Europe’s
Maitland Addresses Mandatory Data Collection by Flag States
A mandatory system of data collection by flag states is the best way to lift the veil of secrecy from the shipping industry without interfering with the normal process of ship sales, financing, insurance and legitimate commercial secrecy needs, Clay Maitland, managing partner of International Registries, Inc. (IRI), said at a Conference on Maritime Legislation, Regulation and Policy in Washington, D.C. today . IRI administers the Marshall Islands registry
ClassNK Launches MLC Consulting Service
April 12 (Tokyo) – ClassNK has begun offering a new consulting service for the International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006. The launch of this new service comes just as shipowners are beginning to practically address the requirements of the new convention, and as ClassNK moves to expand its services in maritime consulting. The MLC lays out a broad range of new regulations covering the working conditions and living environments of ships crews
USCG to Use Risk-Based Targeting for Foreign MODUs
To complement its existing safety inspection regime for foreign-flagged vessels operating in U.S. waters, the U.S. Coast Guard Friday announced an additional layer of risk-based safety oversight for mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) as part of an ongoing review of marine safety policies following the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, fire, and subsequent oil spill. Currently, U.S.- and foreign-flagged MODUs operating in U.S
Maritime Safety Committee Releases New Interim Guidance
Gray Page, a maritime intelligence, investigation and crisis management company, advised that the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee’s (MSC) recently-approved interim guidance on the employment of privately-contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) to combat piracy underlines the requirement for independent vetting of private armed maritime security providers (AMSP). The MSC guidance, issued in May, incorporates recommendations for flag States confirming that it is the responsibility of
IMO Addresses Prestige Sinking
The Prestige incident has been followed closely by IMO since events began to unfold some days ago. The IMO Secretariat established contact immediately with the authorities of Spain and with the Flag State authorities of the Bahamas. As in any situation such as this, the prime concerns of IMO have been for the safety of human life and the protection of the marine environment. Despite the adverse conditions, no human life has been lost in this incident and the search and rescue authorities of
Hutton’s Adjusts to Meet Customer Demand
Customer service and meeting fast-moving international deadlines are at the heart of a head office reorganization by Hutton’s, the U.K.’s leading ship supplier. Hutton’s has developed a centralized Customer Services department at its headquarters in Hull.
Swedish Club Academy Fears Limited Impact of STCW Revision
Several years ago, when the IMO declared that resource management training would be given high priority in the revision of the STCW, The Swedish Club Academy was hopeful that a worldwide mandatory application of resource management would be the key factor in significantly reducing the frequency of
Jamaica Strives to Reduce Death at Sea
Jamaica Joins the Pledge to Reduce the Loss of Lives at Sea Jamaica is backing a pledge by the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to half the number of lives lost at sea by 2015. Mr. Koji Sekimizu has made reducing maritime casualties a key aim of his term of
Ro-Ro Specific EEDI Approval Welcomed by Interferry
A sector-specific Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ro-ro cargo & ro-pax vessels has been agreed by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee – MEPC 65. Formal approval was confirmed late on Friday (May 17) for an Interferry-backed modification that will take effect
IMO to Shed Light on HME Disposal Confusion
Guidance circular to be issued for ships calling at ports without reception facilities for Harmful to the Marine Environment (HME) waste, including Hold Washing Water (HWW). Shipowners pleas for greater clarity on what to do when there are no adequate port reception facilities to receive residues
Furuno Offers FMD-3200/FMD-3300 Type Specific Training
Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. announced that the type specific ECDIS training for the new ECDIS FMD-3200/FMD-3300 is now available at Furuno INS Training Center in Singapore. The new training program has been developed by INSTC Denmark embracing the same philosophy as they did when they first
Absence of IMO Shipping Casualty Reports a Matter of Concern
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) joins with International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) submit a complaint to IMO. The joint submission to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) comments on the apparent failure of some flag states to submit maritime casualty reports
Videotel Launches Flag State Admin System
Videotel launched a new training software program, Videotel webFSA, at IMO STW 44. A sophisticated Flag State Administration Training and Record Management system, Videotel webFSA, provides Member States with the assistance they need to meet the forthcoming IMO requirement for a global quality
Bureau Veritas Slashes MLC Compliance Time
Bureau Veritas set up a web-based system to help shipowners cut certification time for the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 dramatically. BV said the system is needed because some shipowners are leaving it until late to seek the necessary MLC certification.
ECDIS Training Receives ClassNK Certification
ClassNK has certified the Type Specific ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) training course provided by Iino Marine Service Busan Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Iino Marine Service Co., Ltd. ClassNK Executive Vice President Koichi Fujiwara presented the certificate to Capt
Shipowners, Unions Raise Casualty Report Concerns
Shipowners and seafarers' unions joined forces to express concern at flag states’ failure to submit maritime casualty reports as required under international Conventions. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which represents 80% of the world merchant fleet
'Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink'
In response, Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) launch the Nalfleet Potable Water Test Kit, which enables sea staff to monitor the quality of onboard potable water. The enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) in August 2013 will for the first time set out regulations specifying the
Dryad Maritime Welcomes Japanese Plans
Dryad Maritime, a U.K. commercial maritime intelligence company, welcomed the Japanese government’s plans to submit a bill to the National Diet which will permit the carriage of armed guards on Japanese-flagged vessels but advise that a number of other precautions must also be taken.
WSS Debuts Nalfleet Potable Water Test Kit
The entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) in August 2013 will set regulations specifying the need to maintain high quality drinking water standards onboard ship which protect crew from waterborne health risks. In response
Armed Private Security Guards: Malta-flag Issues Advisory
Shipping Notice 106 to owners of ships registered in Malta is outlined here as an example of one flag-state's action to control the use of private guards. The shipping notice advises that all applications to carry Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) shall be accompanied