In Swedish Club’s latest issue of Triton the insurer has reported on governmental intervention in marine casualties, which was the theme for the Panel Debate at the Members’ Day preceding the Club AGM. Managing Director Lars Rhodin wrote that seaborne transportation was no longer a shared risk in the way it was historically perceived. From…
Calls for tighter quality control in shipping
The wave of contaminated fuel that has clogged and damaged engines on hundreds of oil tankers and container vessels in past months has led shippers to demand stricter quality controls around the world. Because large volumes of fuel oil are blended with so-called cutter stocks by suppliers and sold on through an extensive network of…
ABP signs MoU on blockchain initiative
UK port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create one of Europe’s first detailed pilot programs to examine the implementation of blockchain technology to improve port connectivity. The MOU was signed this week with blockchain-specialist logistics software company Marine Transport International. ABP operates 21 ports across the UK,…
More than 10 tons of cannabis resin intercepted in Malta
In what was described as Malta’s largest-ever drugs bust, 10 tonnes of cannabis resin with a street value of €28.5m were found inside a containership at Malta. The vessel had been sailing towards Libya from Syria. The Maltese government said that the container ship had been followed for days before its arrival in Malta. Three…
Containership difficulties in Antwerp after pilots strike
Harbour pilots at the Port of Antwerp began an indefinite strike last Monday. As many as 40 cargo ships were stranded outside the Belgian port, waiting to berth, with several ultra-large container vessels deciding to divert to the Port of Rotterdam. The strike also has affected operations in the smaller ports of Zeebrugge and Ghent….
Crew from bulk carrier Glavus kidnapped in Nigerian waters
Pirates kidnapped 12 crew members from bulk carrier Glarus (IMO 9220471) in Nigerian waters on Saturday September 22nd the ship’s operator has revealed. It was observed at last week’s IUMI 2018 that pirates off the West African coast have expanded their entrepreneurial efforts from the traditional theft of oil or cargo into the kidnapping of…
Skuld highlights the difficulties and complexities of “bad” bunkers
Marine insurer Skuld has written on the complex problem of “bad” bunkers and the implication of any spreading of the “infection”. The insurer said that members and customers would be aware of the widely reported problems with fuel supplied at ports in the US Gulf region, Caribbean and Far East. Certain compounds – phenols and…
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) seasonal measures introduced
BIMCO has reminded its Members that the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is an invasive pest native to Asia which poses a high biosecurity risk to Australia. They are more frequently found on goods arriving in Australia between September and April and at these times Australia introduces seasonal measures to manage the risks. Target risk…
Clause 380 a controversy at IUMI 2018
The Institute cyber-attack exclusion clause, better known as Clause 380, divided opinion at this week’s IUMI 2018 conference, held in Cape Town, South Africa. While most participants who mentioned the clause accepted that it was not ideal, the difference was on what should be done about it. Some underwriters felt that it was best to…
Tanker attacked in Gulf of Guinea
Chemical oil products tanker STI Hammersmith (IMO 9706463) was attacked in the Gulf of Guinea at Conakry on September 17th. The four perpetrators shot at the vessel. The crew took cover in the citadel and none was reported injured. The armed robbers fired at the bridge windows and gained access into the accommodation. They ransacked…