Standard Club has warned Members they should be aware that, for shipments of cargo to Senegal, carriers might be unable to rely on their bill of lading terms against the named consignee. The Club has been advised by its local correspondents that bill of lading terms would not automatically apply to local receivers, unless it…
Cooperation group on Places of Refuge
The European Commission, EU/EEA Member States and industry representatives met in Brussels on 6 February to discuss the drafting of revised international guidelines for Places of Refuge (PoR). Lars Lange and Helle Hammer represented IUMI in the cooperation group, which meets on a regular basis. Hammer reported in the March issue of IUMI Eye that…
No real bad news for maritime sector in UK Spring statement, says BDO
Accountant and shipping adviser BDO has said that, while the Spring Statement by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer did not contain any shipping-specific initiatives, it did include some measures which could be of interest to the maritime sector. BDO said that of particular interest to the offshore sector was the Government calling for evidence…
Panama revokes registrations amid Iran sanction moves from US
Panama has revoked the registration of several Iranian vessels after last year’s restoration of US sanctions against Iran The Maritime Authority of Panama (AMP) has removed 59 Iranian-linked ships from its registry ShareAmerica, according to the US State Department. Last month Panama’s president Juan Carlos Varela issued a presidential decree giving the AMP permission to…
Oil spill fears re Solomon Trader
The oil spill from bulk carrier Solomon Trader (IMO 9075670) appears to be worse than first thought. Solomon Trader ran aground on February 5th while loading bauxite in bad weather off Rennell Island, Solomon Islands. Her anchor dragged and the ship became lodged on a reef near the world’s largest raised coral atoll. So far,…
Nigeria effectively stops on-board armed guards in Gulf of Guinea
Nigeria has banned the presence of embarked private maritime security contractors at its seaports, effectively preventing Gulf of Guinea vessel operators from using on-board armed guards. Nigeria is permitting private contractors to provide for-hire Security Escort Vessel (SEV) services using civilian boats and armed Nigerian Navy active duty service members.
Nigerian pirates kidnap five, says IMB
According to the ICC IMB’s Piracy Report, Nigerian pirates kidnapped five crewmembers from an OSV in the Gulf of Guinea over the weekend of March 9th/10th, despite the efforts of a security escort vessel. After an active firefight between the escort and the attackers, pirates boarded the unnamed target vessel, ransacked its cabins and made…
Hellenic War Risks and UK P&I host West African Kidnap for Ransom Seminar
Shipowners’ concerns at increasing piracy in West Africa and the kidnap for ransom threat were addressed by the Hellenic War Risks Association at a seminar co-hosted with UK P&I in Athens on March 7th. Key themes of loss prevention and response were discussed with invited industry experts. Michael Greenwood, Legal and Claims Manager for Hellenic…
Many contractual issues could arise from implementation of 0.50% sulphur cap
Heloise Campbell, Syndicate Manager, Eastern Syndicate, Steamship Mutual, has written a comprehensive article on the complexities involved amongst owners, charterers and other parties when the new Sulphur Cap comes into force next January 1st. Campbell noted that the Club had already discussed the options available for compliance in its August 2018 article, but said that,…
Grimaldi Group working with France to minimize Grande America environmental fall-out
Following the sinking of conro Grande America (IMO 9130937) on March 12th, some 140 miles south west of Brest in position 046 04 08.0 N, 005 47 04.0 W, the Grimaldi Group is working with French authorities to prevent any potential damage to the marine environment. The Grimaldi Group expressed its “sincere gratitude and appreciation”…