Archive for February, 2012
Dispatches No. 93
Please visit our website and submit your petition to your local government to END THE PIRACY www.intermanager.org
IMPORTANT !!!
We would like to ask all our members to consider placing SOS website link http://www.saveourseafarers.com/
on their websites.
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Intermanager activities:
We are extremely pleased to welcome new Full Member – GasLog LNG Services Ltd
Discipline, pride and reputation have all helped shape the company’s long-standing philosophy. Continuous improvement is integrated into every aspect of Ceres LNG’s services. Our dedication and commitment to safety is based on innovative and forward thinking.
GasLog LNG’s services cover every aspect of ship management. On and off-shore our employees are supported by world-class management practices, as well as state-of-the-art technologies in communications and marine safety. We are prepared and eager to forge strategic, long-term alliances with our clients, not only to meet their existing needs but also to enable them to explore new opportunities for stability, diversity and growth.
The future of GasLog LNG will continue to be closely linked with the future of the seas.
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Last Week:
22-24 Feb IMAREST Water ballast conference in London – Kuba Chairing
Very interesting and very important seminar.
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This Week:
MEPC in IMO Capt. Paddy McKnight’s summary report will be available this weekend
02.03 – ExCom Meeting in London in Hill Dickinson
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Looking forward:
07.03 – KPI Seminar in Copenhagen – Kuba Chairing
08.03 – Annual Marine Propulsion Conference in association with Rolls-Royce Marine – London , Riviera – Kuba Chairing one of the sessions
12 March, Satellite 2012 in Washington, D.C – George speaking
12 – 13.03 – KPI Seminar in Bergen – organised by MARINTEK – Kuba speaking
19th – 20th Mar CMA – Alastair Evitt, Roberto Giorgi, Ole Stene, Nigel Cleave and George Hoyt attending
11-12 April Singapore 10th Maritime HR and Crew Development Conference ACI – Ole Stene – providing Key Note
23-25 April Singapore BIMCO AGM – Ole Stene representing
24-25 April, Singapore 3rd Annual Asia Green Shipping 2012 – Ole Stene representing InterManager
Discounts and offers for members:
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22-24 Feb IMAREST Ballast Water Conference in London InterManager members are welcome to register at the ‘Marine Partner’ rate saving over £200 on fees
Email: events@imarest.org or visit: http://bit.ly/Ballast-WaterFeb12
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20th-21st February – Noise and Vibration- Bonhill House, London InterManager members entitled to a discount of 20% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 20th January: £1399-20% (£279.80) = £1119.20 + Tax
Register after 20th January: £1499–20% (£299.80) = £1199.20 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Please quote VIP Code TT22. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2324TT
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29 and Friday 30 March – 6th Indian Ocean Ports and Logistics 2012 Mauritius Exhibition and Conference 3 Members of InterManager FREE ADMISSION – please contact Kuba Szymanski
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7 – 8 March 2012, Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London Annual Marine Propulsion Conference, Organised by Riviera Marine Media
The Annual Marine Propulsion Conference really addresses the operational challenges facing ship operators today. Designed by industry for industry, the innovative event format makes it must attend for anyone whose business involves marine propulsion. www.rivieramm.com/events Quote members code IM-002 to claim your 10% Discount
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4th & 5th April 2012, Hamburg Germany. Maritime Sales & Marketing 2012
Organised by IMASMA www.imasma.org
InterManager Members €149,00
The only dedicated marketing, sales and communications conference for the shipping and wider maritime industry. Featuring cutting-edge presentations and case studies from major maritime organisations including IMO and Maersk, sessions cover everything from crisis communications, avoiding sales discounting and using social media channels, to building an industry-leading brand.
www.imasma.org/maritime-sales-marketing-conference2012/
11 April 2012, Maritime Piracy Workshop The Financial & Human Challenge – The ICC – International Maritime Bureau (IMB)
Venue: Discovery Suite at the Guoman Tower Hotel, St. Katharine’s Way, London, E1W 1LD
In order to cover costs as well as support the funding of the 24 hour manned IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) the workshop attendance has a nominal fee of £500 per delegate.
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11-12 April Singapore 10th Maritime HR and Crew Development Conference ACI – please contact mmulazzi@acieu.net for discounted seats
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19-20 April 2012, Hyatt Regency, Mumbai India Manning and Training Conference
Recruiting and training a new generation of Masters and Chief Engineers in challenging times www.manningandtraining.com/FKT2338INTWL
InterManager members can receive heavily discounted tickets and hope to have free spaces available soon
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24-25 April, Singapore 3rd Annual Asia Green Shipping 2012 – please contact Win.Min@ibcasia.com.sg for discounted seats
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25-26 April 2nd Scandinavian Shipping & Ship Finance Conference taking place in Copenhagen this April – InterManager members are entitled to an exclusive 20% discount off the registration fee
Use VIP Code; FKT2328MNEM to claim. http://www.informamaritimeevents.com/FKT2328MNEM
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3 – 4 May 9th Greek Shipping & Ship Finance Conference 2012 2012, Athenaeum InterContinental Hotel, Athens
InterManager members are entitled to an exclusive 20% discount off the registration fee for the 9th Greek Shipping & Ship Finance Conference taking place in Athens this May. Use VIP Code; FKT2343MNEM to claim. http://www.informamaritimeevents.com/FKT2343MNEM
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22-24 May 2012 RORO 2012, Svenska Mässan, Gothenburg
This May, industry professionals from more than 50 countries are set to gather at the Svenska Massan in Gothenburg for RORO – where the future of in the industry will be under the spotlight.
This year, for the first time ever, the conference is free-to-attend and organisers have announced a host of new features including product launches, product seminars and keynotes from industry leaders, which will make the 2012 show the most extensive RORO exhibition and conference in history.
From 22 – 24 May, car manufacturers, shippers, equipment manufacturers, port and terminal operators and shipping lines from across Europe will gather to discuss and discover the latest industry solutions. While the new conference sessions will focus on the ro-ro sector’s most pertinent topics, such as emissions challenges and the impact of the industry on the environment high on the agenda.
In keeping with this theme, the Port of Gothenburg has announced that it will promote its new environmental solutions to thousands of industry professionals from across the continent at RORO.
This year’s RORO event is set to be the biggest yet with a host of new features. For more information please visit www.roroex.com FREE ACCESS
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Capt. Kuba Szymanski
Secretary General
InterManager
+44 7624 498 266
web: www.intermanager.org
Robbers Board Tug Off Johor
Gun toting robbers have attacked a Singapore-registered tug as it sailed off Johor in the southern tip of Malaysia.
The Crest Gold 1 was towing the barge Crest 282 when it was boarded by four attackers in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The incident took place in position 1° 16.01′N, 104° 17.6′E about 5.34nm north of Tanjung Tondang, Pulau Bintan, Indonesia.
The robbers stole a computer laptop and some valuables from the crew before escaping. There were no reports of any injuries to the tug’s crew.
Details of the incident were disclosed by the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre.
The Singapore-based ReCAAP said this was the fourth incident in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore since the start of this year.
There has been a surge in the number of incidents involving tugs towing barges in the same area, with 18 incidents report last year.
ReCAAP repeated its warning to masters, especially those of tugs, to exercise “enhanced vigilance” when operating in the area.
China Urges Nigeria To Protect Bulker After Attack
China has asked Nigeria to send armed police to protect a bulk carrier off Lagos, after the vessel’s Chinese master and a member of the crew were killed in a pirate attack in mid-February.
“We urge Nigeria to send armed police to protect the crew and the vessel, and try to catch and punish the murderers as soon as possible,” said Hong Lei, a spokesman with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The 29,700 dwt Fourseas SW was attacked by eight pirates about 110 miles off Lagos on February 13, while carrying 27,000 tonnes of rice from India to Nigeria. Two crew, including the Chinese master, were shot dead while several other seafarers suffered minor injuries.
The Panama-flagged vessel, which had 21 crew on board, was saved by naval forces near by and is still waiting to discharge at the port of Lagos.
Chen Muchuan, a spokesman for the vessel’s Taiwan-based owner Shih Wei Navigation, told Lloyd’s List: “From our understanding, the pirates didn’t try to hijack the vessel. They wanted money and took away a safety box and two laptops.”
Piracy has become rampant in West African, with at least 20 piracy incidents last year reported in Benin, west of Nigeria, up from none the year before. Industry anti-piracy watchdog the International Maritime Bureau has warned that Benin could become a hotspot to rival Somalia.
Unlike their Somali counterparts, West African pirates tend to be more interested in valuable cargoes than in hijacking ships.
Taiwan has often struggled to join international counter-piracy efforts, as it is not a member of the UN due to opposition from Beijing. However, China, which claims sovereignty over Taiwan, has sometimes sought to show its friendlier side, intervening to defend Taiwanese shipowners when incidents occur.
Shipping Sidelined At Somalia Conference
Shipping was largely sidelined at the Somalia conference in London last week, with heads of state and foreign ministers from around 50 countries largely concentrating on the political issues facing the country rather than the piracy crisis.
Leading figures such as British prime minister David Cameron, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon nevertheless made clear their opposition to such criminality, and promised a number of concrete measures they believe will tackle its root causes.
They also promised to establish a taskforce to discuss the payment of ransoms to secure the release of seafarers and ships, with the implication that the practice is undesirable and should be eliminated.
Anti-piracy campaign group SOS SaveOurSeafarers was quick to express its reservations on this and other points.
“We’re disappointed that the conference’s phrase ‘hostages in Somalia’ failed to acknowledge the world’s seafarers and the difficulty they go through in order to keep world trade moving through this area,” it said in a statement.
“We’re also concerned by some of the comments Hillary Clinton and David Cameron made about creating an international task force to discourage the payment of ransoms to pirates and other groups to eliminate the profit motive.
“This is deeply alarming as it may hinder the payment of ransoms for ships and seafarers, which is currently the only way shipowners can ensure the ultimate safety of hijacked seafarers.”
But a more positive response was forthcoming from International Maritime Organization secretary-general Koji Sekimizu, who went out of his way to praise the wide range of issues covered, including security, local stability, counter-terrorism, humanitarian aspects, the political process and international co-operation.
“Mention of the word Somalia in a maritime context leads almost exclusively to thoughts of piracy,” Mr Sekimizu said.“But, as this conference so clearly highlights, piracy is just one manifestation of the widespread and deep-rooted problems that beset that country and its people.”
A comprehensive and detailed communiqué adopted by the conference called for, among other things, full implementation of the IMO-led Djibouti Code of Conduct and the adoption of an Exclusive Economic Zone.
It also welcomed current work on international guidance on the use of private armed security companies.
“On the issue of piracy, the conference agreed that piracy cannot be solved by military means alone and reiterated the importance of supporting local communities to tackle the underlying causes of piracy and improving effective use of Somali coastal waters through regional maritime capacity-building measures,” Mr Sekimizu said.
“I will redouble my efforts to ensure that IMO will provide further support to signatory states of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, including Somalia, within the Djibouti Code of Conduct trust fund and accelerate the process of implementation by the IMO.”
The IMO is organising a counter-piracy capacity building conference at its London headquarters on May 15, and is promising “tangible outcomes on the way forward”.
New Charges For Schettino
Italian cruiseship captain Francesco Schettino is facing more charges in the wake of the Costa Concordia tragedy.
Already likely to be tried for alleged multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship before evacuations were complete, Italian prosecutors have added accusations of abandoning incapacitated passengers and failing to inform maritime authorities.
Officials confirmed that tests showed he was not on drugs at the time of the accident.
First officer Ciro Ambrosio, four more ship’s officers and three Costa Cruises executives are also under investigation.
Italian news agency ANSA reported that the three Costa men were the company’s vice president Manfred Ursprunger, the head of the company’s crisis unit Roberto Ferrarini and fleet superintendent Paolo Parodi.
Pre-trial hearings, including an investigation of the ship’s “black box” recorders, are due to open on 3 March.
A total of 32 people are thought to have died in the 13 January accident.
Prosecution documents filed on Wednesday claim Schettino slowed the ship down while he was having dinner on the night of the accident, then sped up to 16 knots to make up time, despite being in shallow water.
They also say his nautical charts were not appropriate and not detailed enough to reveal obstacles including the rock on which the fatal impact occurred.
The report also points to the large number of people in the bridge area at the time of the accident, including Domnica Cermotan, a friend of Schettino’s. They say this “generated confusion and distraction for the captain.”
It says he failed to perform appropriate manoeuvres to avoid the collision, did not activate procedures to seal the ship, and did not take charge of the crew during the operation. He also took too much time to sound the general alarm and order the evacuation .
London Hosts Somalia Conference
Piracy in Somalia will be among the main topics discussed at a major international conference on Somalia in London’s historic Lancaster House tomorrow, although the shipping industry will make itself heard only indirectly at best.
Among those attending will be heads of state and foreign ministers from more than 50 countries, including United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
The discussions will focus on practical measures to tackle questions including security, political progress towards effective government, stability and humanitarian issues.
Repeated hijackings of vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are thought to have cost the global economy anything up to $7bn last year, according to a recent report from a US-based think tank. Shipping had to foot up to 80% of the bill.
However, it is understood that no shipowners or shipping trade associations have been invited to the event, which was announced last year by British prime minister David Cameron. Lloyd’s List has been able to secure media credentials.
A collective shipping viewpoint will be tabled in the form of conclusions from a separate shipping-specific conference held at the International Maritime Organization earlier this week, under the auspices not of the IMO but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Giles Heimann, chair of the SOS SaveOurSeafarers anti-piracy campaign that brings together some 30 shipping interest groups, said that Tuesday’s meeting had acknowledged the importance of the continuing partnership between the shipping industry, naval forces and governments in the fight against Somali piracy.
“The conference also highlighted the successful co-ordinated naval operations in the region, which, combined with industry self-protection measures, have helped reduce the number of successful pirate hijackings despite continued increasingly violent pirate attacks,” he said.
“The conference’s recognition of the economic and human cost of piracy and the suffering of seafarers echoes our campaign’s objectives as we try to raise awareness of the consequences of Somali piracy, and attempt to stir up more political will.
“We also welcome the conference’s acknowledgement of the underlying causes of Somali piracy, and of the need to stabilise and strengthen internal governance within the country, and to strengthen judicial prosecution capacity in the region in order to bring pirates to justice.”
On top of piracy, the agenda at today’s conference is likely to include a range of other issues facing the troubled country, which has had no stable central government for two decades. These include widespread famine, drought, internal conflict between clans, a massive drugs industry, Islamist insurgency and suspected terrorist training camps on its territory.
Dispatches No.92
Please visit our website and submit your petition to your local government to END THE PIRACY www.intermanager.org
IMPORTANT !!!
We would like to ask all our members to consider placing SOS website link http://www.saveourseafarers.com/
on their websites.
———————————
Intermanager activities:
Capt. Paddy McKnight’s full report from IMO Design and Equipment now available on http://www.intermanager.org/category/imo-updates/
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Last Week:
13th February – KPI working group – Singapore – Very well attended with excellent discussion
14th & 15th February Singapore, Maritime Insights Communication South East Asia – InterManager co-organises it –
15th Feb – Singapore – KPI Seminar on the – representatives from 36 mostly new to KPI concept shipping companies joined us – George, Ajay and Kuba (as Markus is sick in Cyprus) for what was probably the best KPI workshop so far. We had very unified group and that allowed us to cover a lot of ground in 7 hrs workshop. Concept, history and the way forward plus absolutely great insight of the concept from a user’s point of view including current available benchmarkings used by industry – very impressive and powerful was done by Ajay Tripathi of MMS.
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This Week:
22-24 Feb IMAREST Water ballast conference in London – Kuba Chairing
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Looking forward:
29.02 – 01.03 Full Spectrum Maritime Security Forum – Hamburg – Hanson Wade – Kuba Chairing – CANCELLED
02.03 – London with possibility for Telecon – ExCom – hosted by HillDickinson
07.03 – KPI Seminar in Copenhagen – Kuba Chairing
08.03 – Annual Marine Propulsion Conference in association with Rolls-Royce Marine – London , Riviera
12 March, Satellite 2012 in Washington, D.C – George speaking
12 – 13.03 – KPI Seminar in Bergen – organised by MARINTEK – Kuba speaking
19th – 20th Mar CMA – Alastair Evitt, Roberto Giorgi, Ole Stene, Nigel Cleave and George Hoyt attending
11-12 April Singapore 10th Maritime HR and Crew Development Conference ACI – Ole Stene – providing Key Note
23-25 April Singapore BIMCO AGM – Ole Stene representing
24-25 April, Singapore 3rd Annual Asia Green Shipping 2012 – Ole Stene representing InterManager
Discounts and offers for members:
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22-24 Feb IMAREST Ballast Water Conference in London InterManager members are welcome to register at the ‘Marine Partner’ rate saving over £200 on fees
Email: events@imarest.org or visit: http://bit.ly/Ballast-WaterFeb12
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20th-21st February – Noise and Vibration- Bonhill House, London InterManager members entitled to a discount of 20% off the lowest tier of brochure fees as follows:
Register by 20th January: £1399-20% (£279.80) = £1119.20 + Tax
Register after 20th January: £1499–20% (£299.80) = £1199.20 + Tax
Contact: Roxanna Kashfi will be pleased to assist with bookings. Please quote VIP Code TT22. Email: Roxanna.Kashfi@informa.com or by telephone +44 (0) 207 017 77161.
http://www.informaglobalevents.com/FKT2324TT
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29 and Friday 30 March – 6th Indian Ocean Ports and Logistics 2012 Mauritius Exhibition and Conference 3 Members of InterManager FREE ADMISSION – please contact Kuba Szymanski
—————————-
7 – 8 March 2012, Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London Annual Marine Propulsion Conference, Organised by Riviera Marine Media
The Annual Marine Propulsion Conference really addresses the operational challenges facing ship operators today. Designed by industry for industry, the innovative event format makes it must attend for anyone whose business involves marine propulsion. www.rivieramm.com/events Quote members code IM-002 to claim your 10% Discount
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11 April 2012, Maritime Piracy Workshop The Financial & Human Challenge – The ICC – International Maritime Bureau (IMB)
Venue: Discovery Suite at the Guoman Tower Hotel, St. Katharine’s Way, London, E1W 1LD
In order to cover costs as well as support the funding of the 24 hour manned IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (IMB PRC) the workshop attendance has a nominal fee of £500 per delegate.
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11-12 April Singapore 10th Maritime HR and Crew Development Conference ACI – please contact mmulazzi@acieu.net for discounted seats
—————–
19-20 April 2012, Hyatt Regency, Mumbai India Manning and Training Conference
Recruiting and training a new generation of Masters and Chief Engineers in challenging times www.manningandtraining.com/FKT2338INTWL
InterManager members can receive heavily discounted tickets and hope to have free spaces available soon
——————
24-25 April, Singapore 3rd Annual Asia Green Shipping 2012 – please contact Win.Min@ibcasia.com.sg for discounted seats
——————
25-26 April 2nd Scandinavian Shipping & Ship Finance Conference taking place in Copenhagen this April – InterManager members are entitled to an exclusive 20% discount off the registration fee
Use VIP Code; FKT2328MNEM to claim. http://www.informamaritimeevents.com/FKT2328MNEM
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3 – 4 May 9th Greek Shipping & Ship Finance Conference 2012 2012, Athenaeum InterContinental Hotel, Athens
InterManager members are entitled to an exclusive 20% discount off the registration fee for the 9th Greek Shipping & Ship Finance Conference taking place in Athens this May. Use VIP Code; FKT2343MNEM to claim. http://www.informamaritimeevents.com/FKT2343MNEM
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22-24 May 2012 RORO 2012, Svenska Mässan, Gothenburg
This May, industry professionals from more than 50 countries are set to gather at the Svenska Massan in Gothenburg for RORO – where the future of in the industry will be under the spotlight.
This year, for the first time ever, the conference is free-to-attend and organisers have announced a host of new features including product launches, product seminars and keynotes from industry leaders, which will make the 2012 show the most extensive RORO exhibition and conference in history.
From 22 – 24 May, car manufacturers, shippers, equipment manufacturers, port and terminal operators and shipping lines from across Europe will gather to discuss and discover the latest industry solutions. While the new conference sessions will focus on the ro-ro sector’s most pertinent topics, such as emissions challenges and the impact of the industry on the environment high on the agenda.
In keeping with this theme, the Port of Gothenburg has announced that it will promote its new environmental solutions to thousands of industry professionals from across the continent at RORO.
This year’s RORO event is set to be the biggest yet with a host of new features. For more information please visit www.roroex.com FREE ACCESS
———–
Capt. Kuba Szymanski
Secretary General
InterManager
+44 7624 498 266
web: www.intermanager.org
Italy Demands Right To Try Enrica Lexie Suspects
Italy is demanding the right to try two members of a vessel protection detachment accused of shooting dead two Indian fishermen last week, apparently because they feared that the victims were pirates.
Massimiliano Latore and Salvatore Girone, both Italian marines, were yesterday remanded in custody until March 5 by a magistrate in Kollam. They have been charged with murder under section 302 of the Indian penal code.
The accused were part of a security detachment on board the Dolphin Tanker-operated vessel Enrica Lexie at the time of the incident last Wednesday.
Accounts of exactly what happened differ sharply, and are causing diplomatic tensions between India and Italy.
The Italian foreign ministry said in a statement that the incident occurred on an Italy-flagged ship in international waters, and that therefore Italy had jurisdiction. Moreover, as members of the armed forces, the men had immunity from prosecution by other states.
Italy’s foreign minister Giulio Terzi told reporters: “So far, I do not believe there has been the kind of collaboration between the states of India and Italy which could be hoped for and which could open a way out quickly.
“Contacts and collaboration between the two governments are essential to establish the facts in the face of unilateral actions being undertaken by police authorities.”
Meanwhile, BCB International called on the major conference on Somalia that meets in London this week to rethink policies on the use of armed guards.
The security equipment manufacturer’s marine projects manager Jonathan Delf said: “We have been warning for some time about the dangers linked with the used of armed guards on commercial vessels.
“The vast majority of armed guards protecting commercial vessels are extremely well trained and highly professional, but there can be no room for human error when lethal force is used.
“Armed teams on board civilian commercial vessels need to be provided with the right equipment to enable them to do the very difficult task they face.”
IMO SUB-COMMITTEE ON SHIP DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT 13 – 17 February 2012
The IMO’s sub-committee on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) held its 56th session on 13 through 17 February 2012. Mrs Annelise Jost of Germany chaired the meeting very ably and was re-elected for the coming year. Her Vice Chairman, Dr Susumu Ota of Japan, was similarly re-elected. A number of Working Groups (WG’s) were formed and their main recommendations, as subsequently endorsed in Plenary, are as follows:
• Revision of the Revised Guidelines for Sewage Treatment Plants, also the standard specification for shipboard incinerators. The draft MEPC Resolution on 2012 Guidelines on the Implementation of Effluent Standards and Performance Test for STP’s were agreed in principle and should be applied from 1 January 2016. The previous possibility of ‘dilution compensation’ was re-included so that it can be evaluated at MEPC 64. It was also agreed that the capacity limit for shipboard incinerators should be increased from 1,500 kw to 4,000 kw and a recommendation made to MEPC 64 that this ‘extended’ range can be type approved under the existing Standard Specification for Shipboard Incinerators, whilst extending the target completion year to 2013.
• Protection Against Noise on board ships. A protracted and somewhat acrimonious discussion took place on Chapter 6 of this WG’s report, namely ‘Acoustic Insulation Between Accommodation Spaces’. The group had recommended that the ‘Sound Insulation Index’ figures and ‘Erection of Materials’ instructions be made mandatory. BAHAMAS argued that the Code should be divided into two sections, one recommendatory and the other mandatory, whilst FRANCE felt the current structure (mandatory only) to be suitable. Member governments then took sides. A particularly noteworthy comment by KOREA observed a discrepancy in the difference between laboratory and on board noise levels of 5db. The USA believed that, given the absence of installation instructions, the ‘Measurement’ guidance/instructions suggested by the WG would be difficult to implement. In forwarding the DE’s report, the Chairman stated that all proposals would be included, particularly the statements made by the BAHAMAS, FRANCE and the USA, seeking MSC’s guidance on how best to proceed.
• Development of Performance Standards for Recovery Systems for all Types of Ships. A much less contentious item. Most noteworthy among the 13 WG proposals endorsed by the committee included that of providing flexibility for lifeboat servicing as part of the development of a mandatory instrument; agreement to a road map for the development of a new framework of requirements for life-saving appliances; issuance of an invitation to governments for concrete proposals on the development of specific safety objectives and functional requirements for SOLAS chapter 11-1; a refusal to approve the IACS unified interpretation on the matter of infant-lifejackets in its current form and finally, an agreement to establish a correspondence group.
• Development of a Mandatory Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters. There were approximately 100 participants in this WG, thus demonstrating its importance. Regarding Environmental issues, the group discussed at length to what extent the future Code should contain requirements on environmental protection in addition to that achieved by enhancement of safety. A majority felt that the Code should address both accidental and operational sources of pollution. However, in order to help resolve the divergence of views as to whether environmental protection provisions should be elaborated as part of the Code, two options were suggested. The first would continue to develop the environmental provisions in the Code within the CG in addition to holding a topic-related intersessional meeting. The second option would immediately divert some of the environmental matters to MEPC and its subordinate sub-committees. A great many opinions were expressed following which the Chairman ruled that an intersessional meeting was not sufficiently supported and therefore would not take place. In addition, she felt that DE should consider those matters pertinent to environmental protection which are not discussed in other bodies and that the preparatory work should be carried out by the re-established CG. Thus Chapter 15 (‘Environmental Protection’) is to be held in abeyance and not forwarded to MEPC ‘until we understand it ourselves’ following further discussion at DE 57. Chapters 1 through 14 and Annex 3 of the draft Polar Code on the other hand, were approved for forwarding to MEPC.
• Regulation on Plans and Procedures for Recovery of Persons from the Water. Following a debate on whether to place the new Regulation in Chapter III or Chapter V of SOLAS, the committee opted for the former and agreed to forward a draft resolution to MSC concerning the implementation of SOLAS regulation III/17-1 to ships other than those engaged on international voyages. IACS stated that, as the draft amendment will enter into force for existing ships in July 2014, if it has been inserted into ISM Documentation on board any existing ship, ISM audits taking place prior to that date should not penalise the ship.
• Other Items of Interest discussed in Plenary.
(1) The sub-committee invited parties interested in the thermal performance of immersion suits to prepare terms of reference for a correspondence group.
(2) It was agreed that there is an urgent need to further consider the application of existing IMO Instruments to Offshore Windfarm Construction Support Vessels and Service Craft and to clarify the application of relevant requirements concerning industrial personnel transported by sea.
(3) Concerns were expressed at the IACS UI (SC 248) on the greatest launching height for a free-fall lifeboat following which Member States/International Organisations were invited to submit comment and proposals to DE57.
(4) The Sub-Committee invited interested parties to prepare terms of reference for a correspondance group regarding the revision of testing requirement for lifejacket RJDs including a possible amendment to the LSA Code.
Captain Paddy McKnight
Indian Fishermen Shot Dead By Italian Anti-Piracy Team
Indian fishermen shot dead by Italian anti-piracy team
Conflicting reports after tanker incident off Kerala
Two Indian fishermen have been shot dead after naval security personnel on board the tanker Enrica Lexie took them for pirates about 14 miles off Kerala’s Alappuzha coast on Wednesday afternoon. The victims have been named as Ajesh Binki, 25, and Jalastein, 45.
Conflicting reports are emerging about the incident. The Italian embassy in India claims that the vessel had previously come under attack. However, India’s Directorate General of Shipping has insisted that the two dead men were innocent.
The directorate has confirmed that the guards, who are in custody along with the master of the 2008-built, 104,769 dwt vessel, are Italian naval personnel. Initial reports were unclear on that point, leaving private military contractors to ponder the legal and insurance implications.
The Standard Club has confirmed that it is the P&I insurer for Enrica Lexie , now anchored off Kochi. The P&I club, which was also one of the main P&I clubs covering Costa Concordia , said it could not give further details while the investigation continued.
However, Lloyd’s Market Association senior executive underwriting Neil Smith said this sort of incident was certain to involve the P&I insurers.
“Given the proliferation of armed guards and the continued threat to ships, it is an inevitability that mistakes will occur,” he said. “That fear of escalation and errors was and is behind the thinking of those owners who were and are reluctant to go down the armed route.
“It is not the first time that an innocent vessel has been attacked as it will be recalled that the Indian navy unfortunately made the same mistake a couple of years ago with worse results.”
A security source said this incident was certain to raise liability issues but added that it was difficult to make any judgement until all the facts were known.
“For example, anyone who’s been around for a while will know that at one time if you got too close to the Yemeni coast and ran over fishing nets, the local fishermen in skiffs, with guns in many cases, would open fire to scare you off the fishing grounds. The Indians may have been doing something like that and may have been perceived as a lethal threat,” he said.
“There are so many variables but I think if they were operating to strong rules on the use of force then they must have had a potentially lethal threat.”
According to the Lloyd’s List Intelligence database, Enrica Lexie is associated with Naples-based Dolphin Tanker . Initial attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful.
The incident has already had diplomatic repercussions, when India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Italian ambassador for a dressing-down.
The Press Trust of India, citing unnamed official sources, said that the two people killed were were among 11 fishermen on a boat, nine of them asleep at the time of the incident. The Italians opened fire without prior warning, the sources claimed.
The Italian embassy said in a statement: “The Italian ship was attacked in international waters about 30 miles off the southwest coast of India. Italian navy personnel on board following international protocols, after repeated warnings and after ascertaining from binoculars that the pirates were armed, gradually fired some warning shots and the pirates withdrew.
“Later, the master of the Italian ship was contacted by the Indian coastguards and requested to direct towards the Kochi harbour to offer information on the pirate attack. The master agreed and the ship is now in Kochi harbour. We are in touch with the Indian authorities and we shall work together to clarify all aspects of the incident.”
But the Directorate General of Shipping put out a statement giving a rather different version of events. It said Enrica Lexie was intercepted by the Indian coastguard and escorted into Kochi.
The directorate said it planned a preliminary investigation into “the loss of life of two innocent Indian fishermen”.
