Seacurus Top Ten Daily News Stories 22/07/2014

Seacurus Top Ten Daily News Stories 22/07/2014

1. Urgent Calls for Sensible Sulphur Response

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has called for a harmonised approach to port state control (PSC) inspections ahead of the 1 January 2015 deadline to impose the 0.1% sulphur in IMO-stipulated emission control areas (ECAs). ICS has expressed concerns that that many governments are not yet prepared to implement the IMO Marpol Annex VI regulation in a uniform manner. “The shipping industry is investing billions of dollars in order to ensure compliance” said Peter Hinchliffe, secretary general of ICS. “We therefore think it is vital that governments get the details of any PSC intervention right” Hinchliffe added.

http://goo.gl/3j51Fs

 

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2.  Ferry Tragedy Owner Found Dead

South Korea’s most wanted man, a church leader and businessman whom prosecutors had hoped to arrest in connection with an April ferry disaster that killed more than 300 people, has been found dead. Yoo Byung-eun, had been the target of the country’s largest manhunt after a court issued an arrest warrant for him in May on charges of embezzlement, breach of trust and tax evasion. Prosecutors sought to arrest him as one of those who had contributed to the sinking of the 6,825-ton ferry "Sewol". They contend that Mr. Yoo, 73, was a real owner and top manager of Chonghaejin Marine Company, and that he had cut safety spending.

http://goo.gl/4nfu3k

 

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3. Cyber Threats to Shipping In Spotlight

Lloyd’s Register Marine (LR) has addressed the London Joint Hull Committee on the risks associated with marine information technology, cyber threats and software issues. While much focus has been on the threats posed by malicious attacks on systems and organisations there are other facets which need to be considered too. Cyber losses can relate to other, none security, issues – they can stem from use or misuse of systems. Which also means that improperly trained people are using key systems, or that the systems themselves are not fit for purpose – the issue of wrong or out of date software can also cause havoc.  
http://goo.gl/1f8SwQ

 

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4. UK Tackles MLC Compliant Recruitment

The UK flag has issued a Marine Guidance Note [MGN 475 (M)] on the Maritime Labour Convention 2006: Recruitment and Placement of seafarers (RPS). The notice to all maritime Recruitment and Placement Services, shipowners, ship operators and ship managers; employers of seafarers; masters, officers and seafarers
on seagoing ships is intended to achieve the outcome that shipowners only use MLC compliant services. It stressed that even where owners use the services of companies based in MLC states, then non-compliances can still occur and they will be investigated and acted upon if they come to light or after seafarer complaints.

http://goo.gl/mVsjXW

 

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5. Global Review of Current Maritime Security Threats

Τhe Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) has issued Worldwide Threat to Shipping Report for period 14 June – 16 July 2014. The report provides information on piracy threats to merchant mariners and naval forces for the last 30 days. The report focuses on monthly Piracy Attacks by Region, and the Caribbean currently features strongly. This after armed men attacked and boarded a Guyanese fishing boat in off Suriname. At least four crew members are still unaccounted for and the captain of the boat survived by clinging to floating debris after being thrown overboard by the attackers.

http://goo.gl/vQn7x4

 

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6. Piraeus Port Progress Halted
It may have been a rare blip in the bliss seemingly being enjoyed on high-flying Piraeus container terminals II and III but last week’s threat of a three-day strike by stevedores, though rescinded a few hours later was a clear warning. Greece’s stevedores, are never afraid to back their demands by strike action. But everything has been going so smoothly under Cosco Pacific’s concession agreement with the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) that the call for a strike at the two container terminals came as a surprise. Or did it? The unions have never been happy with the Cosco agreement, and labour relations have been hit as a result.

http://goo.gl/u12BvU

 

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7. The Box Alliance Concept Lives On

Ocean carriers are clearly not yet done with mega-alliance expansion following China’s rejection of P3. Maersk and MSC’s subsequent 2M agreement is only the latest. Evergreen and the CKYH alliance are still talking to the US’ Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) about extending the scope of their operating agreement between Asia and Europe to include the US, and CMA CGM has yet to clarify who its new partners will be. The hot money is on CSCL and UASC. New partnerships are required as no one has yet come up with a better alternative to reduce costs and improve service frequency at the same time, short of take-overs and mergers. http://goo.gl/Ap5RMB

 

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8. E-Navigation of the Future Emerging

The Coordinating Board of the U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System has adopted the International Hydrographic Organization’s "S-100 Universal Hydrographic Data Model" as its preferred data framework for the dissemination and exchange of digital marine safety information and related MTS data collection requirements. The U.S. vision for e-Navigation is to establish a framework that enables the transfer of data between and among ships and shore facilities and that makes the data usable for decision-making. The use of standards is a recognized method of facilitating such data transfers and harmonization.

http://goo.gl/ooxgpa

 

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9. Onboard Learning Focus on Bulk Cargoes

The American P&I Club has added to its library of e-learning modules. The new module covers compliance with The Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers (BLU Code). The aim is to familiarise members and their crews with the code’s requirements for bulk carriers, terminal operators and other parties involved in the safe handling of solid bulk cargoes. The module is the second in a series of bulk carrier safety training e-learning modules released by the club. The first, released in January this year, was a module on compliance with the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code.

http://goo.gl/s6XN6B

 

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10. Northwest Passage Cruises Begin

Crystal Cruises is introducing a new expedition-style voyage traversing the Arctic Ocean via the legendary Northwest Passage. Crystal will be the first luxury cruise line to ever navigate the route, maneuvering through 900 miles of waterways lined with glaciers and fjords north of mainland Canada. Beginning August 16, 2016 in Anchorage Alaska, Crystal Serenity will sail for 32 days from the Pacific to New York on the Atlantic Ocean. “Crystal’s inaugural Northwest Passage offers guests the opportunity to begin a new story of thrilling adventure, all the while indulging in the world’s very best luxury vacation experience,” said Crystal Cruises.

http://goo.gl/6dzFRA

 

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