Top Ten Maritime News Stories 25/02/2016
1. Minority Accident Report
The unfortunate incident of the car carrier "Modern Express", recently adrift in the Bay of Biscay, shows the effect of accidents. But – it seems this was far from unforeseen. Democrata Maritime, a company set up under the European Space Agency’s Satellite Business Incubator, showed Modern Express, on this particular voyage, was statistically considerably more likely to suffer an insurance-claimable incident than the average.
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2. UK Chamber Wary of Brexit
The EU is making little effort to stay competitive, but campaigns for Britain to leave lack a “clear, detailed alternative,” for its businesses, the UK Chamber of Shipping says. UK Chamber ceo Guy Platten praised Prime Minister David Cameron’s efforts in securing a reform deal with the EU, emphasising that he “delivered a great deal from his renegotiations and is deserving of credit,” he also described the reform deal as “simply generic”.
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3. Chemical Giant Gives Green Incentive
Chemicals giant AkzoNobel has issued its first carbon credits under a pioneering scheme to reward ship owners for switching to its greener anti-fouling technology. The firm said it has issued more than 126,000 carbon credits – worth more than $500,000 – to ship owners who converted their vessels from biocidal anti-fouling systems to AkzoNobel’s Intersleek hull coating, which lowers fuel consumption and, in turn, CO2 emissions from vessels.
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4. Ice Breaker on the Rocks
Australia’s icebreaker ship Aurora Australis has run ashore at Mawson Station, while on a resupply trip to the Antarctic base. A total of 67 expeditioners and crew members were on board when the ship broke free of its mooring lines during a blizzard about 3.15pm, according to a statement from the Australian Antarctic Division. All have been reported safe and well, and the ship remains watertight with no damage to the hull, the statement advised.
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5. Good Governance Tackling Piracy
Improved governance has contribution significantly to the reduction in pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia in the past few years, the Somali government and experts have said. The experts and officials urged the Somali government to rebuild its Navy to protect the country’s territorial waters and marine resources to help the Horn of Africa nation secure its marine resources.
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6. Cyber Protection Crucial
The maritime community is no more immune from cyber threats than any other entity that relies on computers and the internet. The maritime industry, though, constitutes part of the world’s critical infrastructure. Thus, the consequences of a successful cyber-attack on a maritime entity could be far greater than a successful cyber-attack on. As such the US Coast Guard has been working diligently to enhance its cyber security plans and programs.
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7. Unite Not Divide on Recycling
Dr Anil Sharma, President and CEO of GMS has called on owners and brokers to support sustainable recycling practices and voiced support for the increased and significant investment in South-East Asian yards. Dr Sharma also criticised proponents of total bans on beaching, stating: “It is just as possible to have environmentally sound and safe beaching practices at some yards in India as it is to have dangerous and hazardous recycling elsewhere”.
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8. Skipper in the Dock
The captain of the notorious Sage Sagittarius bulk carrier, Venancio Salas, took the stand for the first time this week within a coronial inquest in Australia. The NSW Coroner Court launched an investigation into two of three deaths from 2012 on board the ship in May 2015. Mr Salas was questioned over his whereabouts when the ship’s chief cook Cesar Llanto vanished. A veil of mystery surrounds the two deaths, Mr Salas confessed selling guns to crew members.
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9. US Gets Heavy on Bunkers
Beginning on 29 February the US Coast Guard will initiate a voluntary heavy bunker fuel sampling program. The voluntary program "will help assess industry compliance with ECA [Emission Control Area] requirements", the US Coast Guard said. Under the program, when Coast Guard officers conduct routine vessel inspections, they may request fuel samples. Vessel operators who allow sampling but are found to be non-compliant will not receive sanctions.
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10. Who Will Save the Queen
Calls to save the historic Queen Elizabeth 2 cruise ship have been intensifying amid revelations that the stunning and historic ocean liner is currently residing in a state of disrepair in Dubai. The QE2 was operated by Cunard from 1969 to 2008 as a transatlantic liner and cruise ship and was one of the standard bearers of the emerging cruise ship industry at the time. The future of this iconic cruise ship could unfortunately the scrapheap, which would be a tragedy.
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com
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