Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 13/12/2018
1. ITF and Canal Dispute
The International Transport Workersâ Federation (ITF) is reportedly astonished and disappointed to read in the media of the Panama Canal Authorityâs (ACP) aggressive and negative reaction to the launch of the independent study commissioned by the ITF that assessed the serious health and safety risks related to the fatigue of tugboat captains in the new Neopanamax locks.
https://bit.ly/2zU0AZ2
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2. Time for Ocean Perspective
All countries must jointly promote maritime rule of law and sustainable development of the oceans, a Chinese envoy to the United Nations (UN) has said. The proposal calls for a strengthening of global ocean governance and building a community of shared future for mankind in his speech at the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly on oceans and the law of the sea.
http://bit.ly/2QPr8nR
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3. New Cybersecurity Rules Coming
European politicians have reached an agreement on the Cybersecurity Act, moving it into the last round of legislation before it is officially enforced across Europe. The Cybersecurity Act provides a permanent mandate for the European Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA). The Cybersecurity Act will set out technical requirements, procedures and standards to be used in creating a high-level of cybersecurity resilience.
http://bit.ly/2C6Tguu
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4. Swedish Club Zero Increase
For the fourth year in succession The Swedish Club has announced a zero per cent general increase for the forthcoming P&I year. The decision was made by the Clubâs board in consideration of the general market view that premiums are not in proportion with expected claims outcome. Lars Rhodin, Managing Director of The Swedish Club says: âIn a number of shipping sectors the market remains weak and we have a commitment to support members at this crucial point.
http://bit.ly/2QKF5Ue
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5. Venezuela Port Crime Spree
Crime engulfs PdVâs main oil terminal. Criminal gangs abetted by corrupt Venezuelan security personnel are operating freely inside state-owned PdV’s main oil export terminal at Jose. “Criminal gangs that were operating in PdV’s oil fields in the Orinoco oil belt and Monagas and Anzoategui states have shifted their operations to Jose because the loss of hundreds of oil field workers who quit PdV since 2017 has reduced the potential victims the gangs can prey on,” the the union official said.
http://bit.ly/2C6Ud62
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6. Livestock Shame for Shipping
Australian authorities are taking action against a livestock carrier which has run into trouble. However, further problems surround this form of shipping enterprise. Broken bones and other injuries are common for sheep and cattle held on ships for weeks in cramped pens. Photojournalist Jo-Anne McArthur tracked the 22,000 arrivals on one boat in Israelâs Haifa port
https://bit.ly/2SEHgWs
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7. US Investing in Infrastructure
US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced a package of 91 new infrastructure projects across the United States worth a combined $1.5 billion. The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants – previously known as TIGER grants – give DOT funds to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects. Congress has allocated more than $5 billion for nine competition rounds to fund projects that have a significant local or regional impact.
https://bit.ly/2Ge5DJr
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8. Facts in Trade War
Eager for a historic trade agreement, US President Donald Trump is claiming done deals with China that are not measuring up to the hype. He describes last weekâs meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as âextraordinaryâ and a âbig leap forwardâ. China, however, has provided few details and little confirmation about what it actually agreed to do in regard to buying more American products and addressing the Trump administrationâs assertions that Beijing steals American technology.
https://bit.ly/2rxodBX
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9. Vessel Banned from EU
M/V âBellatrixâ â IMO 8230405 has been refused access to the Paris MoU region. The vessel was detained in port of Rostov on Don (Russian Federation) on 16 November 2018. This is the third detention in the Paris MoU region within the last 24 months. The ship flies the flag of Togo which is black on the current Paris MoU WGB list.
https://bit.ly/2Es8dtl
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10. Warning on Duplicate Invoice Payments
Shipping companies are being warned that duplicate payments on invoices occur far more frequently than most organizations realize. According to Concur.com, a typical small business processes approximately 450 invoices in a busy month and experiences an invoice duplication rate of around one percent. This doesnât sound much, but it means about six duplicate invoices are received monthly. Some of these then get approved and paid, with a 2015 Infor.com study concluding that duplicate payments happen in up to 0.1 percent of all invoices. For an organization with annual payments of $100 million, that could signify a loss of $100,000.
https://bit.ly/2Gdxmda
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd â providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com