Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 17/01/2019
1. Liverpool Celebrates Port Calls
The switch by Maersk Line and MSC of a transatlantic service from Liverpool from Felixstowe last July after the latter port suffered severe delays due to problems with a new terminal operating system has become permanent. Peel Ports said that the 2M Alliance of Maersk and MSC had decided to make Liverpool a permanent port of call on the TA4 service Europe and the US after the introduction of a temporary call in July last year when the Port of Felixstowe suffered severe delays following the introduction of new terminal operating system in June.
http://bit.ly/2MciB9X
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2. The Seagoing Inbetweeners
A new short film details the lives of crew making a brief call to a seafarers’ centre in the UK, showing viewers the in-between world of a shipping rest stop where those featured are on land but not quite ashore. For many Seafarers, the new eight-minute documentary from British filmmaker Eleanor Mortimer, will be the first time they get to understand and appreciate how fleeting and sterile port stops can be in modern shipping. “I travel the world but it all looks like my gangway,” comments one seafarer on the stark reality of shipping today.
http://bit.ly/2FuVC9k
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3. IMO Helps Members on Goals
In 2015, 193 countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It calls for action by all countries to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development by 2030, world-wide. To help its Member States gain a better understanding of the SDGs and the role IMO can play in achieving them, IMO and the United Nations System Staff College held a workshop for Member States. Among the topics covered in the workshop were how to integrate different stakeholders and develop coherent policies with regard to sustainable development.
http://bit.ly/2AQxWsi
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4. Union Anger in Australia
Trade unionists have acted with anger down under following the news that miner BHP and BlueScope Steel have cancelled a domestic shipping contract, leaving nearly 80 Australian crew redundant. Under a 17-year arrangement, Australian crews aboard the bulkers Mariloula and the Lowlands Brilliance ship BHP iron ore from Port Hedland to BlueScope’s steel mill in Port Kembla and pick up coal that is then exported to China before returning to Western Australia. Maritime Union of Australia national secretary Paddy Crumlin labelled the move to switch to foreign crews a “disgrace and an act of corporate bastardry”.
http://bit.ly/2DdszVo
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5. MLC and Bullying
The second set of amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) for improving crew safety and welfare have entered into force, as of 8 January 2019. The amendments, agreed in 2016, are comprised of additions to the guidelines of Regulation 4.3. They cover health and safety protection and accident prevention. The three changes relate to the following points, using guidance on eliminating shipboard harassment and bullying (which is jointly published by ICS and ITF), ‘harassment and bullying’ added to health and safety concerns, ‘problems arising from harassment and bullying’ to be investigated.
http://bit.ly/2ssrzGV
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6. Looking at Future Training
The IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has highlighted the need to consider seafarer training and standards as shipping evolves, with increasing levels of technology and automation. set out key questions that will require focus from all stakeholders: “How will the seafarer of the future manage the challenges related to an increasing level of technology and automation in maritime transport? How will the new technologies impact on the nature of jobs in the industry? What standards will seafarers be required to meet with respect to education, training and certification to qualify them for the jobs of the future?”
http://bit.ly/2STh4bc
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7. Iran has Crude Plans
The Iranian Parliament Research Center (IPRC) has predicted that Iran will be able to export 1.5 million of crude oil bpd at the price of $ 54 bpd. While the lawmakers in the Iranian Parliament are discussing the budget bill offered by the Iranian government for the next fiscal Iranian year of 1398, the Iranian Parliament Research Center (IPRC) said that total sources of income in the energy sector including crude oil and gas condensate, net exports of natural gas and domestic gas condensate sales are estimated at $ 36.470 billion in the budget bill for the next fiscal year.
http://bit.ly/2CnYGAi
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8. Tackling Entry into Enclosed Spaces
Although the industry has repeatedly rung the bell on the dangers of enclosed space entry onboard, this continues to arise as the hidden enemy for crews. From September to November 2018, Shipowners Club had 8 reported fatalities related to enclosed spaces. In this regard, the Club produced a sample risk assessment addressing the various hazards associated with enclosed space entry. In a span of just 18 months, the Club experienced 15 related claims comprising of falls, asphyxiation, explosive burns and six fatalities. These alarming statistics have prompted the Club to produce a sample risk assessment
http://bit.ly/2sxISWU
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9. Call for Seafarer Mental Health Action
With the increasing awareness of how important mental health is for seafarers, ISWAN says that more needs to be done to change the culture in shipping. This will create more openness and less stigma about mental health. Right now there is an increase in the mental health of seafarers. Much of this comes from the general recognition that ‘good’ mental health is just as important as good physical health. According to the World Health Organisation, one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.
http://bit.ly/2Ctk8nh
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10. TMSA Access for All
From 14 January 2019 OCIMF extended access to the TMSA reports to include non-OCIMF members who are registered as SIRE recipients. This should ensure more information is available to more users, and it will help to improve safety and marine assurance in the industry. SIRE recipients will now be able to request the ship operators’ permission to see the TMSA reports for the operators’ vessels. SIRE vessel operators will also be able to maintain control over which SIRE recipients can see the TMSA reports for their vessels.
http://bit.ly/2HiCU6G
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Daily news feed from Seacurus Ltd – providers of MLC crew insurance solutions www.seacurus.com
