Top Ten Maritime News Stories 29/09/2015

Seacurus Daily: Top Ten Maritime News Stories 29/09/2015

1. IMO Launches Energy Measure

The Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships Project (GloMEEP), which aims to support increased uptake and implementation of energy-efficiency measures for shipping, has been formally launched at the IMO-Singapore Future-Ready Shipping 2015 conference. This Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Development Program (UNDP)/IMO project, formally designated “Transforming the Global Maritime Transport Industry towards a Low Carbon Future through Improved Energy Efficiency”, will focus in particular on building capacity to implement technical and operational measures in developing countries.

http://goo.gl/uEinEN

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2. Practical Guidance on West Africa

Shipping protection and indemnity mutual insurer The UK P&I Club (The UK Club) has issued practical guidance to members in relation to piracy in West Africa. The tips tell members how they can help avoid incidents with West African pirates. These include operating the ship at a “heightened state of security” throughout, carrying out a ship and voyage-specific risk assessment, limiting the use of lighting at night and reviewing and complying with guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region. Other tips include careful planning, regular reporting and seeking the Club’s advice.

http://goo.gl/CXOmtL

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3. Downplaying Petty Theft is Dangerous

Downplaying breaches of international maritime security measures can have globally catastrophic consequences. With an increasing number of people and organisations referring to unauthorised intrusions on board merchant ships as “petty incidents”, it seems that the concerns that lead up to the implementation of the ISPS Code may have vanished. As a reality check, a quick visit to the dictionary confirms that the word ‘petty’ is an adjective used for events or things of little importance. Thefts from vessels should not be deemed trivial – they are boardings and should be treated as such.

http://goo.gl/mikByW

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4. Crew Downed by Food Poisoning

Two people died and another 13 were hospitalised following a suspected deadly outbreak of food poisoning on a ship in West African waters. The chief and third officer of the 1991-built "Nefryt" general cargo vessel died while another 13 crew were helicoptered to a hospital in Abidjan when it docked at San Pedro port in Ivory Coast on Saturday morning. The poisoning broke out on Friday after the all-Polish crewed ship had set sail from Ivory Coast. The 9,500 dwt ship is owned by Poland’s Euroafrica Shipping Lines. Replacement crew have been sent to take over the vessel.

http://goo.gl/VTGVEf

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5. High Level of Attacks

Pirate and maritime crime activity in southeast Asian waters is "at a high level" for the week from 20 September, according to intelligence co-ordinator MARLO. A total of four incidents were recorded in the MARLO Piracy Analysis and Threat to Shipping report, as against two the previous week. Incidents for this week were one kidnapping, two boarding events, and one attempted boarding. The two incidents the week previously were attempted boardings. Notably, the kidnapping incident did not involve ship crew or shipping personnel, but a holiday resort manager and three others from a resort on Samal Island in the southern Philippines.

http://goo.gl/QqR4bS

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6. DNV Prepares Owners for MRV

DNV GL has released a guidance document to assist ship operators in complying with the new European Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) regulation. "DNV GL has prepared an overview of how MRV will affect the maritime industry and what shipping companies need to do to achieve compliance," stated DNV GL. The guidance document includes an overview of the regulation, monitoring and reporting guidance, verification guidance, timeline information, and details on outstanding issues, as well as recommended actions for DNV GL customers.

http://goo.gl/1H8zOi

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7. New Hotline for Seafarers

Trade unions representing seafarers in Asia at the recently-concluded 32nd Asian Seafarers Summit Meeting and the 24th Asian-Norway Seafarers Conference in Kyoto, Japan agreed to establish a hotline to support regional seamen in case of emergency. President of the trade union of the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) Le Phan Linh, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the events, said the hotline will update the moment an incident occurs as well as its developments to support seamen in distress. The initiative was launched in the context of complicated maritime transport developments in many regions across the world.

http://goo.gl/WjuuPj

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8. Fewer Ships Scrapped

Fewer container ships are headed for the scrap heap, despite a global glut that’s sent rates spiraling lower along major global trade routes. Scrapping of container ships is down by more than half from last year and is on pace to end the year at a four-year low. Ship owners scrapped just 47 vessels in the first half of 2015, removing from the market about 87,500 twenty-foot equivalent units, a common measure of shipping container capacity. That compared with 107 vessels at the same point last year. In 2013, shipowners removed 444,000 TEUs from operation, and in 2014 381,000.

http://goo.gl/5uyRb5

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9. Hazardous and Noxious Developments

European Union member states met to consider ratification of the carriage of hazardous and noxious substances by sea convention (HNS Convention 1996) as amended by the 2010 Protocol. The updated regulation, which shipping associations have called on member states to ratify, would ensure higher compensation for victims of pollution and accidents caused by hazardous and noxious substances. The HNS Convention was adopted in 1996 but due to practical problems with the convention member states were prohibited from ratifying it.

http://goo.gl/CmvMFy

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10. Revised ISO9001 Released

The revised ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management was published on September 23 after being approved unanimously by 75 member countries. This concludes over three years of revision work by experts from nearly 95 participating and observing countries to bring the standard up to date with modern needs. The 2015 edition features important changes – while the earlier versions of ISO 9001 were quite prescriptive, the evolution focuses on managing processes, and less on documentation. ISO 9001:2015 replaces previous editions and certification bodies will have up to three years to migrate certificates to the new version.

http://goo.gl/vgf3MK

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