NL MARITIME NEWS

NL MARITIME NEWS

A NewsLink service for Dole Colombia International maritime news for seafarers

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Headland SatNews

NATIONAL

Asian Shipowners tackle ship recycling

The Asian Shipowners' Forum (ASF) Ship Recycling Committee (SRC) met recently in Chinese Taipei and discussed a wide range of issues. ASF members discussed the effects of the proposed EU Regulation on ship recycling and the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships. The ASF said that it will call on the International Maritime Organization to ratify the Hong Kong convention since it is an important instrument that would address many issues around ship recycling to eliminate or minimize risks to human health, safety and the environment. "The proposed EU Regulation could seriously undermine the Hong Kong Convention and its adoption could consequently lead to inadequate ship recycling capacity worldwide," ASF Secretary-General Yuichi Sonoda said. Regarding the EU Regulation on ship recycling, Sonoda said that the "ASF has a serious concern about the proposed funding mechanism to finance environmentally sound ship recycling under the terms of EU regulation and its application to the non-EU flag vessels." The ASF is committed to continue discussing ways in which shipowners can promote safer and more environmentally-sound ship recycling and exchange of information with concerned parties, the forum stressed.

Probe on Taiwan Strait ship collision underway

Maritime authorities are determining the cause of a collision between a Taiwanese cargo ship and a Chinese bulker off the Taiwan Strait on Sunday morning. According to reports, the Taiwanese vessel sustained minor damage and was still able to reach Keluo Harbour in Kinmen for repair. Crewmembers of the Chinese bulker, on the other hand, were not as lucky as they were forced to abandon ship as their vessel was severely damaged in the collision. They were rescued by a crew from the Fujian Maritime Salvage Centre. The local coast guard said heavy fog may have been the cause of the collision. No casualties were reported in the incident.

SAFETY Helicopter operations

Incorrect helicopter markings on the ship's deck can at times be misleading and result in an accident. Ambiguous helicopter markings might also result in the refusal of a pilot to board the vessel by helicopter, which could cause an expensive delay to the ship. There are two types of recognised helicopter markings, a landing area or a winching area. If a landing area is provided, it is essential that the hatch or deck area is suitably strengthened and approved for the type of helicopter envisaged. The areas used by the helicopter landing gear or by personnel should have anti-slip surfaces effective

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when wet. Though weather disturbance is being cited in the initial probe, Maritime and Port Bureau officials stressed that an intensive investigation will be carried out to find the exact cause of the incident. Good aviation practice requires that the colours used should contrast with the normal ship's paintwork. Letters should be painted in white and lines should always be painted yellow. Touch down zones should be painted in a dark grey or dark green non-reflective colour. All helicopter markings should follow the International Chamber of Shipping Guidelines rather than be left to the imagination of a ship's crew. Source: UK P&I Club

MAAP, Incheon Maritime School agree to boost ties

Officials of the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) and South Korea's Incheon National Maritime High School (INM) have agreed on a co-operation deal to boost maritime education. MAAP president Eduardo Ma. R. Santos, who signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for international relationship and cooperation (IRC), stressed that education is a key component in improving the maritime industry.

He said that MAAP's agreement with the INM will go a long way in improving the sector. The signing was held at the MAAP campus in the Philippines, with officials from the country's Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also present in the ceremonies. The sponsorship will include accommodations at a student dormitory in INM and there will also be weekend homestays to chosen foster parents. All meals and tuition will be shouldered by the INM. There will also be medical and insurance benefits until 2015 for the 12 students who will be recommended by the MAAP. The MAAP is under the direction of the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines.

Influx of foreign ship owners in Nigeria slammed

Foreign ship owners in Nigeria are gradually sucking the life out of their indigenous counterparts. The remark came from a member of the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), who lamented that the rising number of foreign ship owners in the country has been severely affecting not only the country's maritime revenues but also local seafarers. He said that local ship owners seldom have a big role in lighterage and seaborne transport of imported refined petroleum products to other parts of Africa. According to the ISAN member, billions of dollars are being diverted away from Nigeria's coffers each year due to the presence of foreign vessels illegally involved in coastal trade, result in revenue losses and worse, is also depriving local seafarers of employment. "If indigenous ship owners are allowed to participate effectively in the coastal trade, millions of Nigerians can be employed as seafarers," the ISAN member said. "Allowing foreign ship owners to bring more tankers and offshore support vessels into the country will compound unemployment problem in Nigeria. By also not engaging Nigerians in transportation of refined petroleum products, the country is losing billions of dollars in terms of revenue annually."

PIRACY

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Ship operators told to boost security against piracy

Maritime security company Sea Marshals Ltd has cautioned against relaxing in high risk areas where Somali pirates are known to operate. Sea Marshals Ltd Chief of Operations Thomas Jakobsson said that they expect pirate attacks to go up in the coming months. He reminded ship operators to continue to be vigilant, especially in high-risk areas. "It is essential that vessels maintain a high state of preparedness and our team leaders, who are well trained in analysing intelligence and threat reports, are working hard to ensure this information is communicated to Masters and crew before and during transits through the High Risk Area. Now is definitely not the time for complacency," he stressed. The Sea Marshals official also reminded ship operators to double check their security and follow Best Management Practices. "Any lapse in security or failure to follow BMP4 just plays into the hands of the pirates and significantly increases the risk of attack or capture," he said.

REGULATIONS More time sought on EU sulphur directive

The maritime industry has urged the European Union to reconsider the time frame regarding the implementation of its directive on sulphur emissions from maritime transport. Shipowners, as well as port and regional authorities, voiced their concerns about Directive 2012/33 at a recent maritime forum organised by the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions in France. The directive, adopted in November last year and requires maritime vessels to cut their sulphur content emissions from 3.5% to 0.5%, will take effect on 1 January 2015. Some industry sources described the deadline as "impossible," saying the sector needs more time and financial support.

INCIDENTS Fishing boat capsizes off Sulu

A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official reported that two crewmen are missing and feared dead while 33 fishermen were rescued when their fishing boat capsized while fishing off Sulu. PCG Southwest district spokesman Lt. Senior Grade (LtSG) Joemark Angue said the fishing boat capsized around 3am Sunday while on a fishing venture in Tumabal fishing ground off Sulu, PNA reported. The 148.58 gross tonnage fishing boat was carrying 35 crewmen and fishermen when it capsized. Investigation showed the boat severely listed on its port side while retrieving fish-catch by pulling the fishnet with the ship's boom, Angue said. Renato Villalobos, the boat's chief engineer, rushed to the engine room to assist the crew-in-charge who was asleep but it was too late as the vessel tipped over, throwing all the crew overboard, Angue said. All vessels plying or operating near Tumabal fishing ground have been alerted to be on the lookout for the fishing boat's two missing crew, he added.

Asylum-seeker boat carrying 95 capsizes off Australia

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An asylum-seeker boat capsized off Australia on Monday, with more than 90 people rescued. The incident, however, left two people dead while two others were seriously injured, AFP reported. The overloaded Indonesian fishing boat was spotted afloat by Australian customs 14 nautical miles north of the Australian territory of Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said that two customs officials from the Ocean Protector boarded the vessel but it was immediately pounded by two large waves that rolled it and sent people flying into the water. ."The men and women aboard (Ocean Protector) acted quickly to rescue those who went into the water and 95 have been recovered but that includes two people who are deceased," Clare said. "The two custom officers were recovered and are safe and uninjured." The dead included a boy aged four to five and a woman in her 30s. Two others were seriously injured from swallowing water or diesel fuel -- one of them a six-to-seven year-old boy and the other a pregnant woman in her 20s. "Initial advice is that border command believe they have rescued everyone on board the vessel, but it is important to continue the search just in case there is anyone else there," added Clare. Most of those rescued are believed to be Afghan, but officials said Middle Eastern nationalities were on board, as well as three Indonesians who were likely crew.

MARITIME INSTITUTIONS South African Maritime Safety Authority

The SAMSA was established in 1 April 1998 by virtue of the South African Maritime Safety Authority Act 5. It is under that country's Minister of Transport. SAMSA is governed by a Board made up of the CEO and six non-executive members, including the Chair and Deputy Chair, as appointed by the Minister. The organisation's objective is to lead and champion South Africa's maritime interests as custodians and stewards of maritime policy, vigorous promoters of the maritime sector and giving full and complete effect to our obligations for the benefit of all stakeholders. Its stated mission is to promote South Africa's maritime interests and development and position the country as an international Maritime Centre while ensuring maritime safety, health and environmental protection. It serves to advice the Government on maritime issues affecting South Africa, propose legislation and policy, liaise with other governments and international institutions, implement Flag State rules, provide a maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) capability, maintain the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre, perform Port State Control, conduct accident investigations, conduct Casualty Response and administer the Government's maritime contracts. For the shipping industry, SAMSA conducts statutory surveys and safety certification of ships, certification of seafarers, assistance and advice on maritime legislation, advice and approval for the construction and refitting of vessels, evaluation and approval of fittings and equipment used in the construction and fitting out of vessels, and consultancy to industry on technical matters, safety and qualifications The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which was established in January 2007, as a multinational organisation by the Governments of the Comoros, Madagascar, Mozambique and South Africa for the co-ordination of maritime search and rescue services in areas adjacent to the coast.

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During this time, Efthimio Mitropoulos, the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation, visited South Africa to launch the sub-regional MRCC at Cape Town. The MRCC is operational 24/7 and is capable of coordinating its resources to search for, assist and, as required effect a rescue operation.

SHIPPING DATA
BALTIC EXCHANGE
Market snapshot: (12:20 GMT) Dry Capesize Panamax Supramax Index Index Index Index BDI BCI BPI BSI 935 +2

1284 (no change) 1210 981 +2 +3 +1

Handysize Index

BHSI 543

EXCHANGE RATES
New York (Mon Cls) Fgn Currency in USD Britain (Pound) Canada (Dollar) China (Yuan) Euro India (Rupee) 1.5182 0.9788 0.1609 1.2862 0.0184 USD in Fgn Currency 0.6587 1.0216 6.2155 0.7775 54.2810 9735.00 94.0400 5.8382 40.8600 3.2400 30.9195 1.2437

Indonesia (Rupiah) 0.000103 Japan (Yen) Norway (Krone) Philippines (Peso) Poland (Zloty) Russia (Ruble) Singapore (Dollar) 0.010634 0.1713 0.0245 0.3087 0.0323 0.8041

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