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Committee Meeting News

05 Oct 2023

Making Hydrogen Work: Demo Project in San Francisco Port

Ā© muddymari / Adobe Stock

Hornblower Energy LLC, in partnership with the Port of San Franciso, the U.S. Department of Energy and six corporate partners, including Air Liquide and Glosten, is leading a project to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of using hydrogen (H2) as a maritime fuel.The project is located at Pier 68 in San Francisco. DOE selected the project for funding in 2020. Itā€™s supposed to be completed in 2025 but there are important decision dates before then. So far, project activities have concentrated on planning and modeling.

13 Feb 2023

Passenger Vessels: Rising to the Challenge

Ā© sheilaf2002 / Adobe Stock

Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan explains the driving forces behind the global trade associationā€™s imperative to keep its foot on the gas.Interferry and its members scaled some demanding peaks in 2022 but, to state the obvious, our work is never done. Facing an equally busy schedule of challenges and opportunities in the year ahead, we need to keep climbing ā€“ a truism that has been memorably expressed as ā€˜the top of one mountain is always the bottom of anotherā€™.Our 46th annual conference in Seattle last October was definitely one of the peaksā€¦

27 Oct 2022

ABS Opens LNG Training Center in Doha for Qatari Seafarers

Ā©ABS

Classification organization ABS will open a global liquified natural gas (LNG) training center in Doha, Qatar, as part of its support of Qatarā€™s National Vision 2030 and the Tawteen Program, which focuses on education and quality employment for Qatari nationals.In collaboration with local corporations, the training center will focus on LNG production and operations, ensuring that seafarers are skilled to work with this dynamic fuel and the most modern fleet of vessels, ABS said.ā€œLNGā€¦

03 Oct 2022

ABS Brings Maritime Leaders Together for Digitalization, Sustainability Discussion

 Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO, addresses the ABS North America Regional Committee in Houston at the ABS Headquarters. Image courtesy ABS

ABS brought together maritime industry leaders to discuss the latest advances in sustainability and digital classification at the annual ABS North America Regional Committee Meeting.ā€œAs the industry embraces a new language of shipping, ABS is leading the way in technology, sustainability and digital innovation. In this era where regulations and standards need to move at the same pace as technological breakthroughs, our committees are more important than ever. To keep up with this paceā€¦

28 Dec 2021

The Push for "Green" Ships will Keep Ocean Freight Costs High

Copyright GreenOak/AdobeStock

Ocean freight costs are likely to remain high in 2022 as investors and regulators scramble to accelerate decarbonization of the shipping industry and companies grapple with green financing, sources say.Shipping, which transports about 90% of world trade and accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions, is under growing pressure from environmentalists to deliver more concrete action including a carbon levy.The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN's specialist shipping agencyā€¦

22 Dec 2021

Global Shipping in Crosshairs as Environmental Scrutiny Deepens

Ā© GreenOak / Adobe Stock

Ocean freight costs are likely to remain high in 2022 as investors and regulators scramble to accelerate decarbonization of the shipping industry and companies grapple with green financing, sources say.Shipping, which transports about 90% of world trade and accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions, is under growing pressure from environmentalists to deliver more concrete action including a carbon levy.The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN's specialist shipping agencyā€¦

17 Mar 2020

Ports' Coronavirus Roadblocks Put Seafarers at Risk

Ā© Kalyakan / Adobe Stock

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic taking hold around the world may leave seafarers without vital medicines and provisions as well as important spare parts, according to the International Shipsuppliers & Services Association (ISSA).Some ports have been refusing certain vessels entry because of previous port calls at coronavirus-affected areas, causing some to sail off without taking on the vital supplies they need to operate.ISSA, which looks after the interests of the worldā€™s ship chandlersā€¦

09 Feb 2020

Iran, Syria Ink Maritime Agreement

Iran and Syria have signed an agreement on mutual maritime cooperation during  the sixth round of joint maritime committee meeting on the maritime and port cooperation.The Managing Director of Iran's Maritime and Port Organization (PMO) Mohammad Rastad, and the Syrian Deputy Minister of Maritime Transportation Mohammad Ammar Kamal Al-Din, signed the agreement.The agreement has emphasized the expansion of maritime cooperation, as well as maritime education and training together with increasing maritime transportation through the shipping lines of both countries.The memorandum also emphasized the increase in maritime transport through the shipping lines of the two countriesā€¦

14 Oct 2019

ABS Brings Together Taiwan's Industry Leaders

Photo: ABS

Taiwanā€™s maritime industry leaders met to debate decarbonization, digital technologies and the future of safety at the annual ABS Taiwan National Committee meeting.ā€œAs the leading class organization in Taiwan, ABS is able to call on the expertise of leaders to inform our approach to meeting industry challenges such as meeting IMO 2030 and 2050 objectives while ensuring safety standards are not compromised and keep pace with technological challenges,ā€ said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO, who actively participated in the Committee program.

05 Sep 2019

China, Singapore Pact on Electronic Certificates in Shipping

China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote bilateral use and recognition of electronic certificates in shipping.Dr Cao Desheng, Director General of MSA signed the MOU on Electronic Certificates with Ms Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of MPA at the 11th China-Singapore Senior Officialsā€™ Committee Meeting (SOCM) in Beijing, China.International shipping plays an important role in global trade and economic development, and is responsible for more than 80 per cent of world trade, transporting goods and raw materials.The certificates of ships and its crew are key documents used in port clearance.The use of electronic certificates will bring several benefitsā€¦

13 Aug 2019

Green Group Asks Cosco to Avoid HFO in Arctic

Clean Arctic Alliance has sent its second letter to Cosco, in which the NGOs urge the Chinese liner company to make public what fuel types its vessels use in the Arctic.Responding to reports that the 190m-long COSCO-owned cargo vessel Tianā€™en is due to arrive in the Swedish port of Gävle on August 18, having traversed the Arcticā€™s Northern Sea Route between the Pacific and the Atlantic, Clean Arctic Alliance Lead Advisor Sian Prior said: ā€œEarlier this year, the Clean Arctic Alliance wrote to COSCO requesting it make public the nature of the fuel that the Tianā€™en, and other COSCO vessels planning on transiting the Northern Sea Route, will be using and carrying through Arctic waters.

14 Jun 2019

MSC Approves Mooring Measures

The International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has approved measures to improve the safety for seafarers when mooring ships.Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) said in a press release that between 5 and 14 June, MSC met in London to discuss current issues related to the safety and security of global shipping.Part of the agenda was dedicated to the draft measures for safe mooring operations as prepared by the SDC sub-committee based on proposals originally submitted by Denmark.The measures approved by the Committee entails an amended SOLAS regulation and guidelines intended to improve the current situationā€¦

30 May 2019

Greek Shipping Leaders Address Key Challenges

Leaders of the Greek Shipping Industry met to discuss decarbonization, capitalizing on data and digital technologies and vessel automation at the annual ABS Hellenic National Committee meeting.ā€œWe have deep relationships across the Greek shipping industry, which reflects our extensive investment in serving the needs of ship owners and operators here. Not only is our office in Piraeus the largest ABS office in Europe, but it is home to our Global Ships  Systems Center and an extensive team of experts on call 24 hours a day to assist with whatever challenges they face,ā€ said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO, who actively participated in the Committee program.ABSā€¦

21 May 2019

52nd Paris MoU Meet in Saint-Petersburg

The Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) on Port State Control held its 52nd Committee meeting in St. Petersburg, the Russian Federation, from 13-17 May 2019, chaired by Brian Hogan.The meeting was opened by Yuri Kostin, Director of Department on State Policy on Maritime and River Transport, Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation.The Committee reviewed the work of the Paris MoU of the last year, also taking into account the declaration of the 3rd Joint Ministerial Conference, and took decisions for the period ahead.The Committee considered the report of the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on MARPOL Annex VI. The CIC was carried out from September to November 2018.

16 Apr 2019

Iridium Readying GMDSS Services for Launch

IMSO Director General, Captain Ahmed Moin and Iridium Director of Maritime Safety and Security Services, Kyle Hurst during the signing ceremony at IMSO headquarters. IMAGE: Credit Iridium

A Historic Public Services Agreement has been signed as Iridium Continues Readying GMDSS Services for Launch. International Mobile Satellite Organization and Iridium continue progress towards Iridiumā€™s January 2020 GMDSS Debut.Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) announced today the signing of their Public Services Agreement (PSA) with the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), which details the conditions for IMSO to act as regulator and maintain oversightā€¦

07 Mar 2019

German Ports Sign-Up to Arctic Commitment

The ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven, Germany, have joined an ambitious campaign to a ban on heavy fuel oil (HFO) from Arctic shipping ā€“ along with more than 80 companies, organisations, politicians, NGOs and explorers.Bremenports GmbH & Co. KG, operates the twin ports Bremen and Bremerhaven, which rank as the fourth busiest container port in Europe, and the worldā€™s 16th biggest.ā€œBremenports is proud to sign up to the Arctic Commitment. Heavy fuel oil has no place in Arctic shipping. We are calling on other ports to join us on calling on the IMO to enact a ban on its use in Arctic watersā€, said Robert Howe, CEO of Bremenports GmbH & Co. KG.ā€œSustainability is a central element in bremenportā€™s strategyā€, continued Howe.

22 Feb 2019

IMO On Track for 2020 Sulphur Cap

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) made substantial progress towards the Organizationā€™s final preparations for the new global Sulphur regulation which enters into force on 1 January 2020.A release from Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) pointed out that IMO's sub-committee on Pollution Prevention and Response met in London this week to discuss a number of issues related to the marine environment.Following up on previous decisions by the IMO concerning the entry into force on 1 January 2020 of the new 0.50 per cent limit of Sulphur content in marine fuels, the Member States provisionally agreed on a number of measures for consistentā€¦

13 Nov 2018

BIMCO Develops 2020 Bunker Clauses

The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) has developed two bunker clauses to support the implementation of International Maritime Organizationā€™s (IMO) sulphur 2020 regulations, which come into force on January 1, 2020.The largest of the international shipping associations representing shipowners poited out that the  Global Marine Fuel Sulphur Clause for Time Charter Parties was approved by the Documentary Committee at its meeting in Copenhagen on 13 November.ā€œIt is very important that the new sulphur clauses are ready well in advance to allow the parties to prepare ahead of 1 January 2020,ā€ says Peter Eckhardt, chairperson of the drafting committee and Head of Chartering and Operations at Reederei F.

24 Oct 2018

India, Bangladesh to Improve Inland Water Transportation

India and Bangladesh discussed various issues pertaining to the protocol arrangements and improvement of inland water transportation between the two countries in the 19th Standing Committee meeting under ā€˜Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Tradeā€™ (PIWTT)held at  New Delhi.The meeting was attended by high level delegations that included representatives of Ministries of  Shipping, External Affairs, Home, Finance, DONER and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and officials from Bangladesh belonging toMinistry of Shipping, Board of Revenue, DG (Shipping)  and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).The two sides agreed to consider inclusion of Rupnarayan river (National Waterway-86) from Geonkhali to Kolaghatin West Bengal in the protocol route.

15 Aug 2018

Qatar Signs Pact to Expand Maritime Transport Sector

Qatar signed the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) on Portal State Control during its participation in the 21st Port State Control Committee Meeting held last week in Australia, where a delegation from Qatarā€™s Ministry of Transport and Communications took part.ā€œQatarā€™s membership in the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding will take Qatarā€™s maritime transport sector from local arena to the international one, leading the region in portal state control field,ā€ said Dr. Saleh Fetais al-Marri, General Supervisor of Maritime Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).The Memorandum will contributeā€¦

03 Jul 2018

Bangladesh Ship Recycling Project: Second Phase Begins

The second phase of an International Maritime Organization (IMO) -implemented project to enhance safe and environmentally sound ship recycling in Bangladesh has been launched with the first Project Executive Committee meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2 July). The SENSREC Project Phase II - Capacity Building, funded under a US$1.1 million agreement with Norway, will focus on legal and institutional analysis of ship recycling in the country and will develop a roadmap for the Government of Bangladesh to accede to the 2009 Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HongKong Convention). The two-year project will also provide training for workers in ship recycling yards, supervisors and government officials.

10 Jun 2018

BIMCO to Step Up Fight Against Maritime Corruption

BIMCO is helping the industry raise its voice against maritime corruption and supports initiatives that help fight unfair trade. At the 42nd session of the International Maritime Organisationā€™s Facilitation Committee (FAL) in London on June 5-8th, BIMCO has backed a request made by The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) for the IMO and member States to fully recognise the scale of maritime corruption and to take a stand against this type of crime. MACN is a global business network working towards a corruption free maritime industry that enables fair trade to the benefit of society. The network has submitted a paper to the IMO Committee that discusses the impact of corruption on society, how it acts as a trade barrier and how it hinders social economic growth.

20 Apr 2018

Trump Rails Against Oil Prices, OPEC Pushes Back

Ā© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

U.S. President Donald Trump accused OPEC on Friday of "artificially" boosting oil prices, drawing rebukes from some of the world's top energy exporters."Looks like OPEC is at it again. With record amounts of Oil all over the place, including the fully loaded ships at sea. Oil prices are artificially Very High! No good and will not be accepted!" Trump wrote on Twitter.It was unclear what triggered the tweet, Trump's first mention of OPEC on social media during his term.U.S. oil prices are near a three-year highā€¦

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