Secretary General
Coune Becomes Secretary General, International Transport Forum
Carole Coune has officially assumed the office of Secretary General of the International Transport Forum at the OECD. As of August 1, 2011, Coune takes over from Jack Short, who is retiring, as leader of the Paris-based intergovernmental organization which brings together 52 nations. “I am looking forward to building on the accomplishments of my predecessor,” said Secretary General Coune, “and continuing the evolution of the International Transport Forum as the leading global platform for serious debate on the future of transport.” On her first official visit to a member country, Coune met with Germany’s Federal Minister of Transport, Construction and Urban Development, Dr. Peter Ramsauer, and State Secretary Rainer Bomba in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss her strategic vision for the future of the International Transport Forum. Minister Ramsauer assured Coune of Germany’s support for her work. He emphasized that Germany is prepared to host the Forum’s annual summit until at least 2017. ”I am delighted that Ms. Coune’s first official visit to a member country brings her to Germany. This underlines Germany’s international role as host country of the Forum’s annual summit and as a transport nation,“ said Ramsauer. The International Transport Forum at the OECD is a platform for transport policy issues
Hamburg Hosts Multiport General Meeting
The Multiport Ship Agencies Network held its autumn General Meeting in Hamburg this week, concluding with a well attended cocktail reception in the Atlantic Hotel for over 200 members of the Hamburg shipping community on Tuesday evening, 15th October. Peter Titchener, Secretary-General, said, "We are very proud to be back in Hamburg, one of the major centres of world shipping. We are here not only to thank everyone for supporting our member agents
IMO/EC Report on Meeting
The IMO and the European Commission (EC) issued a Joint Communiqué reporting on the recent meeting between IMO Secretary-General Mitropoulos and EC Commissioner for Transport Barrot. During the meeting, the parties discussed the EC’s Third Maritime Safety Package; EU competencies and IMO treaties; the Green Paper on Ocean and Seas; and EC membership of IMO and relations between the two institutions. Source: HK
Pilots and Shipowners Join Forces on Pilot Ladder Safety
The International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have joined forces to update a brochure aimed at shipping companies and seafarers, reminding them of the vital need to ensure that ladders used for pilot transfers are safe and always rigged correctly. The revised brochure – ‘Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements’ – is supported by a wide range of other international shipping bodies
IMO Tells of Commitment to Greener, Cleaner Shipping
IMO Secretary-General at Korean World Fair to reiterate organization’s commitment to sustainable maritime development. IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu will be among the high-level attendees as the Expo 2012 World Fair in Yeosu, Korea, nears its close. The Expo, which runs from 12 May to 12 August 2012, is being held in Korea’s southern port city of Yeosu, under the theme: 'The Living Ocean and Coast: Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities.'
'Accident Zero' VTS Campaign Launched by IMO
IMO Secretary-General launches initiative with International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation & Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu, during his closing address to the IALA VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) Symposium in Istanbul, Turkey, praised the safety record of the Turkish Straits VTS, which came into service in 2003, and encouraged IALA and VTS operators to undertake an initiative in which ports, harbours, straits and sea areas with VTS would count
Mitropoulos Calls on Shipping to Boost Image
Efthimios Mitropoulos, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization believes that the shipping industry needs to take steps to improve its public image. Speaking at on industry event today, Mitropoulos said “The industry needs two lists – one of steps needed to improve our image and one of steps needed to put our industry in order.” “We need to open people’s eyes to all that is good in shipping and not just accidents
IMO Assembly Issues Renewed Call for Action on Piracy off Somalia
Renewed calls for action to prevent and suppress acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, in particular off the coast of Somalia, were made by the 25th session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), when it adopted a new resolution on Piracy and armed robbery against ships in waters off the coast of Somalia. The resolution was submitted to the Assembly at the recommendation of IMO
Potential Port Problems in Nigeria
According to a report on http://www.thenationonlineng.net, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) today threatened to shut down seaports to protest the planned establishment of another body--Maritime Security and Safety Agency. MWUN stated this in a petition signed by its President, Tony Nted and Secretary-General, Aham Ubani, and sent to Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan. The petition, which made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos
Suez Canal Toll Rise May Lead More to Cape Route
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) notes that, for all but the smallest ships, the Suez Canal toll increases range from about 3% to 5%. ICS secretary general, Peter Hinchliffe, remarked: “Most international ship operators are trading in the worst shipping markets in living memory due to there being too many ships chasing too few cargoes. This is not the time for the SCA to be announcing increases, which for some trades seem very dramatic indeed
Somalia Anti-piracy Projects Approved by UN
The United Nations Trust Fund for the Fight against Piracy approves projects in support of anti-piracy efforts in Somalia & other affected States in the region. Other affected States in the region, include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Maldives and the Seychelles.
IMO Consultation Aims to Cut Red Tape
IMO begins a 6-month consultation on the administrative burdens that may come with compliance with IMO instruments. The intention is to gather data from a broad spectrum of stakeholders from which recommendations on how to alleviate administrative burdens can be developed.
Absence of IMO Shipping Casualty Reports a Matter of Concern
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) joins with International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) submit a complaint to IMO. The joint submission to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) comments on the apparent failure of some flag states to submit maritime casualty reports
PSSA Interactive Display Launched at IMO
A new interactive display on Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) has been launched at IMO Headquarters and online at www.pssa.imo.org. A PSSA is an area that needs special protection through action by IMO because of its significance for recognized ecological or socio-economic or scientific
Ship Fire Safety Still Serious Concern: Paris MOU Survey
Preliminary results from the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Fire Safety Systems, underline fire safety concerns. The results are based on the CIC survey carried out between 1 September 2012 and 30 November 2012 in the Paris MoU region.
Nor-Shipping 2013 Announce Speaker Lineup
Nor-Shipping 2013 opens just three months from now with a cast of speakers featuring top executives from world-leading companies covering the entire value chain of themaritime industry – from shipowners and technology and service companies to regulators and financiers.
IMO Pledge to Support African Piracy Code
The organisation will help implement the West and Central Africa piracy code adopted at a recent ministerial meeting. IMO has pledged its support to assist in the implementation of a new Code of Conduct concerning the prevention and repression of piracy
KPI Project Gains Momentum
So far, 120 companies have registered with the international KPI Project, started by InterManager but now an industry-led initiative. KPI data is being uploaded from more than 1,600 vessels into the web-based InterManager KPI Environment (IMKE) system
Emsys Shortlisted for Seatrade Awards 2013
WR Systems of Norfolk, Virginia, announced that its Emsys Emissions Monitoring System has been shortlisted in the "Clean Shipping" category for the Seatrade Awards 2013. The Seatrade Awards, held annually in London, acknowledge the "best of breed" in categories such as
EPCSA Conference on Port Process Simplification
Two years after its official launch, the European Port Community Systems Association (ECPSA) will host a conference focusing on the simplification of port processes and trade facilitation. What are the key strands of European Union policy relating to port processes? How are they viewed from the
London International Shipping Week: Speaker Line-up
Shipping industry heavyweights as well as City of London financial services luminaries dominate the line-up so far confirmed. Speakers so far confirmed include The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Roger Gifford; Koji Sekimizu, Secretary General of the International Maritime
Global Shipping Industry Slams European Parliament Proposals
The world’s national shipowners’ associations in nearly 50 countries – represented by the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) – have united to condemn proposed
Shipowners, Unions Raise Casualty Report Concerns
Shipowners and seafarers' unions joined forces to express concern at flag states’ failure to submit maritime casualty reports as required under international Conventions. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which represents 80% of the world merchant fleet
U.K. Government Ministers to Speak at LISW
The U.K. Government has put its support firmly behind the inaugural London International Shipping Week (LISW) by confirming two of its Ministers as main speakers at the LISW Conference to be held at the Lloyd’s Building on Thursday, September 12.
InterManager Discussion Reveals Lifeboat Concerns
Lifeboat hooks can be lethal, and their design is out of date and unsuitable to meet modern demands, according to serving seafarers whose views have been gathered by InterManager. Following a series of incidents and fatalities involving lifeboat hooks, InterManager