Imec News

The international maritime industry, led by the International Chamber of Shipping, has joined together to express their concern for the seafarers from the Galaxy Leader who have been held hostage and call on the Houthis to release them.Monday February 19, 2024 marks the three-month anniversary since the Houthis seized the Galaxy Leader and its 25 seafarers in the Red Sea.The roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier was seized on November 19.“The 25 seafarers who make up the crew of the Galaxy Leader are innocent victims of the ongoing aggression against world shipping…

A new and deadly chapter of the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict is a reality check for an ambitious trade route. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), championed by Washington last month on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi and dubbed a Western rival to China’s Belt and Road, had much to prove anyway. The latest conflict presses pause on any grand financial visions involving the neighbourhood.IMEC’s chief backers waxed lyrical about the potential of the trade route involving railways, ports and green energy. U.S.

Seafarers’ unions and maritime employers have signed a four-year agreement that will see significant wage increases and dozens of workplace protections and improvements for over 250,000 seafarers’ serving on more than 10,000 vessels.The International Bargaining Forum (IBF), the forum that negotiates the world’s largest global collective bargaining agreement, agreed terms for the 2024-2027 IBF Framework Agreement last week in Berlin.Seafarers covered by the agreement will receive a 6% wage increase over the next two years (4% wage and compensations increase from January 1…

Global leaders from organizations representing seafarers, shipowners and other maritime employers signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippines’s Department of Migrant Workers on Wednesday 11 January, to form the International Advisory Committee on Global Maritime Affairs (IACGMA).The IACGMA is composed of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), and the…

The SafeNav (Safer Navigation) maritime safety project, co-funded by the European Commission and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), was officially launched on September 1.The EUR 8 million project aims to beat a path towards safer and more secure bridge navigation today while moving toward tomorrow’s world of remote operations and autonomous shipping. “The ambition and objective of the project is to develop and test a highly innovative collision-prevention solution that will significantly reduce the probability of collisions and groundings…

The maritime industry is establishing its own approved international network of quarantine facilities to ensure safe crew changes as the Omicron variant spurs governments to close their borders to seafarers needing to leave and join ships.The Crew Enhanced Quarantine International Program (#CrewEQUIP) is a partnership between the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC); the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS); and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)…

Classification society and risk management expert DNV said Wednesday it would take on an "instrumental role" in helping to facilitate safe crew changes amid South East Asia’s COVID crisis as an auditor in the multi-party backed CrewSafe program.CrewSafe is the creation of the Singapore Shipping Tripartite Alliance Resilience (SG-STAR) Fund Task Force (SFTF), which was established by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Singapore…

European short-sea and feeder lines challenge legality of Dockers' Clause extension.European short-sea and feeder ship operators are challenging efforts by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to redefine container lashing as a cargo handling activity in order to bring it under the control of unionized dockers. The redefinition, for which ITF is seeking acceptance at a growing number of European ports, will mean that shore-based workers undertake shipboard container lashing under the supervision of the ship master…

The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) designated the Strait of Hormuz as a Temporary Extended Risk Zone on 13 August 2019, following multiple incidents over the previous 12 weeks and rising tensions in the Gulf of Oman.According to the shipping's largest industrial relations collective, this means that seafarers who are subject to an attack in the zone, are entitled to a bonus and doubled death and disability compensation.This follows a period of discussions by the IBF’s Warlike Operations Areas Committee over the past weeks, who have been closely monitoring the situation and the risk to shipping.Speaking at the conclusion of the talks, the Joint Negotiating Group’s (JNG) Chairman Capt. Koichi Akamine said, “These discussions were never going to be easy.

With an annual freight volume of nearly 9 million TEU the Deurganck dock is by far the main centre of container handling in the port of Antwerp. But this tidal dock on the left bank of the Scheldt is also well on the way to becoming a hotspot for innovation. Thanks to a “smart quay” and an automatic sounding boat, shipping operations and berth maintenance in Antwerp’s largest dock will become a good deal more efficient. “The smart quay will enable us to make more efficient use of the berths available in the dock. And the automatic sounding boat will also make berth management more effective and pro-active, with the emphasis on prevention rather than cure,” explains Piet Opstaele, Innovation Enablement Manager for the Port Authority.

23 letters of employment delivered to new graduates in the presence of the Institutions of the School. Eleven Italian shipping companies “christened” the courses at the I.T.S. Fondazione “G. Caboto” (Caboto Foundation), an Institute of Advanced Technology, addressed to 50 students who will be recruited and taken aboard their ships once having completed the two-year training period, during which they will already have the opportunity to sail the seas worldwide as part of their education.

“The Shipping Tribune Conclave 2014” held yesterday at Holiday Inn, Mumbai saw a significantly large participation of stalwarts and operators of the Shipping Industry. Issues which affecting the employment and employability of Indian Seafarers came into focus. Mr. S. Hajara, one of the wll-known names in the shipping industry while delivering the keynote address highlighted the contribution and achievements of Indian seafarers. Capt. Vinay Singh emphasized the need for more quality officers for seniors ranks while also highlighting that the time taken to pass the competency examinations by our officers and engineers at junior level is far more  as compared to officers appearing for examination overseas.

Transas Marine Pacific has successfully completed the upgrade of a simulator complex for Western Shipping Pte. Ltd. training center. The simulator class was upgraded to the latest version of the Transas navigational simulator NTPRO 5000 to fully support ECDIS training as per STCW 2010. In addition, a new full mission shiphandling simulator Class A was installed for advanced training capabilities. The Transas Full Mission Bridge Simulator is equipped with standard 8.4” panel touchscreen…

Three global shipping organisations have issued guidance to their members on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus, and similar alerts have been issued by the P&I clubs, according to trade organization Maritime London. 1.     The master should ensure that the crew are aware of the risks, how the virus can be spread and how to reduce the risk. 2.     The ISPS requirements on ensuring that unauthorised personnel do not board the vessel should be strictly enforced throughout the duration of the vessel being in port. 3.     The master should give careful consideration to granting any shore leave whilst in impacted ports. 4.     The shipowner/operator should avoid making crew changes in the ports of an affected country.

Global maritime organizations have issued health guidance on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus. International ship supplier, Hutton’s Group, is responding to requests for information and assistance from its maritime customers by highlighting the range of medical protective equipment available for use in pandemic situations. Infection Containment Personal Protective Equipment kits, sometimes referred to as Pandemic Kits, are available for emergency use during pandemic outbreaks such as Ebola, SARS and Avian Influenza ('bird flu').

Three global shipping organizations today issued guidance to their members on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus. 1. The Master should ensure that the crew is aware of the risks, how the virus can be spread and how to reduce the risk. 2. The ISPS requirements on ensuring that unauthorized personnel do not board the vessel should be strictly enforced throughout the duration of the vessel being in port. 3. The Master should give careful consideration to granting any shore leave whilst in impacted ports.

'Garnishment' is the legal term relating to the collection of a monetary judgement on behalf of a claimant from a defendant. In the Philippines, this routinely occurs before the case has concluded and is central to the UK P&I Club Members' many concerns relating to crew claims in this jurisdiction. The International Group Personal Injury Sub-Committee's - Philippine Working Group (on which the UK P&I Club's Tony Nicholson sits), has been monitoring the prejudice caused to owners & employers for a number of years, in addition to seeking to educate all interested stakeholders about the need for an equitable solution, to this continuing problem.

Specialist marine insurance intermediary Seacurus launched a new insurance policy to indemnify seafarers in the event of the financial default of their employers which, for the first time, offers recompense in respect of unpaid crew wages. The policy will enable all employers of seafarers to meet their regulatory obligations under the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (MLC), which enters force on August 20, 2013. The new policy, CrewSeacure, provides up to $10 million of cover in the event of an employer’s financial default.

The International Chamber of Shipping, ITF, Indian National Shipowners’ Association, NUSI, MUI, IMEC, InterManager, Intertanko and BIMCO deplore the latest development in the Indian Ocean piracy crisis as some Indian crew members of a released merchant ship are retained ashore in Somalia. The Asphalt Venture, a 1991 built asphalt/bitumen tanker was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 28th 2010 and, following a ransom payment, the ship was released on April 15. Despite the owners’ concluding a dialogue with the pirates for the full release of 15 crew and vessel and payment of the ransom, the vessel was released but the Master has reported that 6 officers and 1 rating were taken off the tanker and made to accompany the pirates ashore.

Seafarers’ organisations, shipping companies together with business leaders and the biggest ever grouping of shipping industry associations, which have joined forces to campaign against Somali piracy, have received a welcome boost from the British and Philippine Governments confirming their support for the global  SOS SaveOurSeafarers campaign. In the UK,  correspondence between members of the SOS campaign and the British MP Henry Billingham, Minister for Africa, the UN, Overseas Territories and Conflict Issues…

Pay incentives and better onboard facilities are key requirements for solving shipping’s worsening manpower crisis, according to the chairman of ’s leading manning forum. Organized by Lloyd’s List Events, the 11th European Manning & Training conference takes place in , on May 20-21 on the back of a prolonged shipping boom that now sees demand for seafarers far outstrip supply. Coupled with the developing world’s increase in better paid jobs ashore, the recruitment crunch is being felt even in major crew supply nations like , where maritime academies are struggling to fill just 1,000 places a year. Conference chairman Capt. Kurt Buchholz, managing director of V.Ships (), acknowledges there is a problem but asks: “Is there really a shortage?

Captain Anand Dalela is to join IMEC beginning 1 January 2009 as its representative Training Manager in the Philippines. The International Maritime Employers' Committee (IMEC) is an employers organization based in London. Captain Dalela will be taking over from Captain Cedric D’Souza who will be moving on to new opportunities in the United States. Captain Dalela has experience sailing aboard product tankers, VLCCs and bulk carriers, having commenced his career as a cadet in 1993. On passing the examinations required to attain his Master’s Certificate in 2002 he continued sailing as Chief Officer until 2005 when he was given his first command of the bulk carrier Federal Rhine.

Following a meeting of the JNG/ITF Secretariat in London on Tuesday 13 January and agreement reached between the parties of the IBF on 26 January, the International Bargaining Forum has agreed to amend the "High Risk Area" covering the major part of the Gulf of Aden by adopting the revised UKMTO Transit Corridors. From 1 February 2009 all ships entering the "High Risk Area" are directed to transit the Gulf by following the new East and West bound transit lanes, which have been adopted following the increase in number and re-positioning of warships in the region. The new two lane system will also assist in preventing possible collision scenarios.