Flag State Administration News

Technical inquiries to SRC Group ramped up after it received Approval in Principle (AIP) for a concept which ‘reinvented methanol fuel storage’ on board ships. Delivering the answers has seen technical talk converting into project discussions        ‘Green’ methanol has the ability to one day run vessels almost emission-free, and commercial shipping increasingly investigates. Derived today principally from natural gas, methanol is nonetheless available, relatively easy to handle and predictable.

SAL Heavy Lift, a global carrier specialized in sea transport of heavy lift and project cargo, said that it has become the first shipping company in the world to introduce hydrogen/methanol emission reduction technology to its fleet.The Harren & Partner Group company said in a press release that with significant emission reductions in terms of CO2, SOx, NOx and other particles, the injection technology developed by FUELSAVE GmbH paves the way for making shipping greener and more energy efficient.After more than four years of close cooperation, testing and development between SAL and FUELSAVE GmbH, alongside project stakeholders EcoTune Marine, Classification Society DNV GL as RO for Antigua and Barbuda flag, Carl Baguhn, MAN Energy solutions, M.A.C.

Emissions verification company for the transport sector Verifavia said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Liberian Registry to conduct IMO DCS and EU MRV verification services for Liberian-flagged vessels. The Liberian Registry – the second largest in the world – includes more than 4,200 vessels aggregating 150+ million gross metric tons, representing 12 percent of the world’s ocean going fleet. As part of the cooperation – the company’s first major step as an IMO DCS (data collection system) verifier –  Verifavia Shipping will leverage its existing knowledge and expertise as an independent EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) dual-accredited verifier to deliver streamlined and efficient verification services to Liberian-registered vessels.

The first Malta Maritime Summit, an opportunity for international and Maltese stakeholders to raise and discuss common interests, will be held on 3-6 October, ahead of the start of Malta’s presidency of the European Council in January 2017. The international event that will consolidate the present Government's will to establish the country as a centre of maritime excellence, says Joe Mizzi, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Malta has always been a maritime nation as its location has made it historically the most sought after island in the Mediterranean, by traders and world leaders alike. Minister Joe Mizzi said that the Government is conscious that Malta has a natural potential to act as a centre of maritime excellence in the Mediterranean.

Transport Malta Marine Safety Unit has released its report on last year's 'MV Thomson Majesty' lifeboat exercise boat fall that killed 5 crew members and injured 3 others. On 10, February 2013, Thomson Majesty arrived in Santa Cruz de La Palma from Las Palmas as part of a seven-day cruise commencing in Tenerife. On board were 1498 passengers and a crew of 594, giving a total number of persons on board of 2092. At around 1030, the ship commenced a general emergency and lifeboat drill for all officers, staff and crew. On completion of the General Emergency Drill, three lifeboats on the outboard (starboard) side were to be lowered to the water and sent away for training purposes. At approximately 1154, during hoisting of lifeboat no.

Videotel launched a new training software program, Videotel webFSA, at IMO STW 44. A sophisticated Flag State Administration Training and Record Management system, Videotel webFSA, provides Member States with the assistance they need to meet the forthcoming IMO requirement for a global quality management system in the implementation and enforcement of Member State obligations and responsibilities relating to maritime transport. Developed in conjunction with the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry…

IMO Secretary-General urges rapid and full casualty investigation. ​IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has expressed his condolences and sympathy for all those caught up in tragic accidents involving ships over the weekend. “Causes of this accident are still not yet established. We must wait for the casualty investigation and should not pre-judge or speculate at this stage. I would like to urge the Flag State administration to carry out the casualty investigation covering all aspects of this accident and provide the findings to the IMO under the provisions of SOLAS as soon as possible,” he said. He added “IMO must not take this accident lightly.

The Maritime Security Committee, with the assistance of the Maltese liaison team stationed in Helsinki since early August, have continued to closely monitor developments of the incident involving the MV Arctic Sea. The Committee would like to clarify that the movements of the MV Arctic Sea were always known for several days, notwithstanding reports that the ship had “disappeared.” There was consensus amongst the investigating authorities of Finland, Malta and Sweden not to disclose any sensitive information in order not to jeopardize the life and safety of the persons on board and the integrity of the ship. It was confirmed through Russian authorities that eight persons are being detained by them in connection with the incident.

The Panamanian flag state administration has authorized the use of electronic logbooks onboard all Panamanian flag vessels. Kongsberg Maritime's current generation electronic logbook, K-Log is already installed on several vessels and approved by IMO and SOLAS, and accepted by Norway (NOR/NIS), Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom (MCA), Bahamas, Singapore, Isle of Man, Marshall Islands and Malta. With Panamanian approval, a large proportion of the world's merchant fleet are now able to make use of this forward looking system. electronic logbooks onboard any ship.

The master of a ship can be designated as the Ship Security Officer (SSO) in implementing the provisions of the mandatory International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, IMO's Flag State Implementation (FSI) Sub-Committee has unanimously decided to recommend to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). The FSI Sub-Committee, which meets this week at IMO's London Headquarters, considered the issue following concerns raised by Contracting Governments to the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and by the shipping industry as to whether the ISPS Code, as drafted, would prevent the master of the ship being designated as the SSO. The ISPS Code will become mandatory in July of this year under amendments to SOLAS adopted in December 2002.

Far-reaching international maritime security measures developed and adopted by IMO enter into force on 1 July 2004. The security measures, which include the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), are in the form of amendments to the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and are aimed at enhancing maritime security on board ships and at ship/port interface areas. They were adopted by a Conference on Maritime Security in December 2002. Other amendments to SOLAS entering into force on the same date include requirements for the fitting of water ingress alarms in holds, ballast and dry spaces on bulk carriers and requirements for radar transponders to be fitted in liferafts carried on ro-ro passenger ships.

As the offshore market, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, continues to heat up, news from Dallas heralds a new era of ensuring safety and efficiency. ENSCO International took delivery of its new semisubmersible ENSCO 7500 from Friede Goldman Halter of Port Arthur, Texas, marking the drilling rig's place in offshore history as the first to complete certificate of inspection requirements under the USCG Alternate Compliance Program (ACP), as facilitated by ABS of Houston. Through the cooperative efforts of the USCG and ABS, ACP certification - initiated in 1995 but to date only used by shipowners - is now available to offshore rigs, said Lynnda Pekel, ABS project manager.

The Coast Guard has updated security targeting information for foreign flag vessels, which includes a vessel’s flag state administration and last five port of calls. The revised information is provided on the following web site: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb/index.htm. The information for flag states and recognized security organizations will be updated monthly until the end of the year. Targeting statistics will be compiled annually and published in an annual report starting in 2005. Flag administrations whose names appear on the targeted flag state list have demonstrated a below average compliance rate in the United States for security since July 1. Foreign vessels flying these flags can expect increased scrutiny and boardings based on this information.

The Coast Guard has updated security targeting information for foreign flag vessels, which includes a vessel’s flag state administration and last five port of calls. The revised information is provided on the following web site: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb/index.htm. The information for flag states and recognized security organizations will be updated monthly until the end of the year. Targeting statistics will be compiled annually and published in an annual report starting in 2005. Flag administrations whose names appear on the targeted flag state list have demonstrated a below average compliance rate in the United States for security since July 1. Foreign vessels flying these flags can expect increased scrutiny and boardings based on this information.

The break up and sinking of the tanker Prestige last month off the coast of Spain is sure to create grass root changes in the maritime market that far exceed the economical and ecological damage caused. While it is impossible to determine, exactly, what new measures may be, there is an undeniable feeling that the powers in charge are determined to ensure that this sort of event is never repeated again. The fate of the tanker and the political and procedural situation that preceded it were fodder for the front page of the Wall Street Journal recently, not exactly the publicity the maritime sector seeks. There are many issues that jump to the forefront of the Prestige incident…

The Prestige incident has been followed closely by IMO since events began to unfold some days ago. The IMO Secretariat established contact immediately with the authorities of Spain and with the Flag State authorities of the Bahamas. As in any situation such as this, the prime concerns of IMO have been for the safety of human life and the protection of the marine environment. Despite the adverse conditions, no human life has been lost in this incident and the search and rescue authorities of Spain deserve much credit for dealing with this matter promptly and effectively and in accordance with the provisions of IMO instruments, in particular the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.