Cross Government News

The Philippines expressed concern about hundreds of Chinese military vessels it said were spotted this month in the disputed South China Sea, the latest example of tension in the crucial waterway.The Philippine Coast Guard reported that some 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored in line formation at a reef on March 7, a cross-government task force said late on Saturday.Foreign minister Teodoro Locsin, asked whether he would file a diplomatic protest over the ships’ presence, told a journalist on Twitter: “Only if the generals tell me.

The strategy released by the Ministry of Defence, outlines, for the first time, the UK’s approach to delivering maritime security at home and internationally, setting out how the UK organises and uses its extensive national capabilities to identify, assess and address maritime security challenges. The strategy highlights the importance of the maritime domain to UK prosperity and security. It sets out how, through effective collaboration across government, with industry and our international partners, and through the integration of our assets and personnel wherever possible, the UK will deliver maritime security. Maritime security is a cross-government activity which brings together 16 government departments and agencies.

New Zealand Government Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced a $2 million package to help Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) improve New Zealand’s wider maritime response capability following an independent review of its response to the grounding of the container ship 'Rena' off the coast of Tauranga in October 2011. Conducted by former Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Murdoch, the review identified several areas for improvement. Mr Brownlee says the Rena response was about more than oil…

With the ocean moving more than 90% of world commerce, keeping it secure is of vital importance – yet our ability to monitor activity at sea is somewhat more challenging than on land given the vastness of the oceans. Also many maritime monitoring systems rely on ships to ‘opt-in’, that can leave potentially risky blind spots in our picture of maritime traffic. This article, derived from a presentation that David Beard of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory gave at the recent DMC and NovaSAR International Conference…

U.K. Shipping minister says he is committed to putting the £31.7-billion shipping industry center-stage. Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, speaking at a Maritime London/Shipping Professional Network London event underlined the government’s commitment to the U.K.’s maritime industry and declared its importance to Britain’s economic growth. Contributing £13.8bn to the U.K. economy directly and enabling a further £17.9 billionn, the U.K.’s maritime industry accounts for 2.1% of the entire economy, supports one in every 50 jobs and creates £8.5 billion for the U.K. Exchequer. Announcing the beginning of a “much more coordinated approach from the government to shipping policy,” Mr.

Obama Administration Announces New Partnership on Unconventional Natural Gas and Oil Research. Today, three federal agencies announced a formal partnership to coordinate and align all research associated with development of our nation’s abundant unconventional natural gas and oil resources. The partnership exemplifies the cross-government coordination required under President Obama’s executive order released earlier today, which created a new Interagency Working Group to Support Safe and Responsible Development of Unconventional Domestic Natural Gas Resources. This new partnership will help coordinate current and future research and scientific studies undertaken by the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S.

Draft amendments to revise the MARPOL regulations on the prevention of air pollution from ships were agreed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) when it met last week (4-8 February) for its 12th session. Following lengthy and technically challenging discussions in the Air Pollution Working Group, the Sub-Committee agreed a draft revised Annex VI to the MARPOL Convention and amendments to the NOx Technical Code. These will now be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which meets for its 57th session from 31 March to 4 April 2008. A number of options remain open for discussion at the MEPC, which is expected to approve the amendments prior to their formal adoption at MEPC 58 (6 to 10 October 2008).

A comprehensive study commissioned by IMO to assist in the planned revision of regulations governing air pollution from ships has been successfully completed. The informal cross government/industry scientific group of experts was set up, in July 2007, by IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos following approval by the Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). It was tasked with reviewing the impact on the environment, on human health and on the shipping and petroleum industries, of applying any of the fuel options proposed to reduce SOx and particulate matter generated by shipping, as well as the consequential impact such fuel options could have on other emissions, including CO2 emissions from ships and refineries.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will consider current options to reduce air pollution from ships, when it meets for its 56th session from 9 to 13 July, at the Horticultural Halls, London. Mr. Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is scheduled to address the opening session (at 0930 on Monday 9 July) of the Committee, on the invitation of IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos. The Committee has a packed agenda, which also includes the further consideration of options to reduce air pollution from ships; the current draft of a proposed ship recycling convention…

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) made progress on a packed agenda when it met for its 56th session from 9 to 13 July in London. Among a series of important decisions, it agreed to commission a study into the impact of proposed measures to reduce air pollution from ships. The Committee also further developed the proposed Ship Recycling Convention, discussed issues relating to the implementation of the 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention and adopted a number of amendments to the MARPOL Convention. Mr. Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) addressed the opening session of the Committee, at the invitation of IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos.