Baltic And International Maritime Council News

A guide to maritime pilot transfer safety has been updated amid industry concerns about poorly rigged ladders causing severe injuries or fatalities.The ‘Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements’, produced by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in partnership with the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA), features a new section with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s guidance on combination embarkation platform arrangements. Provisions for a ‘trapdoor arrangement’ in combination ladders…

At a time when the world has become more aware than ever before about the vital importance of the world’s ocean shipping fleet, which carried supplies, merchandise and much needed personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased risk from a different threat, cyberattacks, presents a set of new challenges. According to Israeli cybersecurity specialist Naval Dome, since February 2020, there has been a 400% increase in attempted hacks on the maritime realm…

ClassNK Consulting Service Co., Ltd.(NKCS) has launched of a maritime focused cyber security e-learning training service developed in cooperation with KDDI CORPORATION (KDDI) and KDDI Digital Security Inc. (KDS).An increased use of many solutions utilizing Big Data and IoT technologies has brought benefits, but it has also introduced cyber risks among maritime industries. Under these circumstances, training for those who are engaged in ship operation and other related industries is an important first step toward cyber safetyNKCS' new program…

About one-third of the oil tankers owned by COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) have shut off their ship-tracking transponders since the United States imposed sanctions on the company for allegedly shipping Iranian crude, shipping data showed.From Sept. 30 to Oct. 7, a total of 14 COSCO Dalian ships, six of which carry some oil, stopped sending location data from their automatic identification system (AIS), ship tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon showed. The U.S. imposed the sanctions on Sept.

For some years now, the maritime sector has experienced breaches of various computer and information technology (IT) systems. Primarily, these breaches have been collateral damage. The maritime sector has almost never been the intended target. That does not mean that the damage has been minor. In June 2017, A.P. Moller-Maersk suffered a major cyber-attack. The malware had been designed by Russian hackers to disrupt the Ukrainian power sector. Once released, though, it proved to be indiscriminate, infecting IT systems worldwide that had not been kept up to date. In the case of A.P.

The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and MAN Energy Solutions hosted a conference for software suppliers delivering Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) to expand the use of Shipdex.Shipdex is the standard protocol for exchanging technical data - such as manuals – electronically between supplier and ships directly, cutting the need for huge stacks of - often outdated - paper manuals.“Honestly, we would have liked to see more suppliers for the conference. It was well received by the participants, and will result in new users, but we would like a much wider adoption of the protocol. The industry needs to standardise to reap the benefits of digitalisation…

The the international shipping associations representing shipowners Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) adopted a Sea Traffic Management (STM) Clause-clause for standard contracts.STM Clause is the nine industry actors launched a new common governance initiative, the first shore centre outside a project joined the STM community. "We received positive response from many of the around 200 active test ships and most of the 500 bridge officers who manned the simulator bridges during the STM test scenarios.," said a press note."On top of this we have arranged a successful STM Validation Project Final conference at IMO, London with 350 participants and two new STM implementation projects are up and running…

Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) will begin work on two gas-related contracts in early 2019, an LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) Bunker Purchase Contract and a LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) voyage charter party.A press release from the largest of the international shipping associations representing shipowners said that it is planning to develop the new contracts in Asia in an effort to further increase the involvement of its Asian members. Both projects will be developed mainly by experts from the region and managed by BIMCO’s Shanghai office, assisted by head office staff in Copenhagen.“An alternative fuels contract and a voyage charter for LPG are two key projects which have global resonance…

The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) has developed two bunker clauses to support the implementation of International Maritime Organization’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.“It is very important that the new sulphur clauses are ready well in advance to allow the parties to prepare ahead of 1 January 2020,” says Peter Eckhardt, chairperson of the drafting committee and Head of Chartering and Operations at Reederei F.

Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) has been a proponent for a carriage ban of non-compliant fuel (unless the ship has a scrubber) and is pleased to see it adopted with a start date of 1 March 2020, said a release from the international shipping association.“A carriage ban on non-compliant fuel is critical in order for the member states to be able to enforce the sulphur regulation,” Lars Robert Pedersen, BIMCO Deputy Secretary General.Two key developments were the adoption of the ban from 1 March 2020 on carriage of non-compliant fuel and the compromise reached on collecting data from the world fleet on fuel oil non-availability and quality without any delay in the implementation of the 2020 sulphur rules.“We are overall very satisfied with the outcome of MEPC 73.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has submitted a paper to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Intersessional Working Group (ISWG) on the consistent implementation of the 2020 global fuel oil sulphur standard under MARPOL Annex VI. The submission, which was co-sponsored by the Republic of Liberia, the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO), the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), and the World Shipping Council (WSC), is intended to assist the ISWG in developing guidelines on the implementation of regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex VI.

The IMO’s MEPC 70 proposals for a marine fuels sulfur cap of 0.5% to be in place by 2020 have attracted severe criticism from several major stakeholders in the maritime sector, including the International Bunker Industry Association, the organization that defends the interests of bunker fuel suppliers. The IBIA has stated that several unknowns remain about the proposed limit and has asked whether assumed global capacity will translate into actual marine market supply in 2020: “Will refiners produce suitable fuels, and what will these fuels look like?

The International Maritime Organization’s proposals to reduce sulfur levels in marine fuels to a maximum of 0.5 percent m/m (mass/mass) by 2020 may prove to be controversial, having met with various responses from major shipping organisations and other bodies. The decision to implement the proposals by 2020 was taken by IMO, the regulatory authority for international shipping, during its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 70) meeting, which was held in London, UK in October 2016, and represents a significant reduction from the 3.5 percent m/m global limit currently in place.

From January 2014 - October 2016 the crude oil tanker segment composing of VLCC, suexmax and aframax ships, had a net-fleet growth of 7.3 percent, which is equal to 24.3 million (m) DWT. The VLCC segment, with 20.7m DWT or a net fleet growth rate of 11 percent took the lion’s share, followed by the suezmax segment with 4.4m DWT or 5.5 percent. Whereas the aframax segment decreased by -0.8m DWT or 1 percent, in relation to the fleet size of the specific ship segment. The Baltic and International Maritime Council’s (BIMCO) Chief Shipping Analyst Peter Sand said…

Since Q1 2013, the significance of U.S. coal exports has seen a considerable setback, with 2016 achieving the same levels as 2009. This is due to the long-haul routes carrying coking coal from the U.S. East Coast and U.S. Gulf Coast to East Asia, are not operating to the same extent and the EU is demanding less thermal coal, says shipping organization Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). When BIMCO first published its story concerning U.S. coal in 2013, U.S. coal exports had the most significant coal trade in the world, measured by metric-ton-miles.

The main exporters of thermal coal for coal-fired power plants to the U.K. have experienced a heavy decline in seaborne cargo volumes in 2016. This comes as a result of the U.K. starting a concerning trend for the dry bulk shipping industry, by close to doubling its Carbon Price Floor (CPF), says the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). Russia, Colombia and the U.S. have been the top coal exporters to the U.K. for the previous three years. The long hauls from the U.S.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has released a training programme, produced by Videotel, a KVH company, to encourage safe navigation in the Singapore Strait. Carrying an estimated one third of the world’s traded goods, the Singapore Strait is one of  world’s busiest shipping lanes  the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Recent projections show that maritime traffic is set to increase significantly along this narrow waterway, which, together with the Malacca Strait, stretches for more than 400 miles, connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. “Being chosen to produce this three-part training package was a great honour for us and reinforces the quality of our work and the ability to interpret a complex brief…

Shipyards have become the next victim of the deteriorating conditions in the dry bulk, container and offshore markets as 2016 looks to set the record for the lowest newbuilding contracts in more than 20 years, according to international shipping association Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). After a decline from 2010 to 2012, shipbuilding had a rebound in 2013 and was expected to level out over the next few years. The reality was a slight decline in 2014 and 2015, but still high levels of contracting measured by compensated gross tonnage (CGT).

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is leading a Port of Long Beach delegation on a weeklong business development trip this week to meet with executives at the European home offices of the world’s three largest shipping lines. The group will update Port customers on the impact of the recent labor negotiations and steps being taken to improve congestion and make the Port more efficient. Delegation members include Harbor Commission President Doug Drummond, Commission Vice President Rich Dines, Commissioner Lou Anne Bynum and Harbor Department Chief Executive Jon Slangerup. "It's incredibly important that we let our customers know that despite the labor negotiation process and congestion, the Port of Long Beach is still the best place to do business on the West Coast," said Mayor Garcia.

Tanker earnings for crude oil tankers have climbed to new strong levels in the first quarter of 2015, with averages not seen since 2008, the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) reported. The demand for crude oil tankers remains high even though the winter months are far behind us. Following the winter peak season of 2013/14, crude oil tanker earnings collapsed and remained low during spring, before rebounding over the summer. In the winter peak of 2014/15, this has not been the case.

The activity on the demolition market is off to a good start in 2015 when looking at dry bulk tonnage, according to international shipping association Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). The dry bulk market has long suffered from weak freight rates stemming from falling demand and an oversupply of ships. However, despite worsening freight market conditions, the demolition of dry bulk tonnage has not been adapting fully to this trend as could be expected, at least until now. During 2014 bulk carriers equalling 16 million dead weight tons (DWT) were sold for demolition, down from more than 23 million DWT in 2013. Scrap prices are under pressure from a general diminishing demand for steel in addition to cheap steel coming out of China.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Singapore Shipping Association has co-organised the inaugural Cyber Security Seminar in conjunction with the Singapore Maritime Week 2016. Teo Chin Hock, Senior Advisor, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), delivered the keynote address. In his speech, Mr Teo outlined the concerns of cyber incidents leading to disruption and highlighted the broad mitigating strategies. Other cyber security thought leaders sharing their expertise and experience at the seminar included Mr Philip Tinsley, Security Manager, Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO); Mr Sam Goh, President (Singapore Chapter), International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2); and Mr Hoo Chuan Wei, APAC Technical Advisor, ISC2.

The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) informs it has continued its support for the Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) “The State of Maritime Piracy” report, which addresses how piracy is affecting the shipping industry – and beyond. BIMCO’s Chief Shipping Analyst, Peter Sand and Chief Maritime Security Officer, Giles Noakes provided OBP expert audit and shipping industry expertise to the report content. In addition Giles Noakes, will provide his expertise in global industry security practices during the panel of the launch event on June 10, 2015.