Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Erika Disaster News

31 Mar 2004

EC Takes Finland, Italy to Court

The European Commission decided to lodge a complaint to the Court of Justice against Finland for failure to respect EU legislation on Port State control of shipping. The aim of the infringed legislation is to reduce substandard shipping in the waters under the jurisdiction of Member States by increasing compliance with international and Community legislation. "This Directive is one of the pillars of our maritime safety legislation and we very much hope that Finland will take the necessary measures as soon as possible," Vice-President Loyola de Palacio said. "This is particularly important as the Baltic Sea would not survive an Erika disaster", she added.

05 Dec 2001

Wind Power Comes of Age

Europe's fledgling offshore wind power industry has produced an order for an entirely new breed of vessel designed to transport and position wind turbines. U.K.-based engineering firm Mayflower Energy has contracted one such vessel from Shanhaiguan Shipyard in northern China on the strength of emerging demand for alternative, 'clean' energy sources. U.K. government plans call for 1,300 new 2-MW offshore turbines to be brought on stream over the next 10 years, and other littoral European countries have formulated large-scale projects for wind power generation systems. The perceived environmental acceptability of harnessing wind power for electricity generation is a strong motivator for the evident political approbation.

07 Jun 2002

Redundancy the Next Watchword?

The fact that the actual incidence of oil cargo spills as a percentage of global shipments is minuscule can never be a reason for any relaxation in the constant vigilance and unerring drive for risk minimization which must be practiced in all fields of tanker shipping. Certainly, there is no evidence of complacency. The industry's continual striving for improvements in vessel and system design, operating procedures, risk management processes and training has a powerful motivator in the increasing, manifold penalties associated with marine pollution. But professionalism and the striving to meet business objectives in a competitive world tend to be understated as the real drivers of advance…

07 Apr 2000

Activists Stage Erika Protest, TotalFina Mulls Oil Treatment Contract

Thousands of protesters from western France marched through Paris on April 1 to demand tighter shipping laws in the wake of the Erika oil tanker spill which devastated parts of their region. The march was called by action groups from western France along with local politicians and environmentalists. Police estimated 2,000 people attended. TotalFina, which chartered the Erika, was targeted by protesters in two separate incidents before the march. On the day of the protest, activists dumped sand and oil in front of what they believed was the home of TotalFina boss, Thierry Desmarest. According to police, they left the scene upon realizing that they had the wrong address.

03 Apr 2000

French Government, TotalFina Targeted In Erika Protest

Thousands of protesters from western France marched through Paris on April 1 to demand tighter shipping laws in the wake of the Erika oil tanker spill, which devastated parts of their region. The march was called by action groups from western France, along with local politicians and environmentalists. Police estimated 2,000 people attended. Oil giant TotalFina, which chartered the Erika, was targeted by protesters in two separate incidents before the march. Earlier on Saturday, activists dumped sand and oil in front of what they believed was the home of TotalFina boss, Thierry Desmarest. According to police, they left the scene upon realizing that they had the wrong address.

31 Mar 2000

EU Welcomes Tighter Rules

European Union transport ministers welcomed proposals to tighten safety rules for oil tankers in the wake of the disastrous Erika oil spill off France's Atlantic coast last year. Ministers from the 15 EU states had an initial discussion of proposals put forward by the EU's executive Commission, but took no decisions. The Commission has called for a series of measures, including the phasing out of single-hulled oil tankers and the tightening up of port inspections, to prevent a repetition of the Erika disaster. The tanker broke up off France's Atlantic coast last December, spilling tons of oil into the sea and causing an environmental disaster. Portuguese Transport Minister Jorge Coelho, who chaired the EU meeting, said the Commission's proposals were generally welcomed by member states.

29 Mar 2000

EU Welcomes Tanker Rules Tightening

European Union transport ministers welcomed proposals to tighten safety rules for oil tankers in the wake of the disastrous Erika oil spill off France's Atlantic coast last year. Ministers from the 15 EU states had an initial discussion of proposals put forward by the EU's executive Commission, but took no decisions. The Commission has called for a series of measures, including the phasing out of single-hulled oil tankers and the tightening up of port inspections, to prevent a repetition of the Erika disaster. The tanker broke up off France's Atlantic coast last December, spilling tons of oil into the sea and causing an environmental disaster.

09 Jun 2000

Are Tanker Rates Too High?

Tanker rates have continued to rise against all expectations into the summer months, doubling the cost of transporting oil this year, but a lull is expected. By May brokers expected key Middle Eastern two million barrel VLCC rates to plateau, but instead they kept on climbing. Worldscale 90 to the U.S. Gulf is now the norm for modern ships, up from W85 a month ago and W42.5 at the beginning of the year. The irresistible rise has more than doubled the cost of transporting oil to about $2.10 per barrel, from 99 cents at the beginning of January, according to broker Mallory, Jones, Lynch, Flynn & Associates (MJLF). Likewise, eastbound rates have jumped to W112.5 for Japan from W100 and W52.5, respectively, taking the shipment price per barrel to $1.65 from 75 cents in early January.

21 Sep 2000

The More Things Change...

The current situation of the German maritime industry is not far from that which has existed for each of the past several SMM exhibitions in Hamburg. The collective group of shipbuilders, repairers and marine equipment product and system suppliers are still widely regarded as one of the most technically capable and technologically advanced in the world, utilizing generations of accrued know-how to deliver safe, efficient and reliable vessels and systems. According to the latest world shipbuilding statistics, Germany ranks fifth in the world in terms of new tonnage built per annum, but with a market share of only four percent and an increasing outflow of business — particularly an outflow of simpler ship-type construction — to lower cost competitors in developing nations and Korea…

19 Sep 2000

Market Forces And Technology Will Shape The Future Of Shipping

We are living in a time of vigorous world growth and the liberalization and globalization of world trade, and no industry will be more central to this process than shipping. As in the past, our industry will be driven by the requirements of the market and by advancing technology, and over the next decade we can expect evolutions in the development of all types of ships. This is also a time of transition from prescriptive rules and regulations to the creation of an industry wide safety culture based on self-regulation and self-responsibility, and the classification societies will be at the heart of this. What sort of technical advances can we expect to see in the main types of ships throughout the next 10 years or so, and what will be the problems and risks involved?

02 Oct 2000

Editor's Note

Heading into this autumn’s traditionally busy exhibition season, there is a noticeable charge in the air regarding the marine industry and its future. Fueled by years of corporate consolidation, today’s marine equipment, system and service companies are, in general, larger, better positioned to deliver integrated, turnkey solutions. But as the “urge to merge” has undoubtedly created some efficiencies, particularly in the capital intensive Research and Development and customer service and support operations, medium and smaller companies should not be ignored, for it is here that a good deal of innovation takes place. A prime example of small company innovation swept up into the corporate fold is last month’s announcement that Spectec had been acquired by Station 12.

07 Nov 2000

Tanker Sinking Could Expedite New Ship Rules

As the International Maritime Organization grapples with the issue of the phasing in of safer tanker tonnage around the world, local political pressure in France is pushing the country towards acting within the confines of the EU to ensure safer ships, ala the OPA 90 regulations enacted in the wake of the Valdez disaster. The sinking off the coast of France of a tanker carrying toxic chemicals could push the European Union to speed up a planned crackdown on shipping safety, local media was reporting in the wake of the latest downing of a ship carrying environmentally harmful materials off the coast of France. The Italian tanker Ievoli Sun sank in the Channel with 6,000 tons of toxic chemicals aboard.

20 Feb 2001

'Safe Haven' Debate Could Have Resounding Effects

A situation ongoing at press time half way around the world promises to affect the way in which ship emergencies are handled in the U.S. and abroad. Last month, debates were raging and political fur was flying as the stricken tanker, Castor, carrying 29,000 tons of gasoline, was held in limbo as authorities on many levels debated the best course of action. The ship, which was damaged but still afloat and operational, was turned away from three countries — Morocco, Spain and Gibraltar — as it went to for assistance. Greek operator Athenian Sea Carriers said that the Moroccan Coast Guard instructed the vessel to move 40 miles offshore…

11 Jan 2001

ABS Refutes Castor Condition Allegations

ABS has completed an extensive review of the complete survey history of the troubled tanker Castor and categorically refutes allegations made by Spanish authorities that the vessel is "substandard." "This vessel is a damaged ship, not a substandard ship," said Robert D. Somerville, President of ABS. "It is unfortunate that many of the good intentions that have flowed from the Erika disaster have led to this sort of political, rather than subjective assessment of a maritime casualty," he stressed. "Age is not the determinant of the condition of a ship. It is the manner in which that ship has been managed and maintained that defines its condition. Since 1997 there has been more than 600 tons of new steel placed into the vessel to maintain full conformance with ABS Rule requirements.

24 Jan 2001

Under Fire, ABS Steps Up Response Effort

As was the case when the Erika went down off the coast of France in late 1999, much (unwanted) attention has been focused on the classification society for the damaged product tanker Castor, in this case American Bureau of Shipping. Unlike the aforementioned example, however, ABS has been aggressively addressing the matter in the public forum, releasing historical details as well as ongoing information regarding the status of the ship and its role in the ultimate resolution. ABS immediately stepped up its assistance efforts in response to the continuing failure of any nation to offer the vessel a port of refuge. At press time, ABS President Robert D. Somerville noted: "It has been 10 days since this ship arrived at a port seeking refuge.

01 Jul 2002

EU Discusses Maritime Safety

Since the Erika ran aground, the European Union has made considerable progress towards improving maritime safety. Adoption of the measures of the Erika I package and most of those of the Erika II package is a major step towards putting effective rules into place to increase maritime safety and to counter the risks of oil spills. Thanks to these measures substandard ships and floating rust buckets should disappear from Europe's waters within two years. "The EU now has one of the best sets of maritime safety rules in the world, and these measures must be put into place with the utmost resolution and speed. The Commission, for its part…

13 Feb 2007

Company Knew Tanker was Risk Before Erika Disaster

The four-month trial - the most complex of its kind in French history - may also turn into a trial of the globalized international shipping system. The aging and rusting ship, which split in two off off Britanny, on December 12, 1999, was Japanese-built, Italian-owned and controlled by two Liberian companies. The Erika was crewed by Indians, sailing under a Maltese flag, chartered by a shipping company registered in the Bahamas for a French oil company. The tribunal in Paris was told that the ship had already been identified as a potential risk. It was nonetheless allowed to leave Dunkirk in high seas, carrying a cargo of 20,000 tonnes of toxic heavy fuel oil. The ship foundered three days later.

27 Apr 2001

Single Hull Tanker Deadline Almost Agreed

Shipping legislators are close to agreeing a deadline for eliminating single-hulled tankers, a pollution hazard to the world's oceans and coastlines. "The deadline is 2015, but there's lots of ifs and buts," said a source, who sits a working group of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), shipping's self-regulated legislative body. "Now we'll have to put it before the committee and see what reaction we get," the source said. If the 113 committee members approve the deal hammered out by the working group of 40, then all single-hulled tankers will have to undergo major structural enhancements or be scrapped by 2015. The source on the working group said a difficult but vital step would be getting the approval of IMO's European Union (EU) members…

28 Aug 2002

EC Recruits EMSA Executive Director

The European Commission issued a press release stating that it has launched the procedure to recruit an Executive Director for the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The new agency was created in the aftermath of the ERIKA disaster to provide the Commission with the technical and scientific advice needed to increase safety levels, ensure their uniform application in Europe, and promote their dissemination throughout the world. Source: HK Law

03 Dec 2002

European Commission Posts Blacklist

The European Commission published the names of substandard ships which would be banned if the new European maritime safety rules had already entered into force. The EU has also proposed to prohibit, the carriage of heavy fuel oil in single-hull oil tankers, and wants the Member States to give their views on this new measure at the next European Council to be held in Copenhagen on December 12 and 13. In addition to these key aspects of the "Prestige" Communication, the Commission is formally requesting the Member States to speed up and even implement ahead of schedule the maritime safety measures adopted following the Erika disaster three years ago so as to protect Europe's coasts and citizens against further disasters…

03 Mar 2003

IMO and EC to Discuss Prestige

Tuesday to meet the Vice-President of the European Commission, Loyola de Palacio, to discuss action contemplated to be taken in the aftermath of the Prestige accident off the NW coast of Spain in November 2002. which may be made regarding the Prestige incident. future would be assured.

17 Jan 2000

BP Amoco Tightens Rules For Old Tankers

Global oil major BP Amoco has introduced new rules to restrict the chartering of older oil tankers a month after the Erika disaster that polluted 400 km of the France's coastline. BP Amoco is insisting that vessels of 100,000 deadweight tons (dwt) and above between 20 and 25 years old will have to conform to extra safety conditions. Ships between 20,000 and 100,000 dwt aged 25 to 30 will also have to provide the higher Condition Assessment Program (CAP 2) rating from an acceptable vessel classifier. CAP 2 requires 20-year-old tankers to attain standards that would have been expected when the ships were 10 years old. The company's moves were part of a policy to strengthen its tanker vetting procedures that started before the spill from Erika, which was 25 years old.

02 Jul 2001

IMO: Streamlined Shipping Inspections Are Under Study

Shipping's myriad safety inspections are facing a radical overhaul after high level meetings between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and oil industry officials. Ships arriving in port are routinely scrutinized by surveyors from five different bodies, often checking the same item. The system has failed to prevent numerous sinkings this year and last, causing dozens of deaths and widespread pollution. IMO Secretary General Bill O'Neil said that it may now be time to combine all checks into a single and more effective inspection. "We've been meeting with all the organizations involved," said O'Neil, adding that he had received a mixed response. "The chemical companies said - we're going to inspect our chemical carriers ourselves. We don't trust anyone else.