Facility Operators News

A Singapore trade data sharing platform backed by banks, commodity houses and state firms has signed up 70 participants as part of the city-state's attempts to bolster confidence after a spate of commodity trade finance frauds in recent years.The Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex), whose founders include banks DBS and Standard Chartered, commodity trader Trafigura and the local tech regulator, Infocomm Media Development Authority, was launched on Wednesday after plans were announced last year."We're trying to replicate what's happening in the physical world…

The Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy has published an update March 16, 2020 to MSIB: Novel Coronavirus – Update (Change 2)An outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) may affect mariners and maritime commerce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their Interim Guidance for Ships on Managing Suspected Coronavirus Disease 2019 (see https://go.usa.gov/xdfyG) and Cruise Ship Travel (see https://go.usa.gov/xdfVP).Illness…

New solution incorporates National Institute of Standards and Technology Cyber Security Framework (NIST CSF). ABS Advanced Solutions announced a first-of-its-kind cyber security solution to aid regulated maritime facilities in complying with US Coast Guard (USCG) guidance. The suite of services provides a turnkey solution for port and terminal facility operators responsible for maintaining USCG regulated Facility Security Plans (FSPs).In 2017, the USCG announced the intent that regulated maritime facilities in the United States address cyber security in their FSPs.

International players in the shipping sector - International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), Titan LNG, Bureau Veritas, large oil and gas companies such as Shell and ship owners such as NYK and Carnival Corporation - developed a tool for making LNG bunkering safe and sustainable."The tool ensures that the responsibilities of bunker facilities operators (BFOs) relating to safe and sustainable business operations are clearly demarcated and that there is a careful examination of how the LNG bunker operations are set up," says a press release.Peter Alkema of Port of Amsterdam and chairman of the working group says: "We fulfil two aims through the IAPH audit tool.

European shipowners welcome the Plastic Strategy adopted by the European Commission last week. The first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics, adopted today, is a part of the transition towards a more circular economy. The coherent and impressively first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastic forming part of the transition towards a more circular economy also included the long awaited revision of the Ports Reception Facilities Directive. The new proposal aims to achieve a higher level of protection of the marine environment and introduces measures to prevent marine litter. It aims to ensure there are adequate port reception facilities available, require an advance waste notification from ships and transparency of the waste delivery fee charging structures.

Shipowners should take action to reduce the impact of invasive aquatic species (IAS) carried by hull biofouling. The UK P&I Club has published its top tips on how to reduce biofouling on board vessels to achieve greater efficiency and reduce environmental risk. According to Madlene Wangrau, UK P&I biofouling  is the undeseriable accumulation of various aquatic organisms on submerged structures. “Biofouling is undesirable accumulation of various aquatic organisms (microorganisms, plants, algae and animals) on submerged structures like ships’ hulls. This process can lead to the introduction of invasive aquatic species (IAS) into new environments.

Over the past two months the world has been rocked by three major hacking events that have garnered international notice. These included the EQIFAX event in which 140 million individuals were reported to be possibly compromised, the WannaCry attack and the NotPeyta event. In the past two years the emphasis on the cyber security of the Marine Transportation System, a vital economic cog to the world has come under increasing scrutiny. In August, trade journals and major international…

Cyber risk has hit a critical peak within the maritime industry, and the significant impact of the Petya ransomware attack on scores of maritime entities only amplifies it. The attack effectively shut down major ocean carriers, including shipping conglomerate Maersk, and impacted marine terminal operations across the globe. Every maritime company, no matter the size or business function, is a potential target. The industry has seen a recent wave of guidelines and resolutions from maritime regulatory bodies related to maritime security and cyber risk mitigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard is urging mariners and members of the maritime community across North Carolina to prepare for Hurricane Matthew as Condition Whiskey is set for North Carolina Waterways. The Captain of the Port (COTP) has set Condition Whiskey for all waterways in the North Carolina COTP Zone in preparation for the anticipated weather impact of Hurricane Matthew. Gale force winds of 39 mph and above are predicted along the coast of North Carolina within 72 hours. During this…

DNV GL today published the first industry standard providing guidance on offshore personnel transfer by gangway. DNVGL-ST-0358 will contribute in documenting and securing safe operational performance of offshore gangway solutions and contribute to predictability and transparency within the industry. Offshore gangways are used as a bridge between two vessels or between a fixed object and a floating installation to transfer people, cargo or equipment. For offshore operations, offshore gangways provide a safe and cost effective alternative to personnel transfer by helicopter…

An increasing number of systems on ships and at marine facilities depend on cyber technologies for routine operations. While cyber technology has improved efficiencies in the marine industry and around the world, it has also created potential vulnerabilities. For example, the towboats that move goods through the Western Rivers and along our coasts rely heavily on electronic navigation systems, including Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to safely transit around riverbends, capes, and shoals.

Offshore facility operators can now consider an alternative and more cost-effective means to transfer personnel to and from their facilities, which is safe, efficient and regulatory compliant. An industry guideline, which is issued today, is the culmination of a joint industry project (JIP), led by DNV GL to facilitate in helping those involved develop Walk to Work (W2W) solutions and understand the important aspects required during its selection and implementation. W2W manning of offshore facilities is an alternative to the traditional means of transfer such as by helicopter, basket transfer or boat landing. W2W can take many forms ranging from a simple and relatively small crew ferry between land and an offshore facility…

Offshore facility operators can now consider an alternative and more cost-effective means to transfer personnel to and from their facilities, which is safe, efficient and regulatory compliant, DNV GL said. A new industry guideline is the culmination of a joint industry project (JIP) led by DNV GL to facilitate in helping those involved develop Walk to Work (W2W) solutions and understand the important aspects required during its selection and implementation. W2W manning of offshore facilities is an alternative to the traditional means of transfer such as by helicopter…

About $100 million will be available to various port authorities, facility operators and state and local government agencies who have developed an Area Maritime Security Plan as part of the 2015 FEMA port security grant program. Eligibility Criteria is established pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, as amended (MTSA) wherein Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established a risk-based grant program to support maritime security risk management. This year funding is directed towards the implementation of AMSPs and Facility Security Plans (FSP) among port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies that are required to provide port security services. The application submission deadline is May 19, 2015 at 11:59 PM EDT.

In a speech given to the Trans Middle East Conference in Qatar in May, Andrew Kemp, Regional Director EMEA of the freight transport insurance specialist TT Club, called for operators to do more to minimize the causes of incidents resulting in bodily injury, cargo and property damage. Analysis of extensive TT Club data has shown that over 80% of insurance claims related to cargo handling at ports and terminals are the result of operational shortcomings or poor equipment maintenance.

The United States Coast Guard has declared that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is on the right path to the successful implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code in Nigeria. The leader of the U.S. Coast Guard team to Nigeria, Tivo Romero made this declaration at a meeting with members of the ISPS Code Implementation Committee in Nigeria on Friday in Lagos during a visit to NIMASA, the Designated Authority for ISPS Code implementation in Nigeria.

Two recent reports have raised alarms about the security of our ports and the cargo that enters them by containers every day. The top North American container ports handle more than 35 million containers per year bringing vital goods to U.S. homes and companies every day. Without this freight, our economy would be at a standstill. But one nuclear device placed into a shipping container could wreak havoc not just at the port it enters, but also with the surrounding population of our busiest ports such as New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Long Beach.

What is the duty of a vessel owner when his vessel sinks and becomes a hazard? What is a facility’s duty when it comes to vessels at their docks? On top of the oil, wreckage, and loss of use, there are legal duties and penalties for parties associated with the vessel – under relevant federal and state statutes – after it sinks. It’s the call that most owners/operators do not like to get: their vessel is partially submerged at a dock or in some navigable waterway and poses a threat to navigation.

Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBI),  a global provider of natural products for the agricultural and water treatment markets, announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a dry formulation of Zequanox (registration number 84059-15), a biological product for controlling invasive mussels within enclosed systems and infrastructures. Zequanox is the first biopesticide available for controlling invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which are crippling industrial and commercial operations by restricting water flow in heat exchangers, condensers, fire suppression systems, and service and cooling water systems, as well as by damaging other infrastructure and equipment.

Starting December 1, port workers must have a TWIC to gain unescorted access to facilities in all port facilities. A TWIC is required for any individual requiring unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities, such as vessel crewmembers, longshoremen, truckers, agents, railroad personnel and contractors. It can take four to six weeks from the time of enrollment to the time that an applicant receives their TWIC, so port workers need to enroll as soon as possible to meet the December 1 enforcement date. The Coast Guard has been working with port facility operators to gauge the progress of TWIC enrollment leading up to the December 1 deadline.

Starting December 1, port workers must have a TWIC to gain unescorted access to facilities in all port facilities. A TWIC is required for any individual requiring unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities, such as vessel crewmembers, longshoremen, truckers, agents, and contractors. It can take four to six weeks from the time of enrollment to the time that an applicant receives their TWIC, so port workers need to enroll as soon as possible to meet the December 1enforcement date. The Coast Guard has been working with port facility operators to gauge the progress of TWIC enrollment leading up to the December 1 deadline. Port leaders estimated that 15…

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York rejected motions by the defendants to dismiss lawsuits brought by persons injured by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and by decedent representatives. These plaintiffs brought suit against the airlines, airport security companies, airport operators, the airplane manufacturer, and the owners and operators of the World Trade Center, alleging negligence. Defendants moved to dismiss, asserting, among other things, that they owed no duty to plaintiffs and that they could not reasonably have anticipated that terrorists would hijack airplanes and crash them into buildings. The court ruled that defendants owed duties to plaintiffs sufficient to withstand motions to dismiss.

Transport Minister David Collenette today announced a new marine security-reporting requirement for a wide range of Canadian-flagged vessels and port facilities. The Canadian requirement will complement new security rules announced today by the U.S. Coast Guard. "We have moved ahead with this action in response to input from stakeholders on the importance of a comprehensive security regime, our own assessment of the risks and threats in the marine sector, and our consultations with U.S. authorities," said Mr. Collenette. "Moreover, Transport Canada and the U.S. Coast Guard are working closely together to coordinate and harmonize the marine security regimes of the two countries, so that Canadian-flagged ships that meet our security standards can enter U.S.