Grant Aid News

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., have successfully applied for grant aid under the "Joint Technological Development Program for the Demonstration of Unmanned Ships" sponsored by The Nippon Foundation.Funding in hand, the companies will co-develop underlying technologies and systems to enable unmanned ship navigation in the future, with the tangible results of the project being a prototype system installed on a vessel to be operated by Shin Nihonkai Ferry…

The European Commission said on Monday it had approved two Italian public support schemes designed to shift freight transport from roads to cut congestion and pollution. The first measure, with a budget of 255 million euros, aims to shift freight traffic to rail by granting subsidies to rail transport operators. The Commission found the scheme was open to all rail freight companies operating in Italy and that the support was limited. The second measure, called Marebonus with a budget of 138 million euros, is to encourage a shift to sea transportation. The scheme will grant aid to shippers for starting new services of upgrading existing routes. Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop

Joseph Bell, the Chief Engineer aboard RMS Titanic, is considered national hero for his actions in the ship’s engine room as she met her fate on April 15, 1912. In acts of fearless self sacrifice, Bell, along with his fellow engineers, courageously fought to maintain the ship’s power systems, even when they learned all was lost. Though most of these men died, firsthand accounts revealed their bravery helped to save many lives. An appeal was launched in April 2013 to raise funds to conserve the memorial to Bell and his fellow engineers in Bell’s hometown, Farlam, Cumbria.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed the publication by the Irish Maritime Administration in his Department of a revised Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation of Small Fishing Vessels (less than 15 meters length). The Code, which was last revised in 2005, has been updated to ensure that the experiences gained from its implementation as well as relevant recommendations by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) have been incorporated. The revised Code will come into operation from 3rd March 2014. Small fishing vessels are already required to carry EPIRBs (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons).

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) said the MOL Group will provide free transport of relief supplies by containerships to the central Philippines devastated by the recent typhoon. The company has already donated $30,000 to emergency relief efforts. Items covered: Grant aid supplies from contributors such as governmental institutions, municipalities, and government-approved aid organizations. However, some items such as dangerous articles, animals, and other regulated items may not be accepted. Please contact an MOL office or agent for details. Conditions of acceptance: Contacts of both consigners and consignees are clearly identified, and…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) is determined to provide containerships to transport aid supplies from overseas. As the damages of the earthquake set in, MOL has received many calls from voices desired to transport aid supplies to Japan from overseas. “We express our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost loved ones in the earthquake,” MOL President Koichi Muto said. Items covered: Grant aid supplies from public institutions such as governmental institutions and municipalities, or government-approved aid organizations to be shipped to disaster areas by the Tohoku district - off the Pacific Ocean earthquake. However, some of the items such as dangerous articles, animals, and other regulated items may not be accepted.

The European Commission issued a Press Release stating that it has authorized Spain to grant aid to its shipbuilding industry in order to offset the effects of unfair competition from Korea. Source: HK Law

Today the Council of the EU approved the twin-track strategy proposed by the European Commission to counter unfair Korean practices in the shipbuilding sector. The EU has set a deadline of the end September to resolve the dispute amicably, failing which it will immediately launch procedures for a Panel against Korea in WTO and activate a temporary defensive mechanism (TDM) for European shipbuilding. The Commission will now hold a series of further negotiations with Korean authorities in an attempt to restore normal trading practices in this sector. Welcoming the decision, EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said "Korea now knows that if we fail to resolve this dispute in the few weeks between now and the end of September…

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo signed agreements on two Japanese grant-aid projects Tuesday. The grant, worth $12.5m U in total, will help the Philippines in disaster prevention and management as well as maritime safety and security. According to the agreements, Japan will extend $7.2m for the improvement of flood forcasting and warning system in the Pampanga and Agno River Basins in the Philippines. The grant is expected to substantially improve information accuracy and provide technical support for improving the system operation for flood forecasting and disaster prevention. The second project…