Regional Committee News

ABS brought together maritime industry leaders to discuss the latest advances in sustainability and digital classification at the annual ABS North America Regional Committee Meeting.“As the industry embraces a new language of shipping, ABS is leading the way in technology, sustainability and digital innovation. In this era where regulations and standards need to move at the same pace as technological breakthroughs, our committees are more important than ever. To keep up with this pace…

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has added Andy Seymour, global director of operational excellence at Fugro NV in the Netherlands, to its governing board.Seymour has a technical background coupled with financial, commercial and management expertise. He  started his career at Fugro as a field surveyor progressing to shore based management positions including country manager and regional director.In 2018 he moved into a corporate role as deputy division director and in 2019 was appointed into his current roles as Global Director Operational Excellence. He holds a first-class honors degree in Civil Engineering.Fugro has been a strong supporter of IMCA for many years.

Industry leaders from across North America met to discuss global challenges facing the maritime sector at the annual ABS North American Regional Committee.The group heard strategies to meet the IMO’s 2020 Sulfur Cap, as well as a look ahead to 2030 when vessel data will play a significant role in compliance management.“Thanks to our deep links with industry across North America, ABS continues to leverage technology to develop new ways of supporting our partners and members. As the leading classification organization in North America, ABS can bring together the diverse expertise of many knowledgeable stakeholders to address the industry’s complex challenges…

ABS, a provider of classification and technical services to the marine and offshore industries, held its annual National and Regional Committee meetings in London, Copenhagen and Hamburg in mid-March. “Our committee meetings provide a platform for transparent, robust and engaging conversation with industry,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. The committee meetings provide a forum for ABS Members, including owners, operators, charterers, and industry representatives from flag administrations…

His Excellency Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World and chairperson of the DNV GL Offshore Technical Committee outlined the key focus areas for the Regional Committee meeting that will be held in Dubai on October 23, 2014. This was discussed at a meeting with DNV representatives Mr. Bijali M.P., Regional Manager – Offshore Class, Middle East & India and Mr. Ralph Becker, Regional Manager – Business Development, Middle East & India. H.E. Buamim discussed the importance of constructive cooperation to push the maritime industry and allied operations in developing economic relations and investment activities in targeted areas and emerging markets.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) announced the establishment of a Global Ports Committee as well as new regional committees in the Americas, Australasia and Asia in addition to the regional committee already operating in Europe. CLIA is now focusing more on engaging directly with port communities around the world both on operational and strategic issues. Port partners will now have increased opportunities to engage with CLIA member lines through this newly established Committee structure.

The ITF has condemned as ‘utterly unbelievable’ a totally unexpected decision by a court in Morocco to jail trade union leaders Said Elhairech and Mohamed Chamchati. Elhairech the general secretary of the Moroccan Ports Union, part of the ITF-affiliated UMT, and chair of the ITF Arab World regional committee, was arrested in June 2012 on charges of ‘sabotage and endangering national security’. He utterly rejected the accusations and was supported throughout by the ITF, which was unequivocal in its stance that he had been wrongly targeted following his very effective work on behalf of crews stranded by the cessation of operations of the Comarit-Comanav ferry company – which he undertook at the ITF’s request. In October all charges except one minor one were dropped and his innocence proven.

Barents Oberver reports that the recently discovered oil spill now threatens marine life and sea birds in the White Sea, the unique Arctic waters in Russia’s northwest. The magnitude of the spill remains unknown, but environmentalists fear for the worst. Last year’s spill, which took place at the same time of year, polluted more than 210,000 square meters of waters and 400 square meters of the coastline. While the Belomorsk Oil Base in 2011 put out oil booms, it is not able to do so this year because the bay is not yet ice-free,say WWF Russia. According to Aleksey Smirnov, chairman of the Murmansk regional Committee on Environment and Nature Management, the oil leakages to the sea come from the numerous of spill which over the years have run into the adjacent land.

Since 9-11 all facets of the media have combined to focus national policy makers, in and out of government, along with the general public on the asymmetric terrorist threat facing the United States and its global trading partners. Lengthy newspaper articles or Op-ed pieces, documentaries on television such as The Learning Channel and the Discovery Channel, along with talk radio banter have spotlighted multiple areas of concern. These have included airplanes, tanker trucks, critical infrastructure and the country's bustling seaports such as New York and Los Angles. The maritime nexus in particular has received a lot of attention as over 90 percent of the nation's commerce travels by water.

The U.S. Navy and Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet have invited naval leaders from 22 countries to Honolulu for the 10th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) to discuss maritime security and other issues affecting the region’s navies. The symposium, scheduled for Oct. 30 to Nov. 2, allows participants to engage in discussions and training on critical international topics, such as combined exercises, regional security, military exchange programs, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, interoperability, navigation and communications. “We are all professional sailors,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Navies that have habitual working relationships are better able to respond to disasters…