Political Issues Wrap Nickel Ore Trade
Peter Modev, Senior Loss Prevention Executive at UK P&I Club, and the Club’s local correspondent (Pandiman Philippines) provide an update on the risks in transporting nickel ore from the Philippines. Nickel ore cargo originates principally in the Southern region of the Philippines, where it is loaded at Mindanao, but loading areas are private enterprises and at present shippers/mines are not allowing any access to these facilities. It is difficult for foreign experts to currently travel to the area, as most Embassies have strict travel warnings about going to the region. There are numerous terrorist groups operating in the area, with bombings and kidnappings and the death of one Canadian mine manager, while Philippine military forces are at war with several factions.
Orange, Consilium Launch Maritime e-Platform
Orange and Consilium Launch a Fully Electronic Platform for Maritime Navigation and Communications. Solution providers Orange Business Services and Consilium are announcing the launch of Current At Sea - a bundled, flat-rate solution that enables shipping companies to move to a fully electronic platform for navigation and communications. Current At Sea essentially extends the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDI) over the world’s largest MPLS-based communications network (both terrestrial and satellite). It can provide detailed, real-time information for charting voyages and the remote monitoring of ships at sea. This is the first time that VSAT and ECDI have been offered together under a monthly flat rate. Cost Savings - Voice and data communications carry no usage fee.
ICCL Adopts Guidelines to Prevent and Reduce Risk of SARS
The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) and its 16 members today announced formal adoption of aggressive new guidelines to prevent the occurrence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) – both before and after ships sail. Developed in close consultation with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Health Canada, the measures are designed to protect ships’ passengers, crew and ports of call alike. Although no confirmed reports of SARS have been reported on any ICCL member vessel, the membership of the ICCL is acting with an abundance of caution. In the weeks following the initial outbreak of SARS, cruise…
