High Level Group News

Maritime professionals from all sectors operating sub IMO / sub 80 feet vessels are invited to participate in three one-day NEXT GENERATION Workshops. The dynamic program is being held at the Grand Harbour conference venue, overlooking the port of Southampton U.K., on October 24, 25 and 26, 2017. The NEXT GEN Workshops each address aspects of operational safety for vessels, along with the safety and welfare of their crew and passengers. The high level group of presenters brings a wide range of experience and expertise from sectors including workboats…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has established the International Maritime Center 2030 (IMC 2030) Advisory Committee to chart the future directions of Singapore’s IMC. Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman of BW Group, has been appointed as the Chairman of this committee. As part of its work, the committee would review Singapore’s IMC development strategy and identify new growth areas to enhance Singapore’s long-term competitiveness and value proposition as an IMC. Globally, Singapore is known as one of the world’s busiest ports and a top bunkering port. Beyond her status as a premier global hub port, Singapore has been ranked by international studies to be a leading IMC.

Foreign players continue to dominate several segments of the Indian maritime industry: from salvage to dredging, chartering to ship management and ship manning, to name but a few. And the list of foreign firms setting up shop in India is growing as the country is hurriedly putting in place the required infrastructure to meet the huge demands of India’s growing international trade. Globally, India is the 7th largest country in area, 2nd in population and 11th in GDP, with the expectation that it will ascend to the top five in GDB by 2020. The country is blessed with a 4,700 mile coastline, making it one of the longest in the world not forgetting the 14…

Maritime London will be leading a delegation of British maritime professionals to Athens, Greece, next month. The high level group will present to an audience of shipowners at the British Ambassador’s Residence on 17 June, 2013. The delegation will be accompanied by UK Shipping Minister, Stephen Hammond, and Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the UK Ship Register. Maritime London chief executive Doug Barrow said: “The Greek British maritime relationship has always been strong and I’m delighted that we have government recognition of the importance that Greek shipowners play in the UK economy.

The Transport Committee voted on the draft report tabled by Philip Bradbourn (EPP-ED, UK) on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network. Following the report last year on these guidelines by the High Level Group under Karel Van Miert, the Commission submitted to Parliament an amended proposal, adding nine new projects to those already adopted by the EP at its initial first reading. MEPs warmly backed the introduction of "motorways of the sea" to launch new regular transnational cargo shipping lines. These routes are intended to improve links with islands and enable goods traffic to avoid natural barriers such as the Alps and the Pyrenees.

The U.S. Navy has created a new way to better manage surface ships by type or class. New "class squadrons" are being established, known as CLASSRONs to coordinate the support of ships by type, wherever they may be home ported. Eight CLASSRON Implementation Teams were established on Oct. 1, as an initiative of the Navy's new Surface Warfare Enterprise (SWE). The CLASSRONs will be located in Norfolk, Va.; San Diego, Calif.; Ingleside, Texas; and Mayport, Fla. (see chart). The Implementation Teams have begun staffing, defining roles and establishing procedures that will lead to CLASSRONs achieving full operational capability in the spring of 2007. According to Vice Adm.