Assistance Services News

In the best of times, keeping ship crews mentally and physically healthy is a challenge premised on the inherent nature of and dangers in the job, plus the proximity of ship from ready, shoreside help. Add a global pandemic and the situation becomes untenable. We checked in with a select group of maritime medical care organizations for mitigating COVID-19 maritime medical risk.Seafarers are an essential workforce to the global economy with as many as 1.5 million working day and night…

​The loss of life of migrants at sea is a humanitarian tragedy that needs to be addressed through appropriate and effective action at the United Nations. International Maritime Organization (IMO) recognizes the crucial role played by both Government and non-governmental organizations in search and rescue operations, as well as the part played by merchant ships in coming to the aid of persons in distress at sea. During the second workshop of the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM), held in Geneva (18-19 July), IMO’s Julian Abril told the meeting that the number of merchant ships involved in rescue operations has remained relatively constant since 2015. The average number of persons rescued by each merchant ship remains over 110.

Large shipping losses have declined by 50 percent over the past decade, mostly driven by the development of a more robust safety environment by ship owners, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE’s (AGCS) fifth annual Safety & Shipping Review 2017. In 2016 there were 85 total shipping losses reported, down 16 percent from 101 a year earlier. The number of shipping incidents declined slightly year-on-year by 4 percent with 2,611 reported, according to the review, which analyzes reported shipping losses over 100 gross tons.

Future Care, Inc., a provider of global maritime medical management and cost containment services to the maritime community, has launched its new website www.futurecareinc.com. The revised website showcases Future Care’s Caring for the Crew program, a premier suite of services for ship owners, crewmembers and P&I Clubs. Available around the globe, at any time of day or night, at sea or in port, Future Care’s Caring for the Crew program provides an immediate and hands-on response to the seafarer’s medical needs, be it emergency or routine. With 30 years’ plus experience in providing managed care to the maritime industry, Future Care is uniquely qualified to respond to ship owners’ needs for maritime medical access to telemedicine assistance services at sea…

Wood Group has been awarded an evergreen master services agreement (MSA) by Statoil to support the life cycles of its offshore  and onshore facilities. Work and services covered by the MSA include  engineering studies, detailed engineering, procurement services and management  assistance services. “This MSA reflects Wood Group’s  strong relationship with Statoil,” stated Robin Watson, chief executive. Wood Group has supported Statoil for  many years. Recent work includes four  subsea contracts, support for the Statoil Technical Efficiency Programme (STEP),  and providing maintenance and modification services to four installations on  the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).

Kongsberg Norcontrol IT said it will lead a three-year project called SESAME Straits (Secure, Efficient and Safe maritime traffic Management in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore), which aims to create solutions to significantly improve the safety and efficiency of ship navigation across the world. An important test-bed for IMO’s e-Navigation implementation strategy, the objective of the SESAME Straits Project is to develop and validate a revolutionary concept for a next generation Ship Traffic Management System (STMS) in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS).

The signing ceremony of the Academic License Agreement between SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas S.A. (SIS) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) was held on December 4, in the frame of Marintec 2013 international exhibition held at the Shanghai New International Exhibition Center. By virtue of the agreement, SJTU is granted the license to use the FORAN System for educational purposes, SENER (Shanghai) Systems Co., Ltd. (SSS) is commissioned to provide training and technical assistance services, and in general new ways of collaboration in research, development and innovation projects are opened.

The General Organization of Sea Ports (GOP) said that the Liberian vessel -- MV Stolt Valor -- was granted permission to take refuge in Bahrain’s waters. The operation to move the tanker to the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) began early on Tuesday June 26, 2012), where the ASRY team began preparing it for its onward journey. Prior to the commencement of the tow operation, the GOP submitted a plan of action for approval by representatives from Bahrain’s Environmental Affairs and the Bahrain Coast Guard…

Neptune Orient Lines Limited (NOL), the parent company of container shipping line APL and of APL Logistics, announced a package of measures to place the company on a more sustainable footing through an expected severe and prolonged downturn in global container shipping. The actions to be taken will bring the organisation into line with the reduced capacity the company will be operating as a result of initiatives announced on 21 October 2008. The capacity reductions will lower the NOL Group’s vessel network costs by about US$200 million in 2009 (This figure includes some fixed vessel and charter hire costs). NOL said it did not see a recovery from the challenging conditions for quite some time and the potential exists for them to persist for the next few years.

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) has secured a total of S$172 million worth of contracts through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Keppel Singmarine Ltd and AMFELS in USA. Keppel Singmarine, a specialized shipbuilder, will build four Anchor Handling Tug/ Supply (AHTS) vessels for European based company, Groupe Bourbon and four harbor tugs for Keppel Smit Towage. Deliveries of the eight vessels are slated progressively between the third quarter of 2004 and first quarter 2006.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued an Order stating that the ALJ is recommending that the Commission approve settlement of allegations against Cargill, Incorporated that it violated the Shipping Act of 1984 by engaging in an exclusive tug franchise at its four grain facilities on the Lower Mississippi River. Under the agreement, no exclusive tug arrangements would be in place for docking and undocking assistance. In its place, there would be a two-tier system, with the upper tier applying to vessels of 13,501 GRT and larger and the lower tier applying to smaller vessels. For tug assistance services other than docking and undocking, rates would be capped at the rates charged by the tug company selected by Cargill as set forth in the company’s public tariff.

Keppel Singmarine Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) has secured orders for three offshore support vessels (OSVs) and two tugboats for about $80 million. The vessels will be progressively delivered to their owners up to end 2006. Keppel Singmarine will build one ice-class OSV for anchor handling and supply purposes for new customer, the Russian oil company Lukoil Kaliningradmorneft (LUKOIL). When completed at end 2006, the vessel will be deployed in the Caspian Sea region. The other two OSVs are for repeat customer Groupe Bourbon (Bourbon). With these two 100-tonne bollard pull anchor handling tugs, Keppel Singmarine’s orders from Bourbon will add up to a total of seven vessels.

U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, led the Subcommittee in conducting a hearing on crimes against Americans on cruise ships following a request made by U.S. Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA). Witnesses included representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Coast Guard, a representative of a victims' rights advocacy group, a former cruise passenger, and representatives of the cruise industry and individual cruise lines. "We convened this hearing today to understand the extent of crimes against Americans on cruise ships, to understand how these crimes are investigated and prosecuted…

Specially adapted Kongsberg Norcontrol IT C-Scope software formed the platform for an in depth MarNIS (Maritime Navigation and Information Services) demonstration, held at the MCA's Highcliffe Training Center on Feb 13 and 14, 2007. The event, attended by MarNIS members and stakeholders from all over Europe demonstrated progress in the further development of electronic navigation (E-Navigation) within the EU 6th Frame Work Program. Kongsberg Norcontrol IT is a key member of MarNIS, which consists of 47 partners and 12 sub partners. The company's C-Scope forms the front end of a new concept for the future of seaborne navigation by MarNIS called Maritime Operation Services (MOS)…

What happens when a ship in distress requires a "place of refuge"? In the aftermath of the incident involving the fully laden tanker Castor which, in December 2000, developed a structural problem in the Mediterranean Sea, IMO Secretary-General William O'Neil suggested that the time had come for the Organization to undertake, as a matter of priority, a global consideration of the problem of places of refuge for disabled vessels and adopt any measures required to ensure that, in the interests of safety of life at sea and environmental protection, coastal States reviewed their contingency arrangements so that such ships are provided with assistance and facilities as might be required in the circumstances.

The Prestige incident has been followed closely by IMO since events began to unfold some days ago. The IMO Secretariat established contact immediately with the authorities of Spain and with the Flag State authorities of the Bahamas. As in any situation such as this, the prime concerns of IMO have been for the safety of human life and the protection of the marine environment. Despite the adverse conditions, no human life has been lost in this incident and the search and rescue authorities of Spain deserve much credit for dealing with this matter promptly and effectively and in accordance with the provisions of IMO instruments, in particular the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.

A new contract was issued by Boat Owners Association of the U.S. (Boat U.S.) restricting its towing operators from also working with other towing associations. Vessel Assist Association of America filed a temporary restraining order against Boat U.S. The order prohibits Boat U.S. "Because it means more business, towing firms generally provide services to all mariners on behalf of any membership towing program," said Dave Peck, of Vessel Assist's Towing Department. However, the new Boat U.S.-Tow Provider contract stated tow firms could not contract to direct bill or accept payment from other membership towing programs. This leaves the mariner forced to pay on the spot for services or be declined by the towing provider.