House Of Lords News

When Ukraine successfully deployed self-driving “drone” boats for a major attack on the Russian navy at Sevastopol in Crimea in September 2022 it was a defining moment that changed the future of naval warfare. Uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) have been used before, but this was the first instance of multiple, armed USVs, used simultaneously in combination with aerial drones for a successful, offensive naval operation on a military target.Several Russian ships were damaged in the attack…

Offshore crew transfer firm HST Marine has welcomed the arrival of its new UK-built hybrid-electric crew transfer vessel (CTV), HST Frances.The ceremony was attended by Nusrat Ghani MP, UK Minister of State (Dept. for Business and Trade and the Cabinet Office) and senior British maritime industry leaders.HST Frances is HST Marine’s second hybrid electric CTV. The 25-meter vessels can carry 12-24 industrial personnel, and its hybrid electric propulsion system cuts fuel consumption by 30% compared to similar CTVs powered by diesel engines, the company, owned by Purus Marine, said Friday.

Jeffrey Mountevans has been appointed Chairman of the Baltic Exchange Council, effective January 1, 2023. He succeeds Denis Petropoulos, who has held the position since June 2019.A former Lord Mayor of London (2015/2016) and ex-Clarksons shipbroker, Mountevans is an elected hereditary cross-bench member of the House of Lords where he plays an active role on maritime, defense and Reserves and Cadet issues. He was made an Honorary Life Member of the Baltic Exchange in 2016.The Baltic Exchange Council is the Baltic Exchange's governing body which sets its strategy for membership services…

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has been awarded Highly Commended at the STEM Inspiration Awards, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to encouraging young people into science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.According to a press statement, held at the House of Lords on November 1, and attended by guests across industry, education and government, the STEM Inspiration Awards, organised by STEM Learning, celebrated the work of individuals and organisations in inspiring young people into STEM careers. Finalists in the large employer category included Nissan, Just Eat, Legrand Electrical Ltd and Amey.Speaking at the event…

The House of Lords Arctic Committee urged that UK should follow the example set by France, Singapore and Japan and appoint an Ambassador for the Arctic. The committee of lawmakers from Britain's upper house blamed UK's feeble approach to promoting country's interests and warned about the UK risks being outmaneuvered by other countries. The UK – the northernmost country below the Arctic Circle - has been "too hesitant and cautious", the report said. The Committee’s report, responding to a changing Arctic, concludes that momentous and unprecedented change is underway in the Arctic, with temperatures there rising twice as fast as the world average. This will have a massive impact on the region’s environment, ecosystems and people and presents both huge challenges and opportunities.

The Shipping Professional Network London (SPNL) has  released their full Future London report, an initiative that gathered the views and opinions of London’s young shipping professionals on what needs to be done for London to retain and improve its position as a global maritime capital. The report was led by Gustav Ellingsen, SPNL Immediate Past Chair and Claudio Chiste, SPNL Chairman who works at Investec Shipping & Marine Finance. “The driver behind the SPNL Future London project…

The 2013 ICOMIA/IFBSO Congress was held in London, United Kingdom from June 11-14,  2013 and was hosted and organized by the British Marine Federation (BMF) at Devonport House, located in London’s exclusive Royal Greenwich, a World Heritage Site. The first two days of Congress consisted of various committee meetings including the first gathering of ICOMIA’s new committees: "Grow Boating," which examines current campaigns dedicated to growing recreational boating globally and the "Exporters Committee," which provides members a forum to share knowledge on export markets, discuss import regulations and exchange information on overseas boat/trade show experiences.

UK House of Lords Select Committee states naval 'Operation Atalanta' has turned the tide on Somali pirates but should extend. The House of Lords EU Committee for External Affairs has praised the success of Operation Atalanta in curbing piracy off the Somali coast. However, they say that the operation must be extended beyond its current end date of December 2014 if it is to make a lasting difference in combating the threat. The Committee say that Operation Atalanta has made clear progress in reducing the number of ships pirated, with only 8 vessels and 215 hostages held in June 2012 compared to 23 vessels and 501 hostages in the same month in 2011.

Campaign supports continued EU anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast. The SOS SaveOurSeafarers campaign welcomes the UK House of Lords Select Committee for External Affairs Report which contains a series of recommendations on how to curb piracy off the coast of Somalia. These include the continued use of naval warships to tackle piracy under EUNAVFOR's ongoing anti-piracy operation Operation Atalanta. "We wholeheartedly welcome the Committee's acknowledgement of the significant impact Operation Atalanta has had in reducing the number of pirate attacks…

Marine mining, featured on the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology’s (IMarEST) Technical Activities Hot Topics Register, has added an important sustainability credential with the adoption of the revised ‘Code for the Environmental Management of Marine Mining’ by the International Marine Minerals Society (IMMS). The Code is the first international instrument to address environmental aspects of this emerging marine industry from “cradle to grave”. Its comprehensive scope ranges from research, exploration, prospecting and exploitation to decommissioning and rehabilitation. IMarEST’s Senior Technical Adviser, Dr. Philomène Verlaan…

A prominent Australian maritime lawyer is chairing the review of the 1989 Salvage Convention by the Comite Maritime International (CMI), which has convened a meeting in Buenos Aires this October to canvass competing industry views. The review has been requested by the International Salvage Union (ISU) to account for escalating environmental issues as well as concerns that the professional salvage industry is inadequately compensated for their environmental protection efforts. “The ISU has called for the review on the basis that the salvage landscape has changed dramatically in the past 20 years, making the Convention out of date,” said Stuart Hetherington…

Reflecting its dramatic growth and participation as an organization, the United States fielded the largest visiting national delegation attending last week’s Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA) Annual Conference. The US delegation was second only to the host country, the United Kingdom. The Conference was held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, with a theme of “Direction:  Diversity…Route:  Corporate Social Responsibility.”  The Conference was attended by nearly 300 WISTA members from around the globe…

Surging demand for energy, an aging workforce and a lack of new entrants to the industry is combining to threaten delivery of the energy strategies of countries worldwide. Addressing delegates at the ‘People: The Real Energy in Oil & Gas’ conference in London, John Westwood, MD of energy business analysts Douglas-Westwood, cited the UK as likely to have particular problems with delivery of its power station replacement and renewable energy plans. “We are seeing an unprecedented demand for energy, driven by China in particular, at the same time as production of oil & gas is reducing in non-OPEC areas such as the UK North Sea. The result is oil prices at record levels and a surge in exploration & production activity, particularly in the Middle East.

Shipowners, charterers, traders, energy companies and insurers will be among those interested to learn the impact of recent events on the war and force major exceptions in their contracts and to identify relevant insurance policies. There are currently many numbers of spats going on between shipping interests and their insurers over the need to increase war rates to destinations - and there are a lot of them - which underwriters might consider to be vulnerable. And the European Shippers Council has asked the EC to investigate war risk premiums levied by marine underwriters. Watson Farley & Williams is reportedly holding a seminar in London October 9 to discuss these issues.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency issued a Press Notice stating that it is concerned over implications of a ruling by the Appeal Court, London that a personal water craft (PWC) is not a vessel for purposes of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. The case arose as a prosecution of the operator of a PWC that collided with another PWC, severely injuring the other operator. An application had been made to appeal to the House of Lords. Source: HK Law

Spanish fishermen who say they were unlawfully barred from British waters won permission from Britain's highest court last week to sue the government in a claim which could top $160 million. The House of Lords upheld a 1998 Court of Appeal ruling that a group of nearly 100 owners and managers of Spanish vessels were entitled to sue over the government's moves to prevent them "quota hopping". The practice involves foreign companies, individuals and organizations buying or acquiring control of British fishing interests, thereby gaining control over their quotas. Five Law Lords held that the British government's actions had breached its European Union obligations so seriously that the Spanish could take it to court.