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Intercargo News

31 Jan 2024

Navigating Disruption: CMA Shipping 2024 Unveils Agenda and Speaker Lineup

Knut Orbeck-Nilssen, Chief Executive Officer, DNV (Photo: CMA Shipping)

C-Suite leaders of ABS, Panama Canal Authority, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, IACS, DNV, Stena Bulk, Hapag-Lloyd, IBIA, International Seaways and many more have been announced for the conference lineup at CMA Shipping 2024.With just six weeks to go, eager anticipation is growing for the 39th edition of CMA Shipping taking place in Stamford, Conn., from March 12-14, 2024.The conference agenda promises to highlight pertinent issues surrounding the future of shipping, and how the industry can navigate challenges such as the energy transition, crewing and education, safety and compliance.

03 Oct 2023

Enclosed Spaces: Engineering Solutions

The use of drones could reduce the need for enclosed space entry. Image courtesy of ScoutDI

If you think the human element is the only cause of enclosed space deaths, think again.Enclosed space incidents are cited as the largest cause of on-duty fatalities in commercial shipping. The risks can’t simply be engineered out, but there’s a powerful coalition wanting action nonetheless.There’s a tendency to blame failure to follow procedures, they say. Investigations seldom focus on the practicality of those procedures or the influence of the operating environment and vessel design, they say.

27 Sep 2023

World Maritime Day 2023 Theme Highlights Marine Environment Protection

Source: IMO

The IMO’s commitment to the preservation of the marine environment is being highlighted on World Maritime Day, September 28, 2023, with the theme "MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on."This year sees the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the primary global treaty for the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from intentional, operational or accidental causes.IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim notes that achievements have already made in regulating to protect ocean health…

13 Jun 2023

INTERCARGO Members Perform Well on Deficiencies

Source: INTERCARGO

Despite a steady increase in port state control detention rates following the pandemic in all regions, INTERCARGO-entered vessels consistently outdid industry performance indicators in both deficiencies and detentions, as shown by the latest edition of its annual Benchmarking Report.Deficiencies per inspection (DPI) rates remain unchanged and in line with previous years’ Benchmarking Reports, the 11 leading Class Societies (IACS Members), which class over 95% of the bulk carrier market…

22 May 2023

INTERCARGO Reaches Membership Milestone

Dr Kostas Gkonis courtesy of INTERCARGO

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) has reached an historic membership milestone by now representing 32% of the global dry bulk fleet DWT.INTERCARGO now has within its global fleet more than 3,200 bulkers registered by more than 155 dry bulk owners/managers/operators, with its membership supplemented by 90 associate member companies supporting the sector.INTERCARGO’s members, who span 30 countries, predominantly operate bulk carriers in the international dry bulk trades…

25 Oct 2022

ICS Proposes Fund to Reward Use of Low Emission Fuels

© Debbie Ann Powell / Adobe Stock

A new plan proposed by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) aims to reward ships and energy producers that invest in low/net zero emission fuels.The organization, which represents 80% of the world’s merchant fleet, on Tuesday said it send a notice to UN regulator the International Maritime Organization (IMO) proposing a "fund and reward" system to catalyze the adoption of alternative fuels, which currently cost at least two or three times more than conventional marine fuel.The…

22 Aug 2022

Waters Near Somalia Removed from List of High-risk Piracy Areas

© remipiotrowski / Adobe Stock

An area of the Indian Ocean near Somalia—once known as a piracy hotbed—has been removed from the shipping industry's list of high-risk areas following more than a decade of military, political, civil society and the industry measures to secure the waters. No piracy attacks against merchant ships have occurred off Somalia since 2018.On Monday, shipping industry groups International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO, International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA), INTERCARGO…

10 Mar 2022

Shipping Industry Urges Safe Passage for Trapped Ships and Crews in Ukraine

© Unkas Photo / Adobe Stock

Shipping industry officials called on Thursday for safe passage for hundreds of seafarers and their ships stuck in Ukraine after Russia's invasion.Ukrainian maritime officials have told Reuters there are around 100 foreign-flagged vessel and hundreds of mariners stranded in Ukrainian ports by the fighting.Last week a seafarer was killed at the Ukrainian port of Olvia after his cargo ship was hit by a missile. Four other vessels have been hit by projectiles in recent days with one sunk."Multiple ships have been hit by munitions…

13 Jan 2022

New Guidance Aims to Curb Maritime Pilot Transfer Fatalities

(Photo: ICS)

A guide to maritime pilot transfer safety has been updated amid industry concerns about poorly rigged ladders causing severe injuries or fatalities.The ‘Shipping Industry Guidance on Pilot Transfer Arrangements’, produced by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in partnership with the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA), features a new section with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s guidance on combination embarkation platform arrangements. Provisions for a ‘trapdoor arrangement’ in combination ladders…

06 Sep 2021

Shipping Industry Proposes Levy to Accelerate Zero Carbon Future

Credit; diegocardini/AdobeStock

Leading shipping associations have proposed creating a global levy on carbon emissions from ships to help speed up the industry's efforts to go greener.With about 90% of world trade transported by sea, global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions and the sector is under growing pressure to get cleaner.For the first time, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Intercargo jointly proposed a levy based on mandatory contributions by ships trading globally…

10 Mar 2021

Shipping Nations, Groups Call for IMO Green Research Fund

© leeyiutung / Adobe Stock

A group of prominent shipping nations and organizations are calling for a $5 billion research fund to help launch zero-emissions vessels by 2030, in a move aiming to accelerate the industry's efforts to decarbonize maritime transport.A proposal by governments including Georgia, Greece, Japan, Liberia, Malta, Nigeria, Singapore, Switzerland is being submitted Wednesday to the United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO), in a bid to establish the IMO Maritime Research Fund using mandatory contributions from shipping companies…

25 Nov 2020

New Guidance Issues on Bulk Carrier Ventilation

INTERCARGO, The Standard Club, and DNV GL, have launched a new ventilation guide. Image: DNV GL

Proper ventilation is essential to preventing damage to the cargo and to ensure the safety of the crew and vessel in bulk carriers. To provide ship’s masters and crew with an understanding of different ventilation requirements for bulk cargoes, INTERCARGO, The Standard Club and DNV GL, the world’s leading classification society, have launched a new ventilation guide.The guide covers the main aspects on how and when to ventilate to control of humidity and to remove flammable and toxic gases released from cargoes.

02 Nov 2020

Charterers Preventing Crew Change Must Be Held Accountable -INTERCARGO

© Kamchai / Adobe Stock

In a number of instances, charterers in the dry bulk sector have been preventing much needed crew changes from taking place during the period of the charter, despite the ship owner agreeing to accept the associated costs, says INTERCARGO, the body representing the interests of dry bulk sector operators.In these instances, charterers have been seen to simply ignore relevant provisions and charter party clauses that could be employed. It has been reported that bulk carriers changing…

11 Jun 2020

IMO Head Commends Nigeria's Antipiracy Efforts

© remipiotrowski / Adobe Stock

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim commended Nigeria’s antipiracy efforts in the Gulf of Guinea as the West African nation continues to make strides to curb attacks against ships in the world’s top piracy hot spot.Lim said recent actions made by the West African country to restrain piracy in the region “send a strong and valuable message to the international community”.The IMO head welcomed the latest initiatives to address maritime security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea…

07 May 2020

IMO Endorses Shipping Industry's 12-step Plan for Crew Changes

© Igor Kardasov / Adobe Stock

The need for ships to change crews and for the world's 1.2 million seafarers to be able to fly home at the end of their periods of service have emerged as two of the biggest challenges facing the shipping industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.To help governments put in place coordinated procedures to facilitate the safe movement of seafarers, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) issued a 12-step plan to 174 member states, providing them with a roadmap to free…

10 Nov 2019

2020 Dominates Dry Bulker Challenges

In view of the 0.5% global sulfur limit regulation implementation on 1 January 2020, International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) pointed out that the global availability of safe compliant fuels remains a key question that is largely still unanswered – especially for ships in the dry bulk tramp trades.INTERCARGO’s Chairman Mr Dimitrios J. Fafalios said that INTERCARGO will continue efforts to highlight critical aspects of the 2020 sulfur limit regulation implementation.Areas of concern include de-bunkering non-compliant fuel in those cases when fuel has been taken in good faith as per BDN, only to learn that it is non…

13 Sep 2019

Top Industry Bodies Preps for Sulfur Target

Leaders of the major shipping industry trade associations - international shipping associations representing shipowners BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) and International Association of Independent Tanker Owners  (INTERTANKO) met in London yesterday (September 13) to consider the transformational issues affecting the sector.Top of the agenda were the preparations for the implementation of the 2020 Global Sulfur Limit. With less than four months to go until the introduction of the new limits on sulfur emissions from shipping, there is still significant uncertainty…

08 Mar 2019

Vigilance Essential In Indian Ocean "High Risk Area"

Photo: EUNAVFOR

The Round Table of international shipping associations plus the OCIMF representing the global shipping and oil industry have announced the geographic boundaries of the ‘High Risk Area’ for piracy in the Indian Ocean have been reduced, with new advice issued to merchant ship operators.The High Risk Area reflects the area where the threat from piracy exists, whilst recognizing the ongoing containment of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean. The industry group of shipping and oil industry organisations BIMCO…

10 Oct 2018

Liquefaction and Lost Bulk Carriers: Is a Design Change Warranted?

Image: © Amarinj/AdobeStock

A shocking number of bulk carriers (as well as a few OBOs – ore/bulk/oil carriers) have been suddenly and catastrophically lost at sea in the last 30 years. Following are the names of some of those vessels, in alphabetical order:- Asian Forest (2009); - Black Rose(2009); - Bulk Jupiter (2015); - Derbyshire (1980); - Emerald Star (2017); - Harita Bauxite (2013); - Hong Wei (2010); - Hui Long (2005); - Jian Fu Star (2010); - Nasco Diamond (2010); - Stella Daisy (2017); - Sun Spirits (2012); - Trans Summer (2013); and - Vinalines Queen (2011).

26 Oct 2018

New Maritime Fuel Rules: Industry Frets About Cost, Strategy, Supply

© Igor Groshev/AdobeStock

There are studies and reports from classification societies, scientific organizations and governmental agencies assuring maritime industries that carbon-heavy fuel is peaking and will be replaced by 2050, if not by 2035, with zero carbon power alternatives. No question, they chorus, shipping can meet the IMO goals of a 50% reduction in 2008 levels of GHS by 2050.But as the hot breath of various deadlines bear down upon them, with the 2020 sulfur cap in the forefront, ship owners…

29 Oct 2018

NKAC & the Dawn of the 'Digital Twin'

Logo: ClassNK

ClassNK Archive Center (NKAC) has stored the first Ship Construction Files (SCF) complying with IMO Global Based Standards (GBS) for the NACKS-built 311,000 DWT VLCC delivered on October 26, 2018, managed by MOL Tankship Management (Asia) Pte. Ltd.To encourage design transparency and help ensure safety throughout the life of vessels, SOLAS regulation II-1/3-10 entered into force in 2012, requiring SCF complying with IMO GBS to be provided by shipyards on a new ship’s delivery and kept on board and/or ashore.

02 Nov 2018

Intercargo Asks IMO to Address Challenges of 2020

In addition to progress made on a number of important issues, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at its recent Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 73) listened to the concerns raised by the International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (Intercargo) and others and offered a constructive way forward to potentially address them.The association of shipowners, managers and operators of dry cargo vessels and represent better this shipping sector said that it is critical, especially for the tramp sector, to ensure an effective implementation process for the 2020 Sulphur Cap regulation."The MEPC agreed to consider at its next sessions…

31 Jan 2019

INTERCARGO Advisory on Cargo Liquefaction Dangers

File Image: AdobeStock / ©  Leonid Eremeychuk

Cargo liquefaction continues to be a major risk for dry bulk shipping.INTERCARGO welcomes the latest amendment to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC 04-17) which entered into force on 1st January 2019 and includes important updates related to cargoes that may liquefy. Pertinent updates include: changes to section 4.5 of the Code which stipulates the shippers’ responsibility to ensure that the testing and sampling for Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) and moisture content is carried out at the correct intervals…