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State Administration News

15 Jan 2024

Exploring 'Future Fuels' - Methanol’s Superstorage Solution

Image courtesy SRC

Technical inquiries to SRC Group ramped up after it received Approval in Principle (AIP) for a concept which ‘reinvented methanol fuel storage’ on board ships. Delivering the answers has seen technical talk converting into project discussions        ‘Green’ methanol has the ability to one day run vessels almost emission-free, and commercial shipping increasingly investigates. Derived today principally from natural gas, methanol is nonetheless available, relatively easy to handle and predictable.

21 Jun 2021

Chinese Regulators Eye Irregularities in Spot Iron Ore Trading

© HollyHarry/AdobeStock

China's state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said on Monday it and the market regulator are jointly looking into the iron ore spot market and have pledged to crack down on hoarding and speculation.The move comes after NDRC said on Thursday that new rules on the management of price indexes for commodities and services will be effective Aug. 1 and will standardise price index compilation and transparency of information.During a visit to the Beijing Iron Ore Trading Center Corporation (COREX)…

14 Jan 2020

China Tax Waiver for Cleaner Ship Fuel Exports

Copyright: Suriyapong/AdobeStock

China has approved a long-awaited tax waiver on exports of cleaner ship fuel, paving the way for refiners to boost output, though Beijing may initially limit shipments to focus on growing its coastal marine fuel market, state refiner officials say.Ships globally have switched to lower sulphur fuels, or use emissions-removing devices, to comply with new rules imposed by the International Maritime Organization this year.China's State Council, or cabinet, gave the go-ahead to waive taxes on the 0.5% or very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO)…

11 Dec 2019

SAL Intros New Emission Reduction System

SAL Heavy Lift, a global carrier specialized in sea transport of heavy lift and project cargo, said that it has become the first shipping company in the world to introduce hydrogen/methanol emission reduction technology to its fleet.The Harren & Partner Group company said in a press release that with significant emission reductions in terms of CO2, SOx, NOx and other particles, the injection technology developed by FUELSAVE GmbH paves the way for making shipping greener and more energy efficient.After more than four years of close cooperation, testing and development between SAL and FUELSAVE GmbH, alongside project stakeholders EcoTune Marine, Classification Society DNV GL as RO for Antigua and Barbuda flag, Carl Baguhn, MAN Energy solutions, M.A.C.

24 Jul 2019

India Upgrades its Coast Guard

The Government India has established a robust maritime search and rescue framework to address and respond to various contingencies in deep sea and in coastal areas of India.According to a government release, the framework includes distress onboard fishing boats and merchant vessels, safety of life during marine incidents and SAR (Search and Rescue) response during cyclones.Director General Indian Coast Guard has been designated as the Chairman of National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB), which constitutes members from national/coastal state administration/agencies.The sanctioned strength of Coast Guard has increased from 8149 in 2008 to 16818 upto July, 2019 which is 100% increase from manpower in 2008.

07 Sep 2018

China Launches New Marine Satellite

China successfully launched a new marine satellite into orbit yesterday (Friday) to help improve understanding of maritime waters and study the impact of climate change, Xinhua reported.A Long March-2C rocket carrying the HY-1C satellite took off at 11:15 a.m. from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province.The satellite will assist in monitoring ocean colour and water temperatures, providing basic data for research on the global oceanic environment, reports Xinhua, citing the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND), which oversees China's space activities.Its data will also be used in the survey of the resources and environment of China's offshore waters…

27 Nov 2017

FMC's Doyle to Exit Commission in January, 2018

Today, the Office of Commissioner William P. Doyle of the U.S. “Last week, I notified The President of the United States Donald J. Trump of my intention to leave the Federal Maritime Commission effective January 3, 2017. It has been an honor and a privilege to continue serving in the Trump Administration. I thank President Barack Obama for nominating and appointing me twice as a Commissioner. “I am proud to have worked alongside my fellow Commissioners and with such a dedicated and hardworking Commission staff. Over the past five years there has been an enormous amount of change in the international maritime industry including consolidations, mergers, bankruptcies, and the advent of mega ocean carrier alliances. As a Commissioner, Mr.

24 Aug 2017

Verifavia to Provide IMO DCS Services for Liberian-flagged Ships

Emissions verification company for the transport sector Verifavia said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Liberian Registry to conduct IMO DCS and EU MRV verification services for Liberian-flagged vessels. The Liberian Registry – the second largest in the world – includes more than 4,200 vessels aggregating 150+ million gross metric tons, representing 12 percent of the world’s ocean going fleet. As part of the cooperation – the company’s first major step as an IMO DCS (data collection system) verifier –  Verifavia Shipping will leverage its existing knowledge and expertise as an independent EU Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) dual-accredited verifier to deliver streamlined and efficient verification services to Liberian-registered vessels.

22 Nov 2016

BIMCO: Shorter sailing distances limit upside of two-year high Chinese coal imports

Australia and Indonesia, being the main exporters of coal to China, are growing their market share at the expense of longer haul exporters like the US and South Africa. Therefore, dry bulk shipping demand does not enjoy full tonne-mile demand, when the imported coal volumes increase. The high level of coal into China for Q3 2016 shows the growing importance of Chinese coal imports for the shipping market, since mid-April 2016. The State Administration of Work Safety in China enforced in mid-April a policy of 276 working days per year, upon the coal mines. A decrease in operational days of 16%, to handle the overcapacity in the domestic coal mining industry.

16 Feb 2016

Malta Rolls out First Ever Maritime Summit

The first Malta Maritime Summit, an opportunity for international and Maltese stakeholders to raise and discuss common interests, will be held on 3-6 October, ahead of the start of Malta’s presidency of the European Council in January 2017. The international event that will consolidate the present Government's will to establish the country as a centre of maritime excellence, says Joe Mizzi, the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Malta has always been a maritime nation as its location has made it historically the most sought after island in the Mediterranean, by traders and world leaders alike. Minister Joe Mizzi said that the Government is conscious that Malta has a natural potential to act as a centre of maritime excellence in the Mediterranean.

14 Oct 2014

Antwerp Port & Shanghai Sign MoU

The port of Shanghai, the largest in the world, and the port of Antwerp, the second-largest in Europe, are to collaborate more closely. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to this effect during the recent trade mission to Shanghai. Antwerp and Shanghai have maintained close relationships with each other ever since they were first twinned in 1985. The twinning agreement was subsequently confirmed during the Belgian trade mission to China headed by the then prince Philippe of Belgium in 2004. Now, ten years later, the two ports have undertaken to collaborate intensively with one another in a number of fields. Antwerp’s maritime know-how is strongly represented in the port of Shanghai…

15 Aug 2014

China Looks to Boost Shangai Port Volumes

China will expand a scheme to speed up tax refunds for companies that export via a Shanghai port, the government said on Thursday, as it looks to boost the city's role as an international shipping centre. Exporters that send products abroad via Shanghai's Yangshan deep water port, will from next month be able to recoup some taxes as soon as ships set sail for Shanghai from feeder ports in Nanjing, Suzhou, Lianyungang, Wuhu, Jiujiang, Qingdao, Wuhan and Yueyang. Previously only Qingdao and Wuhan were included in the scheme, with tax refunds on goods sent from other ports of origin only paid when cargoes eventually left Shanghai. "It's good for (exporters) because they can get their money back earlier…

12 May 2014

Cruise Ship Tragic Lifeboat Accident: Investigation Report

Transport Malta Marine Safety Unit has released its report on last year's 'MV Thomson Majesty' lifeboat exercise boat fall that killed 5 crew members and injured 3 others. On 10, February 2013, Thomson Majesty arrived in Santa Cruz de La Palma from Las Palmas as part of a seven-day cruise commencing in Tenerife. On board were 1498 passengers and a crew of 594, giving a total number of persons on board of 2092. At around 1030, the ship commenced a general emergency and lifeboat drill for all officers, staff and crew. On completion of the General Emergency Drill, three lifeboats on the outboard (starboard) side were to be lowered to the water and sent away for training purposes. At approximately 1154, during hoisting of lifeboat no.

12 Feb 2014

Webcast to Address China VAT Reform Announced

FMC Commissioner William P. Doyle

China’s Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation released Circular 106 last December, expanding its value-added tax (VAT) pilot program to additional industries. The circular also made significant updates to the VAT treatment of services related to the international transportation of goods. During the week of January 20, 2014, China provided further clarifications for freight forwarding agent companies in China with regard to Circular 106. In light of the potential impact these changes may have on U.S.

04 Feb 2014

FMC Commissioner Doyle Announces China VAT Issue Webcast

New explanation issued from China on definition of “agents” in Circular 106. Industry briefing scheduled for March 6, 2014 concerning the latest information on China’s Value Added Tax regime and its impact on the maritime industry. Commissioner William P. Doyle of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) today announced that he will be participating in a webcast that will take place on March 6, 2014, on matters related to China's Value Added Tax (VAT) regime, with specific emphasis on China's release of Circular 106, as it affects carriers, shippers and ocean transportation intermediaries. Professionals from the global audit and tax firm, KPMG, will host the webcast. Commissioner Doyle stated, "I appreciate KPMG's willingness to provide a briefing on China's VAT program to FMC’s stakeholders.

20 Dec 2013

Commissioner Doyle: China Clarifies VAT

Last week Commissioner William P. Doyle of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) briefed the full Commission with a report on his work seeking clarity and certainty on the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) as it relates to maritime commerce. Doyle informed the Commission that the Chinese government was expected to clarify its position on the VAT that has confused the shipper and carrier communities. On December 13, 2013, the PRC released Circular 106, which supersedes Circular 37 effective January 1, 2014.

11 Dec 2013

Commissioner Doyle's Briefing on China Value Added Tax

FMC Commissioner William P. Doyle

Commissioner Doyle briefed the Federal Maritime Commission at today's open meeting and provided details and recent information pertaining to efforts to clarify the People's Republic of China new Value Added Tax regime. He also discussed China's interest in establishing a mutual NVOCC legal assistance and mutual bond rider recognition mechanism as well as tax concerns in connection with terminal ownership and operations. On October 28, 2013, the Annual U.S. Bilateral Maritime Consultation with the People’s Republic of China was held in Chicago, Illinois. On behalf of President Obama, the U.S.

01 May 2013

Videotel Launches Flag State Admin System

Videotel launched a new training software program, Videotel webFSA, at IMO STW 44. A sophisticated Flag State Administration Training and Record Management system, Videotel webFSA, provides Member States with the assistance they need to meet the forthcoming IMO requirement for a global quality management system in the implementation and enforcement of Member State obligations and responsibilities relating to maritime transport. Developed in conjunction with the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry…

17 Jan 2012

Costa Concordia: IMO Calls for Rapid and Full Casualty Investigation

IMO Secretary-General urges rapid and full casualty investigation. ​IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has expressed his condolences and sympathy for all those caught up in tragic accidents involving ships over the weekend. “Causes of this accident are still not yet established. We must wait for the casualty investigation and should not pre-judge or speculate at this stage. I would like to urge the Flag State administration to carry out the casualty investigation covering all aspects of this accident and provide the findings to the IMO under the provisions of SOLAS as soon as possible,” he said. He added “IMO must not take this accident lightly.

19 Aug 2011

ChSY Finishes Construction of Trawler “General Troshev”

Gneral Troshev

Chernomorsky Shipbuilding Yard (Nikolaev) finished construction of big factory freezer trawler “General Troshev” for Russian company “Preobrazhenskaya Base of Trawling Fleet”. The vessel is intended for fishery by over-trawling and midwater trawling. The vessel is built on Russian Registry of Shipping and has unrestricted navigation. “It is the first of four trawlers, with which we resume building of given types of vessels. The next vessel also will be built for Preobrazhenskaya Base of Trawling Fleet of Russia.

28 Apr 2011

Backing for NEVA 2011 Gathers Pace

Opening ceremony at NEVA 2009                      	    NEVA 2009 saw a record number of both

Support for NEVA 2011, the international maritime conference and exhibition taking place in St. Petersburg between September 20th and 23rd this year, has gathered momentum both within Russia and internationally in recent weeks. The event, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is increasingly being viewed within Russia as not simply a niche maritime exhibition, but as a global business-to-business event. As a result it is being backed by the domestic business community at the highest level.

20 Aug 2009

MV Artic Sea, August 18 Update

The Maritime Security Committee, with the assistance of the Maltese liaison team stationed in Helsinki since early August, have continued to closely monitor developments of the incident involving the MV Arctic Sea. The Committee would like to clarify that the movements of the MV Arctic Sea were always known for several days, notwithstanding reports that the ship had “disappeared.” There was consensus amongst the investigating authorities of Finland, Malta and Sweden not to disclose any sensitive information in order not to jeopardize the life and safety of the persons on board and the integrity of the ship. It was confirmed through Russian authorities that eight persons are being detained by them in connection with the incident.

04 Jan 2008

Panama Uses Electronic Logbooks

The Panamanian flag state administration has authorized the use of electronic logbooks onboard all Panamanian flag vessels. Kongsberg Maritime's current generation electronic logbook, K-Log is already installed on several vessels and approved by IMO and SOLAS, and accepted by Norway (NOR/NIS), Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom (MCA), Bahamas, Singapore, Isle of Man, Marshall Islands and Malta. With Panamanian approval, a large proportion of the world's merchant fleet are now able to make use of this forward looking system. electronic logbooks onboard any ship.