Members will be aware, from previous circulars and alerts in respect of the Chinese Regulations for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships (click here for the News Alert attaching the International Group FAQs from March 2012), that a vessel must contract with an approved Ship Pollution Response Organisation (SPRO) before entering/exiting Chinese ports.
News Alerts
We issue News and other Alerts to keep members posted about developments at the Club and other industry news. Please see our latest Alerts below.
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20 April 2018
16 February 2018
The International Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO and INTERTANKO have jointly published a document entitled “Interim Guidance Note on Maritime Security in the Southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb” (the “Guidance Note”). The Guidance Note has been published in response to maritime threats arising from the conflict in Yemen beyond those posed by piracy in the region, including missiles, sea mines and water-borne improvised explosive devices.
13 February 2018
Members will be aware from the London Club Circulars of January 2017 and July 2017 that the United States is not a party to the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Regulations and has introduced its own legislation, with California State developing even stricter requirements. Vessels arriving at ports in California from outside of the Pacific Coast Region intending to de-ballast in California waters are currently required to conduct any ballast exchanges in open seas.
9 February 2018
One of the Club’s China correspondents, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd, has reported that the Chinese Government has implemented stricter controls on waste importation by adding a substantial number of solid waste types to the list of banned wastes which cannot be imported into China without a license. Their full advice, along with the current list of all excluded waste cargoes can be accessed by clicking here.
19 January 2018
Members should take note of the following notice circulated by Intercargo concerning the increased risks associated with the carriage of Nickel Ore from Indonesia during the wet season: QUOTE As you will all be aware it is currently the wet season in Indonesia (October to April), you may also be aware of the recent reports of heavy rain in Indonesia which has resulted in significant congestion at both loading and unloading ports in Asia.
11 January 2018
The LOF salvage agreement is a well-recognised and well established emergency response contract. The use of LOF is widely accepted in the industry and the London Club supports its use in emergency situations. For about twenty years the Special Compensation P&I Clause (SCOPIC) has been used in conjunction with LOF to encourage salvors to respond in cases of doubt over the availability of sufficient reward under Article 13.
15 December 2017
Renewal terms for the IG’s General Excess of Loss Reinsurance Contract have been finalised; and the Group’s reinsurance rates for the year commencing 20 February 2018 are now shown below: Owned Entries Category 2018 rate per GT % change from 2017 DIRTY TANKERS $0.5845 % - 1.85 CLEAN TANKERS $0.2626 % - 1.
30 November 2017
Members will already be aware of EU sanctions in place following the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in Spring 2014, as set out in previous News Alerts on the Club’s website (click here).
17 November 2017
Members may have received press and other reports of a recent judgment in Spain involving the 2002 loss of and pollution from the Prestige. This note aims to provide information on the judgement, the ongoing international legal proceedings and the potentially much wider and far-reaching implications of this development for Shipowners, insurers and other industry stakeholders.
3 November 2017
Members calling at the Port of Cape Town should note that South African law firm Shepstone & Wylie have drawn our attention to water restrictions that are currently in force due to a drought. The Port of Cape Town has suspended the sale and supply of fresh water to vessels calling there, with exceptions being considered on a case by case basis. The notice from Transnet Port Authority courtesy of P&I Associates (Pty) Ltd, the local correspondent, can be accessed here.