Members who call at ports in New Zealand should note that the New Zealand Authorities have recently introduced new Biofouling Guidelines to augment their existing 1993 legislation to prevent harmful aquatic species being introduced into the local ecosystem. These are defined in the 1993 legislation as organisms which “can or are potentially capable of causing unwanted harm to any natural and physical resources or human health”.
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 2017
13 April 2017
Members transiting Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) should note that the US Coast Guard has issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin warning of an increased seasonal threat of small fish called Menhaden becoming caught in sea strainers. The fish are reportedly attracted to the sea chest of transiting ships and causes clogging of sea strainers. This restricts the flow of cooling water and causes engines to overheat, resulting in reduced or loss of propulsion.
4 April 2017
Despite an improvement in the awareness of the risks associated with the carriage of cargoes such as iron ore fines, coal, manganese ore fines and nickel ore, incidents involving liquefaction continue to occur, sometimes with catastrophic and tragic results. The main, mandatory requirements for the safe carriage of solid bulk cargoes are stipulated in the IMSBC Code.
20 March 2017
Members should note that the Correspondent in Ho Chi Minh City, Spica Services, advises that sand from Vietnamese waters is reportedly being dredged illegally to the detriment of the local environment and residents. Consequently Members loading sand from Vietnamese waters (and charterers considering entering such contracts) should note the Correspondent’s advice.
7 March 2017
Members who call at ports in the US should note that President Trump has now issued a new Executive Order (EO), on 6 March 2017, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”. This revokes and replaces the previously suspended EO on the subject (click here to access the Club’s News Alert of 16 February 2017).
16 February 2017
Members who call at ports in the US will be aware of the Executive Order issued by President Trump on 27 January 2017 to restrict the entry into the US of foreign citizens from Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Libya, as reported in the Club’s recent News Alert (click here). As a consequence of legal challenges being made, US law firm Freehill Hogan & Mahar LLP now report that the Executive Order has been temporarily suspended and is not currently being enforced.
9 February 2017
Members calling at Chinese ports will be aware of PRC Regulations, effective since February 2011 and amended in 2013, that require international ocean-going vessels to dispose of pollutants on board and to present a valid Pollutant Disposal Certificate (PDC) to the China Maritime Safety Administration prior to departing China.
3 February 2017
Members who call at ports in the US should be aware that, on 27 January 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”. This restricts entry into the US of foreign citizens from Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran and Libya for the next 90 days, whether they hold visas or not.
27 January 2017
Shipowners and Charterers may be aware that as of 1 June 2016, a service tax on freight was imposed by the Indian Government for FOB cargoes on ships chartered by importers domiciled in India. This tax has, to date, been paid by the Indian importer. There was an express exemption for goods shipped by a party that was not domiciled in India i.e. goods shipped on a CFR basis.
20 January 2017
Shipowners should be aware that the Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention 1978 was amended by the 2010 Manila Amendments, which contained new training requirements for seafarers. Between 1 July 2013 and 1 January 2017 (as appropriate), all seafarers were required to undertake additional training in compliance with the Manila Amendments and hold the requisite certification.