As Members may be aware the Best Management Practices document (to reduce the risk of Somalia based pirates) has been updated. The current version, BMP4, can be accessed by clicking here. BMP4 continues to receive wide support from the shipping industry and Members are recommended to maintain familiarity with and effectively implement its provisions (even when armed guards are retained).
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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8 September 2011
6 September 2011
Members should be aware that with effect from 3 September 2011, the EU has introduced new sanctions against Syria, by which the carriage of crude oil or petroleum products from or originating from Syria is prohibited. A copy of the relevant Regulation (Council Regulation (EU) no 442/2011) can be found by clicking here.
19 August 2011
Members will be aware that, due to the continuing pirate attacks on merchant ships traversing the Gulf of Aden area and the widening geographical range of attacks despite the presence of a number of international navies, the Additional Premium Area for War Risks in the Indian Ocean (“the AP Area”) has been extended to up to 12 miles offshore from the Indian Coast.
17 August 2011
Further to the various Circulars and Alerts issued by the London Club in respect of cargoes that are prone to liquefy, the International Group of P&I Clubs (“IG”) has produced a standard charterparty clause that seeks to provide Owners with added contractual protection when carrying such cargoes.
8 July 2011
It is recommended that this alert is read in conjunction with the Circulars issued by the Association on 13 December 2010 (India - Safe shipment of Iron Ore Fines from Indian Ports, No 5:421) and 31 January 2011 (Indonesia and the Philippines - Safe Carriage of Nickel Ore Cargoes, No 5:428). This concerns the shipping of a type of iron ore described as “sinter feed”.
1 July 2011
On 17 June 2011, the London P& I Club reported an increase in pirate activity in the waters off Benin. Since then the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (click here for a link to their website) has received reports of a further three incidents involving tankers off Cotonou. In one case, a vessel was captured, in the other two the focus was theft of personal effects and valuables. In each case the vessels were boarded during darkness and whilst undertaking or preparing for STS operations.
30 June 2011
As the reach of pirates operating out of Somalia has spread well beyond the Gulf of Aden and military resources have as a consequence become ever more stretched, the deployment of private guards on ships transiting high risk waters has become more prevalent. The use of armed private guards is also becoming more common, which in turn is attracting an increasing number of providers of such services.
28 June 2011
Last week, the US added Tidewater Middle East Co to its list of designated entities. Tidewater Middle East Co is a port operating company in Iran and is reportedly owned by sanctioned entities including Mehr Bank and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Tidewater Middle East Co is not connected with Tidewater Inc, a well know provider of off shore services.
17 June 2011
The Correspondent in Benin, TCI Africa, report that piracy in West African waters is on the rise. Most attacks occur while ships are at anchor or close to the shore, unlike East Africa, where Somali pirates have netted millions of dollars in ransoms in exchange for the release of ships captured hundreds of miles from the coast.
26 May 2011
As Members should be aware, Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) provides a regime for determining the amount of remuneration to be awarded to salvors for their services in saving property at sea and minimising or preventing damage to the environment.