Month: June 2019

MCTC WELCOMES NEW CLIENT

Debra Munford

MCTC is delighted to welcome a new client: Columbia Shipmanagement, one of the world’s largest shipmanagement and maritime services companies with over 40 years’ of experience.

MCTC will work in partnership to actively promote Columbia Shipmanagement’s ‘ICare’ policy to encourage a culture of excellence across Columbia’s business and with everyone who works alongside it. The ‘ICare’ policy holds a strong ethos focusing on the human dimension: crew, their families and the staff in Columbia offices. Read more →

ShipMoney Announces Sporting Heroine as Speaker for London International Shipping Week

Debra Munford

Debra Searle MVO, MBE

On the Day of the Seafarer in the year where “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community” has been selected as the theme for World Maritime Day, ShipMoney is delighted to announce that Debra Searle has been engaged as its keynote speaker at London International Shipping Week.

As the youngest woman to row SOLO across the Atlantic Ocean, Debra has an amazing story to tell of 30 foot waves, killer sharks and very near misses with cargo ships. As if that was not enough, she had to contend with the debilitating loneliness of knowing that her support ship was often two weeks away if she got into trouble. Read more →

Message from Rear Admiral Peter Brady on Day of the Seafarer

Debra Munford

Today, on the International Day of the Seafarer, we pay tribute to the many men and women who operate the global shipping fleet –transporting goods around the world to facilitate world trade; and fishing the seas to feed global populations; and in our Navies, protecting our populations, lands and seas; and in the tourist sector, helping people to experience and enjoy our oceans at first hand; and in transport, ferrying passengers between our islands. Read more →

Hill Dickinson Boosts Commodities Team with Two Senior Hires

Debra Munford

Mark Aspinall, Hill Dickinson

Paul Sinnott, Hill Dickinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hill Dickinson is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of two partners for its growing commodities team.

Experienced energy sector lawyers Mark Aspinall and Paul Sinnott have joined Hill Dickinson from Eversheds and will operate from the firm’s London office.

Welcoming them, team leader Jeff Isaacs said: ‘We are excited to have brought in two very significant lateral hires in Mark and Paul. Their individual and combined experience in transactional, derivative-based work and dispute resolution is closely aligned with our strategy to broaden the capability and expertise of our existing group.
Read more →

Britannia Hosts Members’ Seminar in Piraeus

Phil Page

Britannia P&I Club is hosting a one-day Members’ seminar in Piraeus on Thursday 27 June. The seminar is aimed at senior managers, superintendents, DPAs and serving officers of Britannia’s Members.

The programme will include presentations on the implications and challenges of the Sulphur Cap 2020, passage planning and safety management.

A line-up of very experienced Britannia senior managers will be presenting and on hand to offer advice, including:

Read more →

West of England P&I Club Looks to The Future With a Fresh New Image

Debra Munford

Tom Bowsher, West of England Global CEO

The West of England P&I, a leading A-rated mutual marine insurer, is launching a new brand identity which looks ahead to an exciting future while continuing to adhere to the values and ethos developed over its 150-year heritage.

The new branding encompasses a new WEST logo, new offices in the City of London, and an enhanced website. Read more →

ICS to Push for Rapid Action on Further CO2 Reduction by International Shipping

Debra Munford

ICS Member Representatives at the 2019 AGM

2019 AGM Faroe Islands: Representatives of the world’s national shipowners’ associations met last week to review the priorities of the global shipowners’ association, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

The ICS Annual General Meeting was overshadowed by the attacks against two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and the very serious threat this presents to the lives of seafarers and maritime trade. (Please see recent statement.)

Action on CO2 Reduction
ICS agreed a suite of actions in support of the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategy to decarbonise international shipping in line with the United Nations 1.5 degree climate change goal. Read more →

The Swedish Club Closes its 2019 AGM on a High Note

Debra Munford

Guest of Honour Andrew Bardot, Retiring CEO, IG P&I (right) with Nick Shaw, Incoming CEO, IG P&I

The Swedish Club welcomed members from around the world to its 147th AGM held in Gothenburg last week. More than 250 member representatives and business associates joined the Club to share in the combination of business and Swedish hospitality that makes the Club’s AGM such a unique event.

The Guest of Honour this year was Andrew Bardot, attending one of his final events as Executive Officer of the International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I). Members were both informed and entertained by hearing his experiences since taking up the role 14 years ago. At the same time the Club welcomed the new incumbent, Nick Shaw, and invited him to share details of IGP&I’s roadmap for the future.  Read more →

International Chamber of Shipping expresses concern over tanker attacks

Debra Munford

The Board of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has expressed concern at the serious incidents involving the Marshall Islands flagged ship Front Altair and the Panama flagged Kokuka Courageous, in the Gulf of Oman. Addressing the issue at the ICS Annual General Meeting in the Faroe Islands, the Board has expressed the international shipping industry’s alarm at recent incidents in the region affecting ships and their crews.

“This suspected attack is a deeply worrying and intolerable situation. We await further clarification and information as to what has happened but we are relieved that there appears to have been no loss of life and that the crews are reportedly safe, ” said Guy Platten, ICS Secretary General. “This is the second incident in one month and the shipping industry, and most importantly the crews,  must not be exposed to such risks.” Read more →

ShipMoney extends Agreement with Helikon Shipping

Debra Munford

ShipMoney has extended its Maritime Payment Services Agreement with Helikon Shipping into a long-term multi-year relationship.

Welcoming the extension, Mr. Michael Papaioannou, the Managing Director of Helikon said: “The ShipMoney Program is very well received by our crew members, providing them with a range of remittance options while onboard saving them time and money while in port.  For our Company, the Program has streamlined our onboard crew payment process, reduced our costs and provided a new benefit to our valued crew members and their families.  We are pleased to work with ShipMoney on an exclusive basis for our onboard crew payments.”

ShipMoney has been utilized by Helikon to pay wages to crew members onboard under its agency for the last several years and they have decided to extend the relationship given the success of the Program and their upcoming expansion of the Helikon fleet. Read more →

Gulf of Guinea Piracy Continues to Threaten Seafarers – Industry Wants Action Now

Debra Munford

Members of the shipping community, Flag States and Agencies from the Gulf of Guinea gathered at the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday 7 June, 2019, for a day-long symposium on Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea. The event, co-sponsored by BIMCO, IMCA, ICS, ITF and OCIMF, featured speakers from regional maritime agencies as well as shipping officials, academics and military staff.  The shipping industry, along with seafarer groups, organized the event to highlight the continuing danger to seafarers operating in the Gulf of Guinea.

In opening the symposium, Dr. Grahaeme Henderson, Chair of the UK Shipping Defence Advisory Committee and Vice President of Shell Shipping & Maritime, said “Simply put, the high level of piracy and armed robbery attacks in the Gulf of Guinea is not acceptable. Yet it is happening every day and this is not business as usual. We need to take urgent action now.”  Read more →

Maritime VSAT Innovator Introduces ‘KVH Watch’ IoT Connectivity as a Service

Debra Munford

New KVH Watch service is designed for maritime equipment manufacturers, enabling them to conduct remote monitoring and real-time intervention

MIDDLETOWN, RI – June 4, 2019 – KVH Industries, Inc., (Nasdaq: KVHI), today introduced the maritime industry’s only all-inclusive, no-commitment, Internet of Things (IoT) Connectivity as a Service program utilizing global VSAT communications. KVH WatchTM is designed as the connectivity solution for remote equipment monitoring and intervention by maritime equipment manufacturers and IoT application providers. With remote monitoring, manufacturers can act in real time, minimizing expensive service calls and ensuring that their equipment is performing at its peak for the maritime operation.

“IoT is essential for maintaining and optimizing complex equipment at sea, but until now, equipment manufacturers have lacked an affordable VSAT IoT solution,” says Martin Kits van Heyningen, KVH’s chief executive officer. “We followed the successful business model we established with AgilePlans® Connectivity as a Service to now offer KVH Watch IoT Connectivity as a Service for one monthly subscription fee.” Read more →

Shipowners’ Global Trade Association Launches Annual Review

Debra Munford


In advance of its AGM in the Faroe Islands next week, the global trade association for shipowners, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), has launched its Annual Review 2019, providing in-depth insight into the most pressing issues confronting shipping, which moves about 90% of global trade.

ICS Chairman, Esben Poulsson, explains:  “The immediate focus of ICS is the successful implementation of the UN IMO global sulphur cap, which will take complete effect on 1 January.  ICS has produced comprehensive advice to help shipowners prepare and achieved notable success in persuading IMO to adopt appropriate guidelines for its Member States. Read more →

ICS Launches Definitive Guidelines on MLC Convention

Debra Munford

Responding to changing regulations the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has launched of the third edition of its essential Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, the only fully up to date guide to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) for all involved with the employment of seafarers.

Focused on today’s MLC, the publication covers all amendments made to the Convention since it entered into force in 2013. It also contains practical advice, information and key learnings from industry bodies at the heart of the shipping community.
Natalie Shaw, Director of Employment Affairs at ICS says: “These new Guidelines provide a framework to help all involved in the industry understand how the MLC works. Companies can use them to assist in developing their own policies and procedures and incorporate them in their working practices. Read more →

International Shipping on Track to Meet 2030 CO2 Reduction Target Following Critical UN IMO Meeting

Debra Munford

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) – which represents the world’s national shipowner associations – remains confident that shipping will improve its carbon efficiency by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 2008, in line with the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  This follows important decisions made by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 74) which met in London this week.

ICS Secretary General, Guy Platten commented: “We welcome the adoption of important new IMO regulations to strengthen and bring forward the application of the Energy Efficiency Design Index for several different types of new build vessel, including containerships.  We are keen to see further progress on developing more short term measures to help the existing fleet reduce its emissions, and are optimistic that IMO Member States can agree some additional regulations, during 2020, combining prescriptive and goal based approaches that will deliver further GHG reductions before 2023.” Read more →

New survey from ICS and ECSA paints positive picture for seafarer internet access

Debra Munford


A new survey from the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) reveals that not only is internet access for seafarers for personal use on board ships more widespread and available than previously imagined, but also that the positive benefits associated with this access outweigh the feared safety concerns around the technology.

The responses to the survey carried out by ICS and ECSA, with support from the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA), indicate that the provision of internet access to seafarers for personal use may have improved the mental health and well-being of seafarers (according to 60% of respondents) and the morale of seafarers in the company (according to 69% of respondents). 82% of those organisations who responded provide internet access to seafarers for personal use. Despite industry concerns that internet access may negatively impact upon seafarers obtaining adequate rest and sleep during periods available for rest, 85% of these companies reported that this has been unaffected or improved. Similarly, whilst there have also been concerns expressed as to whether internet access may negatively or positively impact upon the work performance of seafarers, 96% of companies reported that this has not deteriorated. Read more →

Indian Register of Shipping targets the European market at Nor-Shipping

Debra Munford

MUMBAI, INDIA, 04 June 2019 – The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), a leading ship classification society, is seeking growth opportunities in the European market.

Having already established a strong presence in Asia and Middle East with several new offices opened during the last two years in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Malaysia and Indonesia, IRClass is now planning to target Europe.

IRClass received recognition from European Union in 2016 and has offices in the UK, Greece, the Netherlands and Turkey as well as representative offices in Malta, Cyprus and Bulgaria.

IRClass is initially focusing on ferries and small vessels and has already won some business with ferry operators in the Greek market.

IRClass, which currently holds the Vice Chair of International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), believes in actively engaging with the industry stakeholders to provide services in line with the industry requirements. Read more →