In recognition of the extra demands and pressures facing the crew who work on board its Members’ ships, and the crucial role played by seafarer charities in supporting crew welfare during the pandemic, Britannia P&I Club has made one-off donations to four charities. The donations, given to coincide with the IMO Day of the Seafarer on 25 June, can be used in whatever way the charities deem appropriate to continue the support they provide these vital, and sometimes overlooked, key workers. The four charities, all of whom provide vital support ...

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic millions of people in all parts of the world became infected and sadly more than three million have died. Inevitably, the world of shipping has also been affected by this devastating virus. The important role of seafarers in maintaining world trade continues, and their health and well-being is paramount. Steamship Mutual has been proud to work with Marine Media Enterprises to produce a series of Covid-19 films, which aim to provide a further level of support and information to seafarers, wherever they ...

Insurity, a leading provider of cloud-based software for insurance carriers, brokers, and MGAs today announced that TT Club has successfully implemented Oceanwide Marine Suite for its cargo insurance business. TT is a leading provider of insurance and related risk management services to the international transport and logistics industry. This new implementation of Oceanwide Marine Suite will accelerate TT’s digital strategy by streamlining the cargo insurance policy configuration process, facilitating faster collaboration with brokers and clients, and enhancing customer offerings. Headquartered in the U.K., TT offers comprehensive coverage for transport and ...

The Swedish Club ended its 2021 AGM on a high note as it looked ahead and welcomed the future. For the second time in its history the AGM was run virtually from Gothenburg, with members and business partners joining the event remotely. This closes a chapter for The Swedish Club, as plans are already in place for the 2022 AGM, which will take place in Gothenburg and will be a celebration of the Club’s 150th Anniversary. Lars Rhodin, Managing Director of The Swedish Club, used his address to remark upon ...

On 17 June 2021, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued three separate and related general licenses (GLs) relevant to the sanction programmes targeting Iran, Syria, and Venezuela. The three GLs – Iran GL N, Syria GL 21, and Venezuela GL 39 – authorise certain COVID-19-related transactions and activities to aid in the fight against the pandemic. The GLs expand upon longstanding and still-in-effect humanitarian exemptions, exceptions, and authorisations already contained in the US sanctions programmes. All three GLs expire on 17 June 2022, subject to any extension ...

Up to 13 million tonnes of plastic waste reaches ocean waters every year. According to the UN Development Program, that is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute. A whopping 89% of all litter found on the ocean floor are single use items like plastic bags. Plastic persists in the ocean for hundreds of years and poses grave risks to sea creatures. If we continue dumping items such as plastic bottles, bags and cups after a single use into the ocean, by 2050 ...

Further to the club’s article on ‘smuggling fines, breach of customs regulations and operational best practice’, the local correspondents in Brazil (Proinde) have reported a surge of drug smuggling incidents, particularly on bulk carriers out of Brazil. Attached article provides background to this problem and an overview of the main drug trafficking routes. Even though Brazil is not a significant producer of the stimulant drug, it is the second largest consumer and shares extensive unguarded land borders with the three producing countries, which are increasingly relying on the Brazilian ports ...

The responsibilities of container operators providing empty boxes and those packing them with cargo should not be forgotten in a period when such equipment is in short supply and temptations to forego security and safety measures are strong. Containers have numerous touch points in any given supply chain, becoming the responsibility for shorter or longer periods with a variety of stakeholders. During these unprecedented times, TT’s continued message to all parties is one of resilience and continuity of robust practices. This challenging period, for those reliant upon the container, provides ...

A Gard Member recently experienced an incident of cargo failure involving Bauxite loaded in Guyana. The cargo was declared as Group C in the shipper’s declaration. The vessel arrived at the port of discharge in the US with one cargo hold showing significant liquefaction. The bauxite cargo was showing serious signs of instability when loaded at Linden, Guyana. When the vessel arrived at the discharge port in North America, the cargo in one hold had flattened into a fluid state. The cargo consisted of fine particles and showed significant signs ...

Circular issued by International Group clubs Members are referred to circular dated 26 February 2013. DSUA v. 2013.1 – Previously approved The International Group had previously approved Electronic Shipping Solutions version DSUA v. 2013.1. This version continues to be approved. DSUA 2021.1 – Approved| This circular confirms approval by the International Group of an updated version of essDOCS’s electronic trading system. This version is called DSUA 2021.1 and supersedes essDOCS’s previous electronic trading system DSUA 2013.1 which remains approved for the purposes of Club cover. DSUA 2021.1 will come into ...

Members trading in Ghana should exercise vigilance during operations involving transfer of oil and other substances. Our local correspondents BUDD Ghana advised that the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) recently issued a shipping notice – Ghana Maritime Authority circular – dated 17 March 2021 laying out the mandatory procedures for the transfer of oil and other substances. Those are included in Annex 1 of the Shipping Notice No.017. Any failure to meet the GMA’s requirements may result in the levying of heavy, non-negotiable fines. A list of ‘Approved Fines for Marine ...

We are informed by our correspondent in Long Beach that the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services are coordinating the availability of free vaccination of ships’ crews calling at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. We are informed a mobile vaccine clinic will administer the J&J vaccine. Further information can be found on the Long Beach City Health Department website. Reservations for vaccinations can be scheduled via a portal for Ship Vaccination Program. Owners are also directed to the club’s guidance. We thank Glen ...

In Rock Advertising Limited (Rock) v MWB Business Exchange Centres Limited (MWB)[1] (Rock Advertising), the UK Supreme Court, in a judgment given by Lord Sumption, came to what many in the English legal system consider to be a controversial decision. They decided that a No Oral Modification (NOM) clause meant exactly what it said, no oral modifications allowed! In Charles Lim Teng Siang v Hong Choon Hou[2] (Teng Siang) the Singapore Court of Appeal came to the opposite conclusion, oral modifications, if proved, are allowed! A NOM is what is ...

Following the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee session in November 2020, new amendments were adopted to MARPOL Annex VI. These amendments which will come into force on 1 April 2022, outline methods for sampling from fuel oil tanks to validate the sulphur content of the fuel onboard. Members are reminded to be aware and prepared for Port State Control inspectors who will potentially draw samples from all the ship’s fuel tanks and not only from the service tank(s) in order to verify that the fuel oil meets the sulphur content ...

Lifeboats are designed to save lives, but over the years there have been many serious casualties that have occurred during drills, routine maintenance operations and inspections of davit suspended boats fitted with on-load release hooks. These accidents have also resulted in seafarers losing confidence in the lifeboat launching systems. Causes of lifeboat accidents Lifeboat accidents have a variety of causes. Some of the more frequently occurring ones are: • failure of the on-load release mechanism; • inadvertent or accidental operation of the on-load release mechanism; • inadequate maintenance of the ...