NOTICE is hereby given that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Class 1 and Class 2 Members of the Association will be held at 14.30 hours on Tuesday, 5 February 2019 in the Hotel Le Royal, 12 Boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following SPECIAL Resolution: SPECIAL RESOLUTION THAT alterations to certain Rules of Class 1 and Class 2 (as hereafter set out with commentary) be made to take effect from noon GMT on 20 February 2019: INTRODUCTION Unless stated otherwise, those ...

The IMO considers exhaust gas scrubbers to be an acceptable means of reducing vessels’ sulphur emissions and ensuring compliance with MARPOL Annex VI. A separate guideline, Resolution MEPC.259(68), specifies the requirements for the verification, testing, survey and certification of scrubber systems and sets out the criteria for discharging scrubber washwater into the sea. However, some coastal states and ports have implemented local regulations with more stringent requirements that restrict or completely prohibit the discharge of washwater from open loop scrubbers or prohibit the use of scrubbers. We are currently aware ...

The Swedish Club has launched its new edition of Claims at a Glance, a whistle-stop tour of cases and statistics taken from its experiences in Loss Prevention over the last three years. Claims at a Glance offers the Club’s own perspective on some of the real-life cases it has recently dealt with and provides updates on some of the Club’s key Loss Prevention publications from the last three years. It makes interesting reading: in the time period studied the report finds that a pilot is on board ship during 30% ...

IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), during its seventy-third session (22-26 October 2018) agreed that Administrations should encourage ships flying their flag to develop implementation plans, outlining how the ship may prepare in order to comply with the required sulphur content limit of 0.5% by 1 January 2020. Consequently, attached guidance (MEPC.1/Circ.878) on the development of a Ship Implementation Plan (SIP) for the consistent implementation of the global sulphur cap under Marpol Annex VI was issued. Administrations and Port State Control authorities, under Regulation 18.2.3 of MARPOL Annex VI, may ...

This Circular follows up on Circulars 01/18 of January 3, 2018 and 11/18 of March 9, 2018 regarding economic sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). It reminds Members of the significant risks entailed in evading US sanctions against the DPRK, and the comprehensive international sanctions regime against the DPRK which the United Nations Security Council introduced in 2017. Enforcement of sanctions generally, and against the maritime industry specifically, has intensified since 2017. This document draws attention to some of the measures which governments are taking to enforce ...

The bill of lading has three primary functions, evidencing the contract of carriage, acting as a receipt for the cargo and facilitating transfer of title to the carried cargo. There are occasions where documents are lost and, given the functions of the bill of lading, this has the potential to give rise to some significant exposures if not handled correctly. The contractual nexus surrounding any given bill of lading can be complex. Care must be taken, therefore, when handling situations involving lost bills of lading to understand this nexus. The ...

The enclosed are Joint Industry Guidelines for the carriage of Divinylbenzene (DVB) in containers and it has been published jointly by CINS (the Cargo Incident Notification System), the International Group of P&I Clubs and the TT Club. DVB is a chemical that is prone to polymerization (a form of self-reaction) and, when shipped in bulk, DVB polymerization can cause heat and flammable gas to be generated. The stowage of containers carrying DVB aboard vessels can therefore present a risk of explosion and fire if they are not properly presented for ...

As 2019 begins, and as the American Club’s next policy year draws near, it is hoped that this report on the Club’s recent progress will prove to be both instructive and helpful. It amplifies some of the observations contained in Circular No. 43/18 of November 15, 2018 which, inter alia, provided the background to the Club’s premium requirements for the 2019 policy year. The pages which follow highlight some of the latest Club metrics in regard to tonnage, premium, claims, investment income and free reserves. They also contain news regarding ...

Members are advised of the recent press release issued by the Paris and Tokyo MOUs announcing the launch of the PSC joint information campaign in order to facilitate smooth and consistent implementation of the global 2020 sulphur cap. The outline of the information campaign is highlighted below: Focus: The requirement of maximum sulphur content of 0.50% m/m for marine fuel oil which will enter into force on 1 January 2020 (Regulations 14 and 18 of MARPOL Annex VI). Period: From 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019. A letter of ...

Reinsurance arrangements for the 2019 policy year for P&I entries with Gard P. & I. (Bermuda) Ltd and Assuranceforeningen Gard – gjensidig – (hereinafter individually referred to as the “Association” and collectively as the “Associations”) Owner’s Entries The structure of the cover reinsured through the Pool is as follows: • Club retention: USD 10 million. • Pool retention: USD 90 million (in excess of USD 10 million) in two layers: – Lower Pool retention: USD 40 million (in excess of USD 10 million). – Upper Pool retention: USD 50 million ...

We summarize these below by date of implementation. We encourage Members and clients to ensure that their crew and shore staff are familiar with these. Besides regulations being implemented by the IMO, ILO and other international bodies, we have also included some key domestic regulatory changes. You can find a summary of the key changes introduced during 2018 here. 1 January 2019 Resolution A.1116(30): Escape Route Signs and Equipment Location Markings To ensure uniformity of safety signs with ISO standards, the IMO has introduced updated signs and graphic symbols that ...

Members’ attention is drawn to the attached update on the 2019 tariffs for pollution fines in Turkish waters, received from lawyers Ulgener Legal Consultants Law Office. If Members have any questions on this update, your usual contact at the Club would be pleased to assist you. Source: UK P&I Club

The Standard Club has received advice from ECM Hudson that, due to the Federal Government shutdown, the Vessel Certification Division of the United States Coastguard is currently closed. They have advised as follows: At this time, no applications or renewals are being processed. Applications and guarantees should still be submitted in the event that we receive an enforcement query. The limited resources available to us will be directed toward supporting the USCG personnel in the field as well as maintaining the accuracy of outstanding COFRs (ie cancellations or reinstatements). We ...

On the 8th January 1979 the entered tanker “Betelgeuse” was moored at Whiddy Island, Bantry Bay Ireland discharging a cargo of 114,000mt of crude oil when, at about 01:00hrs, she suddenly exploded. The explosion and fire caused the death of all 41 crew, one visitor and eight shore terminal workers. Tragically only 27 bodies were recovered. The vessel burned fiercely and eventually split in two, sinking 12 hours after the explosion in 40 metres of water. As part of the Club’s response to the casualty the firm of Smit & ...

This Circular outlines the amendments to the Rules for Ships and the Rules for Mobile Offshore Units of both Assuranceforeningen Gard – gjensidig – and Gard P.& I. (Bermuda) Ltd (collectively the “Associations” and individually the “Association”), which will enter into force at noon GMT on 20 February 2019. RULES FOR SHIPS Part I, Chapter 4 – ‘Premiums and Calls’ changes in terminology and structure as to calculation of calls The following changes in structure and terminology as to premiums and calls in the Rules for Ships are made: • ...