The Captain of the Sewol, 68 year old Lee Joon-Seok, has been handed a 36 year jail term for gross negligence by the Gwangju District Court. He was found not guilty, however, on the charge of negligent homicide. Prosecutors had demanded the death penalty for Mr Joon-Seok and life sentences for three other crew members. The Sewol was a South Korean ferry skippered by Mr Joon-Seok and sank last April with the loss of more than 300 people. Only 172 of the ferry’s 476 passengers and crew were rescued. Of the 304 confirmed dead, or still listed as missing, 250 were school children.
News Hound
Vancouver Shipyards finishes $170M modernisation project
Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards officially celebrated the completion of its two year, $170M Shipyard modernisation project ahead of schedule and under budget.
Funded entirely by Seaspan, this project has transformed Vancouver Shipyards into the most modern facility in North America that will establish a shipbuilding and ship repair centre of excellence on the West Coast, and allow for the effective and efficient delivery of non combat vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy.
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European maritime surveillance network reaches operational status
Developed under the auspices of the European Defence Agency since 2006, the European Maritime Surveillance network (Marsur) project has now reached an operational level of maturity.
One of the longest running projects undertaken by the European Defence Agency (EDA), Marsur is a technical solution that allows dialog between European maritime information systems. Containing 17 Member States plus Norway, the project aims to improve the common “recognised maritime picture” by facilitating exchange of operational maritime information and services such as ship positions, tracks, identification data, chat or images.
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Mandatory enclosed space entry drills from January 2015
From 1 January 2015 all persons involved in enclosed space entry, and/or assigned enclosed space rescue duties, will be required to take part in enclosed space entry and rescue drills at intervals not exceeding two months.
The amendments to SOLAS Chapter III are detailed in IMO Resolution MSC.350(92), which requires the following in relation to enclosed space entry and rescue drills:
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Small tanker pirate attacks rise in SE Asia says IMB report
While pirate attacks on the world’s seas have fallen for the third consecutive year, small tanker hijacks by armed gangs are escalating in Southeast Asia, reveals the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in its latest piracy report.
IMB’s 2014 third quarter global piracy report notes a total of 178 pirate attacks so far this year, down from 352 for same period in 2011. In the first nine months of 2014, pirates killed three crew, kidnapped five from their vessels and took 369 seafarers hostage. A total of 17 vessels were hijacked, 124 were boarded and 10 were fired upon. There were 27 further reports of attempted attacks.
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Rescue of migrants at sea is an obligation
The rescue of all persons in distress at sea, including illegal migrants, is an obligation under international maritime law, as well as being a long established humanitarian duty, says the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). ICS is the global trade association for commercial ship operators, whose ships are currently involved on a daily basis in the rescue of refugees at sea in the Mediterranean.
Whatever may be decided by policy makers in EU Member States, the legal and humanitarian obligation of merchant ships to provide assistance to anyone in distress at sea will remain unchanged, says ICS.
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Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme hailed a success
Lifeboat Crew members from 11 countries have been involved in a European Exchange Programme designed to help reduce the numbers of people losing their lives in Europe’s waters.
With the aim of exchanging knowledge, sharing ideas and building relationships between the voluntary institutions, the project is now in its third year.
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Edith Maersk docks at DP World London Gateway
The Edith Maersk, the largest vessel ever to enter the River Thames, arrived at DP World London Gateway on Sunday 19 October.
The 396 metre long, 56 metre wide ship has a draught of 16 metres and can carry up to 15,500 teu.
The ship, which is just weeks shy of celebrating its first anniversary, left the terminal on Sunday night bound for Singapore.
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New safety and health guidelines to protect seafarers
Maritime occupational safety and health experts agreed on guidelines to bolster the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 to further protect seafarers at a recent meeting in Geneva.
Recognising the special needs of seafarers, experts have agreed on guidelines to assist governments to implement occupational safety and health provisions previously set down in the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006).
Intended to provide supplementary practical information to be reflected in national laws and other measures, the OSH guidelines deal with the special maritime working environment. This includes demanding physical working conditions, potentially hazardous tasks, isolation, long hours of work, rigid organizational structures and high levels of stress and fatigue.
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AMSA warns of rubber fender scam
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has become aware of a sophisticated scam, using a falsification of AMSA’s crest and stamp to endorse rubber fenders.
Ship Safety Division general manager Allan Schwartz said the scam contained what appears to be a certification or approval letter from AMSA’s “quality control department” for the ‘yokohama’ style of fenders, designed for the berthing and mooring of a ship to another ship or berthing structure.
“These letters bear a stamp and crest in the name of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority,” Mr Schwartz said.
The importance of the superyacht industry underlined
Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), has outlined the importance of the superyacht industry.
Sir Alan was speaking at the recent Monaco Yacht Show. He was there representing the UK’s Shipping Minister, John Hayes.
The MCA is a world leader in maritime administration and the originator of the Large Commercial Yacht Code, LY3, which covers safety for yachts that are more than 24-metres in length. Ensign, the MCA’s large yacht services division, offers sector-leading advice and guidance in areas including the LY3 code, the Maritime Labour Convention and Seafarers’ Standards.
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Antarctica Agenda outlined by Australian Government
The Australian Government has given outline plans and details of its 20 year Antarctica Agenda and Strategic Plan. The plan allows for Australia’s future engagement in the region and options to expand Tasmania’s role as the Antarctic science and logistics hub.
The report contains recommendations on a range of key issues, including:
• Protecting Australia’s national interests in Antarctica.
• Supporting and leading national and international Antarctic science.
• Building economic benefits for Tasmania as an Antarctic Gateway city.
• Australia’s future Antarctic station operations, transport and deep field traverse capabilities and support for large field-based research campaigns.
• Effective administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory.
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