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.
IIMS News
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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IIMS UAE branch networking event
IIMS UAE branch is working With Cordstrap Middle East Limited and Fleet Line Shipping Services. Institute members and guests are invited to their monthly networking event.
Highlight of the evening is a talk by Mr Jon Blower. Jon is the Vice President Sales MEA – Asia Pacific of Cordstrap Middle East Limited and his topic for the day is New IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing Cargo Transport Units – CTU Code.
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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Coastguard search and rescue helicopter programme
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has reported that by the summer of 2017 there will be ten coastguard search and rescue helicopter bases established around the UK.
All ten bases will be operated by Bristow Helicopters Ltd on behalf of Her Majesty’s Coastguard at the following locations:
• Central southern England • Northern England • Northern Scotland • North Wales • Shetland Isles • South east England • Southern Scotland • South Wales • South west England • Western Isles
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Burgess Marine to revive south coast dry dock
Britain’s largest independent ship repairer, Burgess Marine, has partnered with Shoreham Port to revitalise ship repair in the commercially thriving Sussex Port.
Shoreham Port offers one of the few remaining dry dock facilities on the South Coast of England. The Port has had a dry dock facility since the 1930’s and since that time has provided a valuable service to the marine industries on and around the South Coast.
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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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Lerwick Port Authority to award £16.5 million project
Lerwick Port Authority has awarded a construction contract for the latest expansion of the harbour’s facilities in a project costing a total of £16.5 million, which will benefit the fishing and oil sectors.
The new jetty at Holmsgarth North will provide deeper berthing and more working area for the fishing fleet, while the outer arm of the L-shaped jetty will create a dock sheltering a planned new white fish market. The outer arm will also be suitable for berthing offshore industry vessels.
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European Parliament gives patronage to European Shipping Week
European Shipping Week has been granted the European Parliament’s official patronage by its President, Mr Martin Schultz. Both the European Commission and the European Parliament have now actively expressed their support for the week long event which will be held in Brussels from 2-6 March 2015.
Commenting on European Shipping Week, Mr Schultz said: “The aim of the initiative, namely to bring together the leading members of the shipping industry of the EU and give them an opportunity to meet, debate and share experiences is welcomed by the European Parliament. Inviting the members of the EU policymaking bodies and presenting to them the practical side of the shipping industry can only lead to a better mutual understanding and contribute to the promotion and competitiveness of European maritime transport.”
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