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UN condemns Somali pirates

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The type of skiff used by Somali pirates. Photo: UNODC
The type of skiff used by Somali pirates. Photo: UNODC

The United Nations Security Council today reaffirmed its condemnation of all acts of Somali pirates and all piracy and robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, reiterating its calls for the international community to intensify their efforts in fighting what it said was a threat to the East African country’s stability.

Adopting a new resolution, the Council stressed the need for UN Member States to engage in a “comprehensive response to repress piracy” and tackle its underlying causes, while also calling on the global community to “take part in the fight against piracy and armed robbery” by providing a consistent military presence to the region.

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Southampton Port is set to berth the world’s biggest ships

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Southampton Port is ready to handle the world's largest ships
Southampton Port is ready to handle the world’s largest ships

Associated British Ports‘ Southampton Port is ready to handle the biggest ships in the world today and long into the future after a £40 million dredging project.

Dredgers have completed a programme of capital dredging to deepen and widen the approach channel linking international shipping lanes to the Port.

The work ensures ships with a draught of up to 15.5m – the biggest container vessels currently in service – will be able to access the container terminal at Southampton Port.

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American Bureau of Shipping approves cylindrical FLNG unit design

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The American Bureau of Shipping has granted approval in principle for the Sevan cylindrical floating LNG production unit concept
The American Bureau of Shipping has granted approval in principle for the Sevan cylindrical floating LNG production unit concept

Now here’s a new concept for marine surveyors to consider and ponder. The American Bureau of Shipping, the leading provider of classification services to the global offshore industry, has granted approval in principle for the Sevan cylindrical floating LNG (FLNG) production unit concept for offshore production, storage and transfer of LNG, LPG and condensate. The next generation FLNG design concept is based on the proven circular and geostationary Sevan FPSO design, which is being used in the Norwegian and Central UK North Sea and offshore Brazil and is under construction as the first application of an FPSO unit to be installed in the Barents Sea.

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Captain of the Sewol jailed for 36 years

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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.

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Vancouver Shipyards finishes $170M modernisation project

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Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has completed its two year modernisation project ahead of schedule
Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has completed its two year modernisation project ahead of schedule

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

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European maritime surveillance network reaches operational status
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

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Enclosed space entry drills become mandatory from January 2015
Enclosed space entry drills become mandatory 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

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cordstrapIIMS 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.

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Small tanker pirate attacks rise in SE Asia says IMB report

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Small tanker pirate attacks are rising in southeast Asia
Small tanker pirate attacks are rising in southeast Asia

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

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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

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Bristow is set to operate the UK coastguard search and rescue helicopter programme
Bristow is set to operate the UK 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

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Burgess Marine has partnered with Shoreham Port to revive south coast dry dock
Burgess Marine has partnered with Shoreham Port 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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