Safety
January 2021
RightShip and INTERCARGO announce important new quality standard for dry bulk sector to be governed by new NGO
RightShip and INTERCARGO have today announced the launch of an important new quality standard for the dry bulk sector, DryBMS. The standard will be governed by a new NGO to be established later this year and will support the improvement of safety in the dry bulk segment.
December 2020
IMO dedicates Human Rights’ Day to seafarers
In recognition of the extraordinary effort performed by seafarers during 2020, IMO is dedicating Human Rights’ Day 10 December to the distressed seafarers that keep the world’s trade afloat.
Crew changes and abandonment top busy IMO Legal Committee agenda
The Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed on a new item for its future work programme relating to fair treatment of seafarers detained on suspicion of committing maritime crimes. At the Committee’s meeting on 27 November and 1-2 December, it also agreed on the development of guidelines for flag and port state authorities regarding how to deal with seafarer abandonment cases.
Amendments to California’s Marine Invasive Species Program will come into force soon
California has amended regulation in section 2298.5 in Article 4.8 of Title 2, Division 3 of Chapter 1 of the California Code of Regulations. The regulatory changes become effective on 1 January 2021. It changes the way ships should submit information through the Marine Invasive Species Program Annual Vessel Reporting Form.
November 2020
Maritime Labour Convention 2018 Amendments enter into force next month!
The 2018 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, as amended ( MLC,2006) will enter into force on 26 December 2020. BIMCO advises on what these amendments are and how shipowners/ managers/ operators can achieve compliance accordingly.
US to impose tough Port State Control measures on Cyber risk management
United States requires all ships, U.S. flagged ships and foreign flagged ships that call on ports in the U.S, to ensure cyber risk management is appropriately addressed in their safety management system by the company's first annual verification of the Document of compliance after January 1, 2021. Failure to this requirement may result in detention of ship in US port.
IMO adopts new requirements focusing on the safety while mooring
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has held its latest Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting (MSC102), virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, during which it adopted a number of mandatory requirements, including one relating to mooring and safety.
IMO makes renewed pledge for seafarers to get key worker status
Border closures and national restrictions following the Covid-19 pandemic have left hundreds of thousands of seafarers trapped on board ships, or unable to join ships. At meetings at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) starting on 16 November, the IMO is once again pledging Governments to designate seafarers as key workers.
October 2020
European Commission reacts to industry’s concern about IHM compliance
The European Commission (EC) has listened and reacted to industry’s concern about adhering to the upcoming deadline on 31 December 2020 for the European Union’s Ship Recycling Regulations (EUSRR) inventory of hazardous materials (IHM) owing to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new EC guidelines give shipowners a limited but welcome respite by applying a harmonised approach for a period of 6 months after the entry into application of the IHM obligations.
September 2020
BIMCO to push for international guidelines for ship/shore communication at IMO
Standardising and harmonising electronic ship/shore communication for reporting purposes is high on the agenda at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) virtual Facilitation Committee (FAL) meeting next week (FAL 44).
