BIMCO advises members to check clauses as Asian gypsy moth season starts

Overview

The Asian gypsy moth (AGM) flight season is just around the corner. BIMCO advises its members to pay attention to the possible consequences of calling at ports where the AGM is indigenous or established.

** ASIAN GYPSY MOTH IS NOW KNOWN AS FLIGHTED SPONGY MOTH COMPLEX **

Not all countries have introduced the new name yet, but BIMCO has decided to standardise on Flighted Spongy Moth Complex, abbreviated to FSMC.

Members need to be aware if calling ports in the following countries:

  • Russian Far East
  • China
  • Republic of Korea/Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea
  • Japan
  • Vietnam

Please be aware the list only serves as a guidance, and therefore, confirmation or changes should be gathered from the port agent.<

AGM is subject to spread like a wildfire unless active efforts are made to contain the spread. If allowed, the AGM will spread to areas where it’s not indigenous and cause great damage to agriculture and forestry and associated commerce. Calling above mentioned ports in the high-risk season will make the vessel subject to inspection in other areas of the pacific region, notably:

  • Canada
  • USA
  • New Zealand
  • Australia
  • Chile

If the vessel is found to be infested by AGM, authorities can order the vessel out of territorial waters thereby affecting the revenue of the vessel.

Distribution

AGM is attracted to light, and as such the eggs will usually be found on parts of the vessel subject to lumination. The egg mass can easily be scraped off and destroyed using either alcohol, boiling water or incineration. After the eggs hatches, the larvae eats vegetation, primarily leaf, before entering the pupae stage for another 10-14 days. Finally, the moth stage will last 2-3 weeks, during which the only purpose is to mate and lay eggs. The male moth dies after mating, while the female dies after laying eggs.

Subject to the local climate, the final moth stage of AGM will be in the period from end May through September, according to the table below, supplied by the North American Plant Protection Organization:

Country Risk Area Specified Risk Period 
Russian Far East South of 60o North and west of 147o longitude (excluding those ports on the Kamchatka Peninsula) July 1 to September 30
China North of latitude of 31o 15' N June 1 to September 30
Republic of Korea In all areas June 1 to September 30
Japan – Northern In prefectures of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima July 1 to September 30
Japan –Western In prefectures of Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa June 25 to September 15
Japan – Eastern In prefectures of Fukui, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie June 20 to August 20
Japan – Southern In prefectures of Wakayama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Oita, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima June 1 to August 10
Japan – Far Southern In prefecture of Okinawa May 25 to June 30

Precautions

BIMCO encourages members to contact the organisation using marinfo@bimco.org for extended guidance on practical matters. For matters related to contracts and clauses please contact BIMCO Support and advise using advice@bimco.org.

If calling a port listed above during the AGM high-risk period, make sure to get a certificate documenting that the vessel is free of AGM by using one of the listed approved certifiers supplied by the United States Department of Agriculture:

Region of port Certifiers
Far East Russian ports Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation
Republic of Korea International Plant Quarantine Accreditation Board (IPAB)
China China Certification and Inspection Group, Ltd
Japan

All Nippon Checkers Corporation (ANCC)

Hokkaido Bouekikunjyo Co., LTD (HBKC)

Hokuriku Port Service Co., Ltd. (HPS)

Intertek Testing Services (Australia) Pty Limited (Pty Ltd)

Japan Cargo Tally Corporation (JCTC)

Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center Co., Ltd. (JEVIC)

Japan Grain Inspection Association (JGIA)

Kanto Fumigation Co., Ltd (KFCO)

Keiyochiku Plant Quarantine Association (KPQA)

Kobe Plant Quarantine Association (KOBEPQA)

Kyoritsu Sanitary Co., Ltd. (KRS)

Muroran & Tomakomai Plant Quarantine Association (MTPQA)

NAVREX & Corporation (NRX)

Nikkun Co., Ltd (NCL)

Nippon Kaiji Kentei Kyokai (NKKK)

Okayama-Ken Plant Quarantine Association (OKYPQA)

Osaka Plant Quarantine Association (OPQA)

Osaka Timber Quarantine Association (OSKTQA)

Shin Nihon Kentei Kyokai (SNKK)

Techno Kasei Co., Ltd. (TKL)

Tokai Plant Quarantine Association (TOKAIPQA)

Tokyo Plant Quarantine Association (TPQA)

Yokohama Plant Protection Association (YPPA

Please be aware that conditions may vary depending on the countries involved, and most often, the vessel will need a certificate if it has called at a high risk country during high risk season within the previous 24 months.

BIMCO AGM clause for time charter parties

BIMCO encourages its members to take any necessary steps to prevent the spread of AGM and other hitchhiker pest. If applicable, amend your contracts with relevant clauses placing the basic obligations and responsibilities of the owners and charterers in respect of the AGM. Click here for the BIMCO AGM clause.

 

Download RELATED Documents

Johan Conrad
in Copenhagen, DK

Coronavirus

Access BIMCO's COVID-19 related articles and advice.

Read more

 

Latest Related News

No related news was found

View All News
 

ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO

Contracts & Clauses

All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.

Learn about your cargo

For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.

More about cargo

BIMCO Publications

Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.