The ILO Maritime Labor Convention will enter into force on 20 August, 2013.The convention applies to all ships other than warships, naval auxiliaries, fishing vessels, vessels of traditional build such as dhows and junks and vessels operating solely in inland or sheltered waters…
The West African republic of São Tomé e Príncipe has wrongfully confiscated two ships chartered by the Swedish oil company Stena Oil, including the cargo. The captains have been sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and charged with 'smuggling' in a show trial…
The 'MV Albedo' sinks In rough seas after being held captive by Somali pirates for over two-and-a-half years.EU Naval Force confirms that the Malaysian flagged Motor Vessel MV Albedo, held by armed pirates at an anchorage close to the Somali Coast…
The Coast Guard has re-opened the Mississippi River above Head of Passes following clusure occasioned by a sunken tugboat.Survey operations are ongoing in an effort to locate the sunken 48-foot tug boat C-Pec between mile marker eight and Head of Passes…
In a contribution to the legal support of seafarers worldwide, SRI (Seafarers' Rights International) launched a Charter of Good Practice for the Provision of Legal Services to Seafarers. “For seafarers, seeking the advice of a lawyer can be one of the most stressful events of their career…
All vessels on the high seas should carry identification numbers and be trackable using satellite or other technology, says the Global Ocean Commission, an independent high-level initiative on the future of the ocean.Currently, passenger…
All shipowners and operators are advised of new speed and distance log requirements as followsSOLAS requires that speed and distance measuring devices are fitted on:1. cargo ships of 300 gt and over and passenger ships irrespective…
The California State Lands Commission's (SLC) report '2013 Assessment of the Efficacy, Availability, and Environmental Impacts of Ballast Water Treatment Systems for Use in California Waters' concludes that no shipboard ballast water treatment…
BIMCO believes that before governments can establish realistic targets for the reduction of CO2 as related to the shipping industry, governments must compile reliable data that supports such targets.In support of this undertaking, BIMCO will…
The Board of Pilot Commissioners for Harris County Ports is requesting public comments on proposed revisions to Section 9 Pilotage Charges of the Rules and Regulations Governing Pilots and Pilotage on the Houston Ship Channel between the Galveston Bar and Turning Basin…
Rotterdam-based law firm AKD says that creditors of ailing shipping groups such as STX Pan Ocean of South Korea, and TMT of Taiwan, could seek to take advantage of prevailing bankruptcy laws to enforce vessel arrests and other attachments in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) region…
The UK P&I Club’s Argentinian Correspondents have advised that the local Maritime Workers Union (SOMU) have issued a note stating that they will not allow the entrance of any vessel to the port of Ingeniero White (Bahia Blanca) that does not hold a valid ITF certificate on board…
The U.S. Navy has released the results of an investigation into the ex-USS Guardian grounding in Philippine waters on January 17, 2013.Characterizing the ex-Guardian's grounding on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea as a 'tragic mishap,' Adm…
ITF seafarers’section chair Dave Heindel points to lack of transparency and accountablility in the Flag-of-Convenience (FOC) system.Dave Heindel has echoed the Global Unions’ call to the G8 meeting to put fairness at the heart of their economies…
The recent IMO Symposium on the Future of Ship Safety recommends that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) carries out a full review of the existing regulatory regime, in order to meet future needs and expectations.Following two days…
