Global Navigation Solutions (GNS) has announced the launch of ''Hang Xing Zhe'', a world-leading chart updating service with software written in Simplified Chinese, specifically designed for the Chinese market.

USCG has issued bulletin to provide clarification about the five-year mandatory dockside safety exam that applies to many commercial fishing vessels (CFVs).

CMA CGM has announced its service upgrade in New Zealand by adding a new call in Wellington on its Panama Direct Line (PAD) service starting November 23rd. The PAD service offers a connection between Europe, the US East coast, Australia and New Zealand via the Panama Canal.

CCC.1/Circ.2 IMO has issued a circular approved by IMOs Sub-Committee on Carriage of Containers and Cargoes (CCC) meeting (14 to 18 September 2015) to advise masters when to accept cargo of bauxite.The cargo of bauxite was declared as a Group C cargo under the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code. However, the Sub-Committee noted the information in the Bahamas document CCC 2/5/16 that loss of the vessel may have been caused by liquefaction of the cargo.The Sub-Committee also considered proposals made by Australia and co-sponsors with respect to the properties of bauxite and the need for the cargoes material properties to be further examined in order to ensure that the cargo can be carried safely.The Sub-Committee concluded that:there is a need to raise awareness, despite the efforts to date made by the Member clubs of the International Group of P&I Clubs, of the possible dangers of liquefaction associated with carriage of bauxitethe potential for bauxite to liquefy is not specifically addressed in the IMSBC Code, since it is only classified as Group C cargo;if a Group A cargo is shipped with moisture content in excess of its transportable moisture limit (TML) there is a risk of cargo shift, which...

A total of 161 incidents reported in Asia during Jan- Sep 2015 ReCAAP ISC has issued report to provide an update on the status of maritime piracy during the first half of 2015 (January - September)According to the report, a total of 161 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships had been reported in Asia during January-September 2015. Of these, 11 were piracy incidents and 150 were armed robberies against ships. On a quarter-to-quarter comparison, there had been a 25% increase in the total number of incidents in 2015 compared to 2014 Number of incidents (January-September of 2011-2015)Of the 161 incidents, 11 were CAT 1 incidents, 21 were CAT 2 incidents, 26 were CAT 3 incidents, 92 were CAT 4 incidents, and 11 were attempted incidents. Compared to the same period in 2014, the bulk of the increase were CAT 1 incidents and CAT 4 incidents; while CAT 2 and CAT 3 incidents had fluctuated within the range of between 20-30 incidents over the last four years. Accounting for the bulk of the CAT 4 incidents were incidents on board ships while underway in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) which had reported a surge in numbers during...

The UK P&I Club has recently been dealing with claims involving DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains and Solubles) cargo.

The UK P&I Club has issued an updated towage guidance note designed for shipowners and their brokers to outline the P&I coverage of their ships during towage to a repair yard.

A electronic port community system to make all trading transactions paperless in Algerian ports based on the Dubai Trade portal was unveiled at a major seminar in Dubai on investment opportunities in the country.

The fourth European lifeboat crew exchange attracted members from 13 countries two more than last year who shared experience on how to help reduce the numbers of people losing their lives in Europes waters.

Container service reliability across the three main East-West trades reached a new data series high in September, rising by 6.5 percentage points over August to the new record of 79.9%, according to Carrier Performance Insight, the online schedule reliability tool provided by Drewry Supply Chain Advisors.