Posidonia 2012 , 4-8 June, Greece As persistent high oil prices and the burden of increased regulatory compliance have rendered energy management strategy development crucial for fleet owners worldwide, the shipping industry is on the verge of a new frontier where novel concepts and sophisticated approaches to ship design and performance verification methods emerge.The world's major ship building nations agree that a combination of a stubborn global recession and high fuel prices which affect global trade and impact newbuilding orders require innovative thinking, creative strategies and investments in R&D to create the foundations for a new generation of shipping infrastructure which will be more resilient to fluctuating heavy fuel prices and more adaptable to alternative forms of energy."Market conditions are not very good at the moment and there doesn't seem to be a quick-fix solution to the challenges facing the global shipping sector," said Oh-Yoon Kwon, General Manager of the International Cooperation Department for the Korean Shipbuilders' Association (KOSHIPA), which is represented at this year's Posidonia exhibition with eight of its nine members. First-time Posidonia exhibitor Dae Sun is one of Korea's ship yards which has felt the pinch from the reduced number of newbuilding orders from Greek shipowners.Greek or...

Enquiries regarding environmentally hazardous substances The BIMCO Marine Department has received someenquiries regarding mineral concentrates and metal sulphide concentrates in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code.The enquiries centered onwhether these cargoes are considered environmentally hazardous substances(EHS)and thus should be IMO-classed 9(i.e. miscellaneous hazardous substances that are not classifed elswhere in the IMDG Code) and havingUN 3077 listing.Operators should take note thatenvironmentally hazardous substances are currently not covered in the IMSBC Code for bulk materials and this has been brought to the attention to the relevant committees in the International Maritime Organzation. It was agreedthereatthat this matter needed further investigation.Operators shouldalso note that notwithstanding the above, there may be stricter requirements at the port of loading/discharg regarding the declaration of mineral concentrates and metal sulphide concentrates in terms of them being EHS.For instance, please see the marinenotice issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority imposing additionalrequirementsto be implemented for these cargoes in respect of their properties that may meet the criteria as EHS under UN 3077.Therefore, it would be prudent for operators toalways check beforehand, the requirements at the port of loading/discharge when shipping the above-mentioned cargoes so as to ensure that the additional requirements, if anyimposed by these...

Marine Ops Note 08/2010 - Marine Security Advisory 01/2011- MSC.1/Circ.1337 In response to piracy attacks that have occurred outside the previously defined pirate activity area, the Liberian Administration has revised the setting of MANDATORY SECURITY LEVEL II for all Liberian flagged vessels when transiting the Gulf of Aden and the High Risk Area (HRA) for piracy in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean., effective immediately.For further information, click here.Source: Republic of Liberia

Learn how to participate at Safety4Sea's new survey Welcome to our Energy Efficiency Survey !Energy Efficiency is considered a key issue for the industry at the moment.The momentum is critical. We have a set of measures adopted by IMO back on July 2011 due for implementation by 1/1/2013 and there is an ongoing debate at IMO/EU/UNFCCC level on the extend and details of a set of market based measures to be implemented.We would like you to share your thoughts with us and make your opinion to be heard loud and clear to within the industry. We feel that by enhancing communication between stakeholders in the market the progress towards sustainable shipping.We will have the survey up and running for the next months through:E-mailsFaxesDedicated Survey section at the Safety4Sea.comResult of the survey will be analysed and communicated/posted tosafety4sea.comAll industry round table associations for their review and perusal on completion of the surveyForthcoming Safety4Sea Forum, scheduled for March and October in AthensAppreciate to take less than five (5) minutes of your time to have your thoughts voiced over accordingly.You may participate to this survey by:Completing and returning subject questionnaire by Fax at +30 210 4520182Completing and returning subject questionnaire by e-mail Click...

NATO Shipping Center launches a Piracy Alert Map NATO Shipping Center has launched a new initiative on the NSC webpage. The so-called "Alert Map" will make the work of Masters and Company Security Officers (CSO) easier when they have to choose routes through the pirate infested waters. The "Alert Map" can be foundon the Operation Ocean Shield subpage, and on there will be posted the latest piracy relatedalerts, in co-operation with MSCHOA.This geographical presentation of the alerts makes it easier for shipowners, operators and charterers to get an overview of the situation in the Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin and NW Indian Ocean, asit will contain the latest week to 10 days of piracy activity, making it easier to see the hotspots on the map.The map reflects all piracy events dating back to and including 2008, and will be updated on normal work days; To see the latest updated version click here.Source: NATO Shipping Center

Enhance maritime security The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Abdulsalam Mohamed, has said that the Cargo Tracking Note scheme will help ensure transparency in the maritime industry. The NPA chief made the clarification on the newly introduced Cargo Tracking Note (CTN) scheme over the weekend. He said that the objective of government introducing the scheme was to enhance the security of the maritime industry.Mr. Mohammed said that maritime nations felt it was necessary to obtain advance information on cargoes as well as the vessels and the personnel conveying them."This is just like the international maritime community, which came up with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISDS) code after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack in the U.S," he said. "There is need to track and have adequate information relating to cargo and ship movements"He also stated that the scheme will foster better information exchange between maritime agencies of other countries and those in Nigeria. "NPA had been discussing with the Shipping Agents of Nigeria (SAN), NACCIMA, MAN and others which had confidence in the CTN scheme. The scheme had actually taken off on Jan. 11, 2010 but a little grace period was given till the...

New regulations aimed at improving the energy efficiency of international shipping entered into force on 1 January 2013. The amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) were adopted in July 2011.They add a new chapter 4 Regulations on energy efficiency for ships to MARPOL Annex VI, to make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. Other amendments to Annex VI add new definitions and the requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate.The regulations apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. However, under regulation 19, the Administration may waive the requirements for new ships up to a maximum of 4 years.The EEDI is a non-prescriptive, performance-based mechanism that leaves the choice of technologies to use in a specific ship design to the industry. As long as the required energy-efficiency level is attained, ship designers and builders would be free to use the most cost-efficient solutions for the ship to comply with the regulations.The SEEMP establishes a mechanism for operators to improve the energy efficiency of ships. Ships are required to keep...

Cooperation on verification of the green ships Earlier this month, Korea Finance Corporation has announced the green ship finance plan that incentives including a form of lower interest rates on loans will be provided to the ship owners who obtain the vessels designed to reduce emissions. In order to qualify for this financial incentives, the vessels must be built using technologies to reduce air pollutants (e.g. Nox, Sox., etc), CO2, or GHG."KoFC's Green Ship Program will be an encouraging strategy to bring Korean maritime industry closer to taking substantive actions toward reducing environment emissions and help expedite the development of environmentally friendly ships.It is also a golden opportunity for DNV to help Korean maritime industry players taking a step further into this green movement and support them on various green-technology issues," said Paal Johansen, Regional Manager for DNV in Korea & Japan.Korea Finance Corporation is the first financial organization in South Korea to run a ship finance program to boost the environmental friendly movement.KOFC (Korea Finance Corporation) Wholly owned by the Korean government, KoFC maintains and intensifies the role as an advanced policy-based finance institution. Korea Finance Corporation was established as a financial institutions for money brokerage and assist small...

Women's Forum to help bring more women into the industry The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has officially launched a Women's Forum conference component during the IAPH Mid-term Conference/Board Meeting in Jerusalem, Israel, last month. Prior to the official launch on May 23rd, IAPH Long Range Planning & Review Committee had extensively debated about how it could best facilitate a dialogue focused on networking and professional development of women in IAPH and across the global maritime industry where less than 10 women hold top port director positions. "This is a professional development and networking opportunity that everyone on the board felt very strongly about," said IAPH President and Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. "Many of the executive teams at IAPH member ports have talented female executives, and IAPH is an ideal organization to help facilitate dialogue opportunities among them. I think that's a strong initial step for an industry dominated by men." Convening in Jerusalem on May 22, the IAPH Board of Directors welcomed this initiative and fully endorsed the launch of a Women's Forum to help bring more women into the industry. The Board further authorized the Women's Forum to create a platform...

The kite will use wind power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs Cargill has signed an agreement with Greek ship owner/manager Anbros Maritime S.A. (Anbros) to install the world's largest kite on its Aghia Marina dry bulk cargo vessel. The Aghia Marina typically transports cargoes of agricultural and industrial raw materials.The 170 metre long carrier, built in 1994, has a service speed of up to 14 knots and can carry about 28,500 tonnes of dry bulk cargoes at any one time, making it the largest vessel to use the wind power technology created by SkySails GmbH (SkySails).Last February, Cargill announced it had signed a supply agreement with SkySails that aims to use wind power technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry. SkySails, based in Hamburg, has developed an innovative, patented technology that uses a kite which flies ahead of the vessel and generates enough propulsion to reduce consumption of bunker fuel by up to 35 percent in ideal sailing conditions."We are delighted to partner with Anbros and announce the Aghia Marina as the largest vessel to use the SkySails technology to date", said Roger Janson, head of Cargill's ocean transportation business. "As Cargill is one...