News Digest 25-Apr-2022

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Following Stories compiled in this News Digest for the week from 17 Apr 2022 to 24 Apr 2022 in descending order:

• Indian Coast Guard gets auxiliary barge to boost logistics support for ships
• India welcomes UK joining Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative under maritime security pillar
• Adani Ports gains on acquiring Indias largest marine services company
• Cyprus fast-tracks bank accounts for seafarers
• Historic Harland and Wolff Secure Modern Contracts
• Indian cruise market can grow 10-times over next decade: Sonowal
• Hydrogen-Powered Ferry Set to Launch in San Francisco Bay
• Is Somali piracy finally under control?
• India presses for regional contingency plan for oil spills, tests nat’l response off Goa
• Mines and wrecks leave 500 seafarers and 84 ships stranded at Ukraine ports
• Attack on seafarers a ’war crime’ – Human Rights at Sea
• Ukraine war and China outbreak are impacting crew change
• High Speed Sailing Transforms Crew Transfers
• Belgian shipowners reunite Ukrainian seafarers with their families
• Ukraine crisis:: Columbia Shipmanagement acts to help traumatized Ukrainian seafarers and families
• Indian Coast Guard Conducts Course On Oil Spill For 17 Countries
• Gujarat Maritime University And VMSCL Introduce Online Course On Maritime Law
• Ever Forward Containership Freed By Salvage Team
• Marine License Insurance: Do You Need It?

 

Indian Coast Guard gets auxiliary barge to boost logistics support for ships

24 Apr 2022
The Indian Coast Guard Ship (Auxiliary Barge) named Urja Pravaha has been inducted into the Indian Coast Guard at Gujarat’s Bharuch.

Auxiliary Barge Urja Pravaha arrived in Kochi on Friday and will be under the operational command of Coast Guard District Headquarters-4 (Kerala and Mahe), in addition to auxiliary barge Urja Shrota, which was based here since 2017, a press release of the Indian Coast Guard said.

Urja Prabha is 36.96 meter long with draft of 1.85 meters . It is designed to cargo ship fuel, aviation fuel and fresh water with a capacity of 50 tons, 10 tons and 40 tons respectively. The barge will enhance the Indian Coast Guard operations by extending logistics support to ICG ships deployed in sea at far flung areas for various charter of duties.

The Auxiliary Barge Urja Pravaha is 36 meters long and is designed to carry cargo ship Fuel, aviation Fuel and fresh water.

“The induction of ship to the Indian Coast Guard at Kochi will definitely optimise the Indian Coast Guard’s operational capability at sea,” the release read.

As per the release, the ship will enhance the desired logistics support for ships deployed at far-flung areas in the Maritime Operational area including EEZ and Lakshadweep/ Minicoy islands. Reference

 

India welcomes UK joining Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative under maritime security pillar

23 Apr 2022
PM Modi and the British PM Boris Johnson participated in delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, after which Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said, ‘India welcomes the UK joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative under the maritime security pillar & agreed to cooperate closely in this region towards their shared commitment for maintaining an open, free and secure Indo-Pacific region.’

PM Modi and the British PM Boris Johnson witnessed the exchange of agreements between India and the United Kingdom. The two leaders later held a joint press meeting after the discussions.

Both the leaders also discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. PM Modi expressed deep concern over the situation & mounting humanitarian crisis. ‘PM reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence & conveyed strong advocacy for a peaceful resolution of the situation’, according to Foreign Secretary.

The discussions on the ongoing FTA negotiations also held between two countries. Both sides agreed to the corporation on energy, green hydrogen, trade, defense, added Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan. Reference

 

Adani Ports gains on acquiring Indias largest marine services company

23 Apr 2022
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone rose 3.76% to Rs 882 after the company announced the acquisition of Ocean Sparkle, India’s largest third-party marine services provider.

The company through its subsidiary, The Adani Harbour Services (TAHSL), has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition of 100% stake in Ocean Sparkle (OSL).

Ocean Sparkle is engaged in the business of port operations and marine services. The company was established in 1995 by a group of marine technocrats with P Jairaj Kumar as the chairman and MD, who will continue as the chairman of the OSL board.

Key activities carried by OSL include towage, pilotage, and dredging services. It has an asset base of 94 owned vessels and 13 third-party-owned vessels. The company’s consolidated revenue for FY 2020-21 was Rs 622.10 crore.

OSL has long-standing relationships with its existing clients, with contracts ranging from 5 to 20 years (the average length of contracts is approximately 7 years). Further, the contracts are on a take-or-pay basis, thereby providing robustness to OSL’s business model.

The company has a presence in all the major ports, 15 minor ports, and all the 3 LNG terminals in India. It has significant experience in global maritime servicing through its operations in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Yemen, and Africa.

OSL has been valued at an enterprise value of Rs 1,700 crore with Rs 300 crore of free cash in the company. Reference

 

Cyprus fast-tracks bank accounts for seafarers

23 Apr 2022
As port sanctions were implemented on Russian vessels in the EU, Cyprus offers some hope of normalcy to Ukrainian and Russian seafarers who might have seen their bank accounts frozen.

With nearly 14.5% of the global shipping workforce being Russians and Ukrainians, Cyprus is fast-tracking the process for seafarers affected by the war in Ukraine to open accounts, access their salaries and pay bills, which were hindered after Russia’s invasion triggered sanctions on banks.

The EU association of shipowners, ECSA, also highlighted the importance of seafarers amid the Ukraine crisis, urging authorities to guarantee their mobility and rights as essential workers.

“Seafarers are key workers and are at the heart of Europe’s economy.

“They have worked tirelessly to deliver our goods and have made extraordinary sacrifices to keep our economy going in the past two years of the pandemic,” said ECSA President Philippos Philis.

Last month, the International Chamber of Shipping said: “Seafarers must be able to join and disembark ships (crew change) freely across the world.

The Shipping Deputy Ministry issued a circular to shipping companies operating under the Cyprus flag that three brick and mortar banks and two electronic money institutions (EMIs) have responded favourably to a request from the Central Bank of Cyprus to fast-track opening of accounts and secure international IBANs.

“The aim is to assist Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarus seafarers on board Cyprus-flag vessels to receive the salaries, make immediate payments to families and utilities back home, and secure an internationally recognised debit card,” Deputy Minister Vassilis Demetriades told the Financial Mirror.

Under the arrangement, the Bank of Cyprus, Hellenic Bank and Eurobank will require a copy of a passport verified by the employer or some form of digital identification. Reference

 

Historic Harland and Wolff Secure Modern Contracts

23 Apr 2022
Harland and Wolff, based out of Belfast, known for building the famed starliner TITANIC, has secured a dry-docking contract for two vessels belonging to two subsidiaries of Carnival Corp. The Cunard’s QUEEN VICTORIA and P&O cruises’ AURORA will stay at the shipyard for 33 days undergoing repairs.

This dry-docking work will be the first that the shipyard has received in over 20 years. Cunard’s QUEEN VICTORIA will be the largest ship dry-docked in a UK shipyard, and P&O cruises’ AURORA will be the first ship ever to dry dock in Belfast. Repair and maintenance of vessels are meant to sustain the yard in between substantial new build contracts. These will also be an excellent opportunity for the yard to demonstrate their expertise and skills to the industry, which will help acquire future agreements.

Harland and Wolff were bought out of bankruptcy by the infrastructure investment firm “InfraStrata” in 2019 for 6 million pounds. The yard intends to diversify as the new business turnaround strategy in various sectors. Reference

 

Indian cruise market can grow 10-times over next decade: Sonowal

22 Apr 2022
The Indian cruise market has the potential to grow by 10-times over the next decade, driven by rising demand and disposable incomes, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.

He also said the iconic sea-cruise terminal coming up at BPX Indira Dock Mumbai International Cruise Terminal is expected to be commissioned by 2024.

Addressing virtually a media conference, Sonowal, who is the minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on the first two-day Incredible India International Cruise Conference, to be held in the financial capital from May 14, also said that India is gearing up to be a magnificent cruise destination and capture the growing market.

“Indian cruise market has the potential to grow by ten times over the next decade”, he said adding, “the flagship Sagarmala initiative by PM Narendra Modi is connecting the ports of Chennai, Vizag and Andaman with Goa, which receive maximum tourists”.

Cruise tourism is recognised as the fastest-growing segment in the leisure industry. In addition, the government categorizes cruise tourism as a niche tourism product.

He said the iconic sea-cruise terminal coming up at BPX Indira Dock Mumbai International Cruise Terminal is expected to be commissioned by 2024, which is one of the next steps forward.

The terminal will have a capacity of handling 200 ships and a million passengers per annum. The project cost is Rs 490 crores, out of which Rs 303 crores will be incurred by Mumbai Port Authority and the remaining will be borne by private operators, he stated. Reference

 

Hydrogen-Powered Ferry Set to Launch in San Francisco Bay

22 Apr 2022
The San Francisco Bay will soon have a new fossil fuel-free ferry floating in its waters, propelled completely by hydrogen fuel cells, and officials hope it heralds change on the high seas.

Aptly named Sea Change, the 70-foot (21-meter), 75-passenger ferry will service multiple stops along San Francisco’s waterfront. It was built at All American Marine shipyard in Bellingham, Washington, and was undergoing tests with the U.S. Coast Guard in nearby Puget Sound.

“We’re here in the water, under hydrogen fuel cell power and it’s the first commercial vessel in the world that’s got that propulsion system,” said Pace Ralli, chief executive of Switch Maritime, standing on the bow of the ferry in Bellingham Bay.

Sea Change marks another industry exploring fuel cells as clean-energy cars, trucks, trains and pleasure boats are being developed.

Advocates assert hydrogen fuel cells are cleaner than other carbon-cutting methods as they only emit water and heat, but the high cost and bulky fuel cell systems have limited the use of the technology.

Ralli conceived the idea for the fuel cell-powered ferry while living in New York City, trying to find ways to decarbonize the maritime industry.

As companies move toward a zero-emission world, the desire to hit their sustainability targets has risen.

The International Maritime Organization’s Greenhouse Gas Study conducted in 2020 states that greenhouse gas emissions including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased from 977 million tonnes in 2012 to 1,076 million tonnes in 2018, a 9.6% increase in six years. Reference

 

Is Somali piracy finally under control?

22 Apr 2022
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has long captivated the attention of the media and governments. But the expiry of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) counter-piracy Resolution 2608 on 31 March attracted little publicity. It is the first time since 2008 that the UNSC has not renewed the region’s piracy resolution.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea gives coastal states extensive rights and security responsibilities over their territorial seas — a zone extending 12 nautical miles from the coastline. In Somalia’s case though, the government and navy were until recently practically non-existent, following the collapse of the state in 1991. Even so, international naval forces had to respect Somalia’s territorial waters.

The problem of pirates using this zone as a refuge and the 12 nautical mile boundary as a barrier needed addressing. Somalia’s government increasingly insisted that the UNSC’s resolutions had achieved their primary objective of suppressing piracy and need not be renewed.

First, the country has made progress in taking responsibility for its own security, both offshore and onshore. In August 2021, Somalia’s Maritime Directorate began revising its maritime resource and security strategy. Second, no successful hijacking has been reported since March 2017, and both attempts and attacks have declined sharply since 2013.

Observers such as the International Maritime Bureau suggest these remain insufficient reasons to let the UNSC resolution lapse, urging caution and pointing out that doing so might encourage piracy. Terrorism is worsening, as is the country’s political crisis. It, therefore, seems unlikely that, in this context, Somalia’s ability to provide maritime security will rapidly improve.

Changes brought on by the lapsing of the UNSC resolution will make it difficult for foreign countries to use counter-piracy to explain their military presence in the region. Reference

 

India presses for regional contingency plan for oil spills, tests nat’l response off Goa

21 Apr 2022
Given the large number of vessels transiting the Indian Ocean Region with oil and hazardous chemicals, the Indian Coast Guard on Wednesday urged friendly nations to consider a regional oil spill contingency plan along the lines of India’s National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP).

Director general of the Indian Coast Guard, V S Pathania said that any oil spill in Indian waters or neighbouring countries will affect all the nations.

“If there is an oil spill in a neighbouring country, it will spill onto you also because of shared waters and shared borders. That is why we are talking about a regional contingency plan and it is important to have it too,” said Pathania.

He was speaking during the eight edition of the National Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) that was conducted off Mormugao. In the simulated exercise an oil tanker simulated a fire on board because of which the crew had to be rescued and oil spill contained. The exercise aims to validate the procedures and guidelines of NOS-DCP, improve the plans and to evaluate preparedness of the other agencies.

During the sea exercise, 13 ships and 10 aircraft from the Indian Coast Guard and a C-130 aircraft from the Indian Air Force and ships from Sri Lankan Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard and other agencies participated. The event was attended by more than 85 participants from 50 agencies, which included 29 foreign observers from 22 friendly countries. Reference

 

Mines and wrecks leave 500 seafarers and 84 ships stranded at Ukraine ports

21 Apr 2022
More than 500 crew members remain trapped in Ukrainian ports following the Russian invasion, according to latest figures from the International Maritime Organization .

Speaking at the opening of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting, secretary general Kitack Lim admitted that plans to establish a Blue Safe Maritime Corridor for ships trapped by the war have failed to get off the ground.

He said that although Russia had agreed to establish a safe passage for ships outside Ukraine waters mines and sunken wrecks are keeping ships and their crew trapped in the region.

“Sea mines have been laid in port approaches and some port exits are blocked by sunken barges and cranes. Many ships no longer have sufficient crew onboard to sail,” Lim told the MSC meeting.

Ukraine is demanding an end to the war, and the withdrawal of Russian troops, before it will guarantee safe passage from its Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports.

The secretary general’s special advisor on maritime security, Peter Adams, said there were 2,000 seafarers stranded on 94 vessels in Ukrainian ports at the outbreak of conflict.

The numbers have now reduced to 84 merchant ships and 500 seafarers, with an estimated 1,500 seafarers making it back home.

Adams said in many cases local ship keepers have been put in place after crews returned home. Some ships have been put into cold lay-up, with no crew members remaining onboard.

The IMO’s Lim, and the director general of the International Labour Organization, have jointly written to the heads of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Medecins Sans Frontieres and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. They have requested urgent assistance to send vital provisions to the stranded ships. Reference

 

Attack on seafarers a ’war crime’ – Human Rights at Sea

20 Apr 2022
WAR crimes against seafarers and neutral merchant vessels warrant accountability, the international non-governmental group Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) said.

Six weeks into the war between Russia and Ukraine, the intensity of the conflict shows no chance of de-escalation and seafarers remain in the firing line, HRAS said.

“The number of civilian deaths is rising exponentially day by day, as do incidents of indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure,” it said.

HRAS added that many are still trapped in the war zone. “There are still over 1,000 seafarers stranded in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov on board foreign-flagged vessels with low levels of provisions, lack of drinking water and medical supplies.”As reported, an estimated 100 foreign-flagged vessels were caught in the direct line of hostilities amid an imposed Russian blockade and reported sea mines, with limited prospects for evacuation.

Since the war started, and from available information, a seafarer has died of a missile attack. Russian armed forces have reportedly targeted merchant ships, and this week, a foreign-flagged vessel sank after being heavily and indiscriminately attacked by a missile.

According to HRAS, this is only the information reported and verified to date. The true scale of the war’s impact on seafarers and shipping will only be measured once the conflict ends. Reference

 

Ukraine war and China outbreak are impacting crew change

20 Apr 2022
THE latest data from the Neptune Declaration Crew Change Indicator suggests the number of seafarers working beyond the expiry of their contracts has dipped since last month.

Figures dropped slightly from 5% in March to 4.2% in April, which is the first decrease recorded since December last year.

However, Global Maritime Forum managing director and head of institutional strategy and development Kasper Søgaard said crew changes are being affected by the Ukraine conflict and the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

“The April indicator shows some positive news with a slight decrease, after several months of increasing numbers and fears of a re-escalation of the crew change crisis,” Mr Søgaard said.

“Nonetheless, the conflict in Ukraine and the recent Chinese infection spike are having impacts on crew changes.”

The Neptune Indicator also suggests the number of seafarers working onboard vessels beyond the maximum 11-month period has remained stable since last month, at 0.4%.

It has been reported that shipowners are facing operational challenges and costs in the repatriation of seafarers.

At the same time, crew demand is reportedly shifting to Asia as sanctions and port restrictions stem from the conflict in Ukraine. Reference

 

High Speed Sailing Transforms Crew Transfers

20 Apr 2022
New modes of fast, reliable and efficient transport for offshore crew and provisions promise to boost offshore energy operations. These vessels sail at high speed in the roughest conditions, and they are able to provide safe and easy transfer from ship to offshore structures, offering crew welfare and comfort at increased passenger capacity.

The range of Fast Crew Suppliers (FCS) from Damen Shipyards offers crew transfer vessels that are able to sail at speeds up to 40 knots and conquer waves at significant wave heights up to three meters, which are typical North Sea conditions on windy days. It is the Axe Bow that enables the largest crew supply vessel to date, the FCS 7011, to power up the waterjets to reach such impressive speed in waves. Likewise, the twin axe bow design of the FCS 2710 ensures seaworthiness at speed in rough conditions. Both vessels are purpose-built to offer very comfortable crew transport at impressively modest fuel consumption and emissions.

Currently the FCS 7011 is finalizing crew change trials on the North Sea. This final testing is to demonstrate the proof of concept of the 122-passenger vessel, following extensive sea trials and testing of the onboard Ampelmann stabilized gangway.

The fast monohull FCS 7011, with a length overall of 73.6 meters and a beam of 11.2 meters, is built in aluminum to reduce weight. The axe bow greatly reduces slamming and pitching. The slender hull tends to roll when the boat is stopped or sails slowly, but the biggest gyro stabilizer in the world reduces rolling at zero speed down to 10 per cent of the motions that would occur without stabilization.

The twin axe bow FCS 2710 is a catamaran that offers capabilities that fit offshore supply at a slightly smaller scale, and it has attracted keen industry appeal. In particular, the offshore wind industry embraces the possibilities offered by this vessel. Also on this vessel, the axe bow design enables fast sailing on rough seas. As with any catamaran, the hull offers good stability.

Damen is set to revolutionize the offshore crew transfer market with their fleet of fast and efficient vessels. Reference

 

Belgian shipowners reunite Ukrainian seafarers with their families

20 Apr 2022
Currently around a dozen people are staying at the shelter that is in a building in the Antwerp district of Hoboken. However, KBRV expects many more families to come to the shelter soon. As a result of war in their home country Ukrainian seafarers are not always able to return there after they have completed a mission on the ocean waves.

The was an obvious need for a shelter to provide them with accommodation while they are on land. The Belgian shipping companies that employ them can now bring them to the shelter in Hoboken where they can enjoy some quality down time with their families. Some sailors’ families have flown to Belgium specially to be reunited with their seafaring relative at the Hoboken shelter.

The owner of the building made it available free of charge. Numerous volunteers helped convert the building from a bland office block to a welcoming location for the seafarers and their families.

KBRV’s Hilde Peeters told the press agency Belga that “The first families that arrived were exhausted. A few days later their batteries had been fully recharged. The children ran towards us with open arms. It was lovely”.

The Ukrainian sailors and their families can stay at the shelter free of charge and will be able to do so until at least the end of the year. Reference

 

Ukraine crisis: Columbia Shipmanagement acts to help traumatized Ukrainian seafarers and families

20 Apr 2022
Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM), together with its owning company and its clients, have raised over $1.5 million and assembled a team of 320 psychologists, mostly from Ukraine, to aid traumatized families of seafarers who have been impacted by the war in Ukraine.

The package of measures, financed by the newly set-up Columbia and Clients Charitable Fund, will help to provide accommodations, as well as professional psychological support, to traumatized seafarers and their families at designated “Columbia Sanctuaries” in Poland and Romania.

Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS), providers of professional mental health support to the maritime sector, has drawn together the team of 320 psychologists which will be on hand to assist seafarer families suffering from the effects of the war in Ukraine.

Columbia Shipmanagement has taken over a hotel in Romania and two villas in Poland. These will act as safe harbors for families waiting to go through the visa and immigration process. The families are welcome to stay for up to six months while their applications are processed.

“My only requisite was that the accommodations had security guards on the doors to protect the women and children coming in,” said Mark O’Neil, president and CEO of Columbia Shipmanagement. “We have set up these sanctuaries for six months, all fully paid for, and the families will receive food, accommodation and clothing. Then, via the work of MHSS, we are also able to provide the necessary psychological support.

“I have said from the start, it is all about the victims of the conflict, whether they are Ukrainian, Russian, Georgian or Filipino, it doesn’t matter. They are the victims. And when we set up the Columbia and Clients Charitable Fund, Schoeller Holding, our shareholder, and CSM each put in $500,000. Some of our clients and staff contributed to the extent that we now have upwards of $1.3 million to $1.4 million in the fund. The guiding principle was that the fund should not be bureaucratic as we wanted to put cash in the hands of those who needed cash without having to constantly reconcile the money.”

As part of its initiative to help traumatized seafarers, CSM has also set up four rendezvous points, one in Russia, one in Ukraine, one in Poland and one in Romania for any families that may need food, clothing or accommodations. Reference

 

Indian Coast Guard Conducts Course On Oil Spill For 17 Countries

19 Apr 2022
A course on oil spill conducted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for 17 friendly foreign countries commenced here on Monday.

According to an official release, ICG is conducting the International Maritime Organisation level-I & II course for 17 friendly foreign countries including Iran, Thailand, Somalia, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

It said 42 delegates from various maritime agencies of respective countries are participating in the course.

“The aim of the course has been drawn up in line with the vision of the government of India to enhance capacity-building in the Indian Ocean Region, Indo-Pacific and Gulf of Guinea countries and littoral countries. The participation is encouraging and will enhance professional acumen, awareness, co-ordination and co-operation among the countries in the field of environmental protection,” it said.

The participants, during the course, would be taught theoretical aspects of oil spill response techniques and practical live demo of response methods, shoreline cleanup techniques and air surveillance procedures. Reference

 

Gujarat Maritime University And VMSCL Introduce Online Course On Maritime Law

19 Apr 2022
Gujarat Maritime University, in association with V. M. Salgaocar College of Law (VMSCL) is Organising a 2 Weeks Online Certificate Training Programme (30 Hours) on International Maritime and Trade Law.

The course will make the participants aware of the legal framework governing the maritime sector. It will equip participants with knowledge of contemporary and advanced issues related to the maritime industry. The training course would be ideal for students and professionals aiming to specialise in the shipping and maritime domain.

Twelve-day Training Program aims to cover a wide range of areas related to maritime Law, including Shipping Contracts, Marine Environment, Marine Labour Law, and Admiralty Law. Whereas the trade law concerns itself with the modules such as the World Trade Organisation, Investment Law and Trade Law, among others, to regulate and facilitate the trade and commerce among the world. This trade facilitation among the international community of states is essential and a pre-condition for a thriving maritime industry. This training programme is designed to introduce the maritime sector in its entirety to our audience.

Interested participants can visit www.vmslaw.edu.in for registration. Reference

 

Ever Forward Containership Freed By Salvage Team

18 Apr 2022
After weeks of heavy salvage work in the Chesapeake Bay, the massive continership Ever Forward is free and underway.

The 334-meter-long Ever Forward has been stuck in the mud since March 13th after straying from the Craighill shipping channel as it departed the Port of Baltimore for Norfolk, Virginia, with a pilot on board.

Just before 7 am on Easter Sunday, two anchor barges and five large tugboats pulled the ship astern and sideways until she was dislodged. The salvage crews recieved help from a full moon and a spring tide to release the ship that had been stuck for more than a month.

Having exhausted all salvage options, authorities took a costly last resort on April 9 and began removing containers from the ship. Salvage professionals rappelled up and down towering stacks of containers for 12 hours a day for the last week uncoupling containers from the ship and hooking them to cranes. This operation removed weight from the ship allowing it to lift free during the spring tide.

Experts still don’t know if the grounding was caused by human error or mechanical failure but the US Coast Guard has inspected the ship and recovered the ships Voyage Data Recorder (Black Box). Reference

 

Marine License Insurance: Do You Need It?

18 Apr 2022
Imagine working aboard a vessel and, suddenly, you’re involved in a maritime accident that triggers a Coast Guard investigation. In the blink of an eye, your career and USCG license are in serious jeopardy. Every year, this scenario is a reality for professional mariners throughout the U.S. Fortunately, marine license insurance can change that.

Marine license insurance is a pre-paid legal defense insurance policy that provides policyholders with legal representation by a local maritime attorney in the event of a covered shipping casualty or incident. This coverage is designed specifically to protect the licenses and livelihoods of professional mariners, such as U.S. Coast Guard-licensed deck and engineering officers, certified tankermen, as well as state and federal pilots, operating aboard vessels of any size in every sector of the industry.

Typically, the types of events covered by license insurance are shipping casualties and incidents triggering a Coast Guard investigation. These investigations can result in negligence charges against involved officers who can face suspension or revocation of their license(s). These casualties include, but are not limited to: accidental strandings, sinkings, fires/explosions, collisions, allisions, oil product spills, groundings, heavy weather damage, and wake damage.

Without license insurance coverage, an affected mariner could pay upwards of $300 per hour for legal counsel for the duration of the case. This can amount to tens of thousands of dollars.

However, if the mariner has his/her own license insurance or employer-provided license insurance, the total annual premium for coverage is typically less than two or three hours of legal fees, and the policy provides fully-paid defense from onset of the incident to the conclusion of the case. Reference

Note: All above news items compiled in this digest should be considered as news in brief. For detailed news, please refer to reference link, mentioned with each item.

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