IMO publishes new IMDG Code (2008 Edition)

imo
A new edition of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, the standard guide to all aspects of handling dangerous goods and marine pollutants in sea transport, has been published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in hard copy, as a download and [...]


Pursuit of Pirates on Somali Territory Sought at UN

piracy
By Bill Varner
Dec. 10 (Bloomberg) — Pirates could be chased onto Somali territory under a proposal the U.S. wants the United Nations Security Council to endorse, diplomats said.
A draft resolution to authorize such action has been given to some member governments on the panel, and a vote may be sought as early as next week, [...]


EU initiative for the Gulf of Aden

cumberland
The European Union (EUNAVFOR ATALANTA) is initiating a ‘Close Support Protection’ system for vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden.
EUNAVFOR had requested all owners / operators requiring the close protection to register on the Maritime Security Centre - Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA) website: www.mschoa.org
Please see below the initial guidlines aa released by EUNAVFOR
[QUOTE]
INITIAL GUIDANCE TO THE [...]


Security upgrades set to make India�s ports even more costly

a-birdes-eye-view-of-containers
Bangalore: India’s relatively high-cost ports are likely to charge even more as the government takes steps to beef up security following the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
The government is planning to install equipment to scan cargo containers, set up a marine commando force, increase the number of security personnel and buy speedboats to help in search operations.
[...]


Terror on high seas, now a major worry for ship owners

Plummeting freight rates and shrinking cargo as a result of the global financial meltdown are not the only issues presently gnawing at shipping companies. The recent flare-up of terror on high seas, off the coast of Somalia, has become a sharper concern for ship owners.
Even after the Indian seafarers aboard Stolt Valor, which was hijacked [...]


Marine Safety Investigation Report - Final Man overboard fatality from the research survey ship Geosounder, 25 August 2007

geosounder
At about 0310 on 25 August 2007, while the research ship Geosounder was about 185 miles northeast of Cairns, Australia, en route from New Zealand to Singapore, an off-duty integrated rating (IR) who was skylarking on deck while under the influence of alcohol fell overboard. The crew immediately threw lifebuoys into the water, stopped the [...]


HELCOM report shows sharp decrease in ship collisions in the Baltic

helcom
While every year there are more and more ships plying the waters of the Baltic Sea, the occurrence of ship-to-ship collisions, one of the most serious types of accidents at sea, has decreased sharply since 2005, especially in such a busy traffic area like the Gulf of Finland, according to the latest HELCOM study. Analysis [...]


Once upon a time… there were new buildings

shipbuilding2
Long gone are the days when Greek ship owners were placing up to 10 new building orders for vessels every week, bringing the total orderbook of the leading maritime nation to over 1,100 ships. According to the latest reports the last couple of months (October and November) no new orders have been placed. The Baltic [...]


Regional shipping industry jobs still safe

operations-of-shipping-firms
Despite the current slowdown in the global shipping industry, which has impacted operations, regional shipping companies will continue to retain their staff, said senior industry players.
Major international shipping companies have already announced more than 3,000 job cuts in an effort to reduce costs in the wake of the increasing financial crisis that continues to adversely [...]


Major ports to get commando units

commando-units

Chennai/ Mumbai, Dec. 2 Major ports in the country will soon have their own elite marine commando units on the lines of the National Security Guard, as part of their initiative to beef up security in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks on Mumbai.
That the terrorists had landed in Mumbai by sea has all [...]