Somali pirates release Greek ship
capt-stefanos
The East Africa Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) issued a statement today confirming that the bulk carrier CAPT. STEFANOS (sometimes spelled CAPT STEPHANOS) was released by its hijackers yesterday.
The vessel was captured by Somali pirates in September along with her crew of 19 in the Gulf of Aden.
“The Greek ship-owner’s company Chartworld Shipping Corporation (Athens) finally [...]
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 [...]
Shipping slowdown expected to cut deployment of seafarers
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“For seafarers, they [IMO] can see a little bit [of a downturn] in the first quarter, but they would recover in the third quarter,” Labor Secretary Marianito D. Roque told reporters at the sidelines of the department’s 75th year anniversary exhibit opening, without giving estimates. United Filipino Seafarers president Nelson P. Ramirez said in a [...]
CMA CGM sets up High Risk Bonus for seafarers transiting through the Gulf of Aden
cmacgm
In light of the increase in piracy in the Gulf of Aden and as a member of IMEC*, CMA CGM Group confirms its decision to set up a High Risk Bonus for its officers and crews.
When transiting through this dangerous region, seafarers will receive extra pay equal to 100% of their basic wage.
65 CMA [...]
ITF: New piracy high risk area agreed
itf
Maritime unions and shipowners have reached an agreement to extend the piracy high risk area to cover the entire Gulf of Aden. The designated high risk area previously only covered part of the Gulf of Aden. Members of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), reached the agreement following a full meeting of the negotiating body in [...]
New inspection regime to start on 1 January 2009
dnv
Norway is enforcing International Labour Organisation Convention No. 178 - the Labour Inspection (Seafarers) Convention. DNV will conduct these inspections in accordance with requirements set by the Norwegian flag authority.
The Norwegian flag authority, represented by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD), has directed all its recognised organisations to start inspecting ships as from the beginning of [...]
IBF Extends “High Risk Area” In The Gulf
itf
Following a full meeting of the IBF in Hong Kong on Friday 21 November and subsequent correspondence, the International Bargaining Forum have agreed to extend the “high risk area” to cover the entire Gulf of Aden*, backdated to 21 November at midnight. The expansion has been agreed because of the number of attacks which had [...]
Shipping industry urges EU governments to take up arms against Somali pirates
pirates
Abdul Hassan, chief of the pirate group called the ‘Central Regional Coastguard’, carries a rocket-propelled grenade on to a boat with some of his crew. Photograph: Veronique de Viguerie/Getty Images
European shipowners are urging their governments to wage war on Somali pirates and seize vessels by force, the Guardian has learned, amid growing fear that shippers [...]
IMO chief makes direct appeal to Security Council for Somalia piracy action
mitropoulos
IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos has issued a call at the highest level for a coordinated and cohesive response, both internationally and nationally, to combat the scourge of piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Yesterday (20 November), in a personal briefing to the UN Security Council in [...]
“Go to sea!” campaign launched at IMO to attract entrants to the shipping industry
imo
A campaign to address the global shortage of seafarers, especially officers, which threatens the very future of the international shipping industry, has been launched by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in association with the International Labour Organization, the “Round Table” of shipping [...]
