Wilton Park published its report on “Human Rights Law at Sea,” discussing the key themes of discussion, problems identified, and recommendations for possible ways forward concerning human rights protections at sea. The Wilton Park “Human Rights Law at Sea” Conference, organized in partnership with Human Rights at Sea Advisory Board member Sir Malcolm Evans KCMG, OBE, FLSW, was initiated as a…
Global Maritime Forum (GMF) released a study in which a multi-fuel future for the shipping industry on the path to zero emissions is evaluated. To understand how shipping industry leaders are thinking about future fuels and what their plans and projections are to adopt cleaner fuels and efficiency-boosting technologies, the Global Maritime Forum, the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization, and the…
The list of presented measures is non-exhaustive and is a result of initial research and findings, aiming to raise awareness of potential ideas which the maritime community could explore further. The measures have not been ranked in terms of emission reduction potential, but have been ordered into measures related to port operations, administrative data, nautical data and speed optimization. Each…
Marwa Elselehdar has become the first woman to work as a sea captain in Egypt. Ms. Elselehdar enrolled in the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Egypt and joined the International Transport and Logistics Department, but she was more drawn to the Department of Maritime Transport and Technology. Marwa Elselehdar submitted an application to join and was…
Numerous manning agencies based in Manila support the Neptune Declaration, to ensure the wellbeing of seafarers affected by the crew change crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to local media, the Neptune Declaration was signed by over 450 maritime industry and human rights leaders, including Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC), and OSM Maritime, representing the Philippines. Commenting…
Our ‘Seafarer Stories’ new column hosts seafarers’ views who present briefly the key challenges of life and work onboard, providing a picture of what a career at sea actually means. In this context, we are happy to host an interview with Yrhen Bernard S. Balinis, an ordinary seaman from Philippines, who inspire us with his story. Yrhen shares his life-changer…
Cleaning a ship’s submerged parts from barnacles and other growths, while the ship is in the water, can transfer invasive species to local marine environments unless it is properly cleaned and the debris is captured. To combat this problem, and to provide clarity and quality assurance to shipowners, ports and government authorities, BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)…
In 2019, everyone in shipping was waiting for 2020 and the introduction of the 2020 sulphur cap. 2020 came and in spite concerns that shipping would not be able to comply with the regulation, the majority of ships actually complies. New, green fuels, like LNG and hydrogen have sure helped, as well as scrubbers. However, the need for further decarbonization…
Over 90% of shipping businesses are re-thinking how crew changes are managed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research carried out by travel management company, ATPI Marine & Energy. Representatives from over 30 different shipping businesses around the world took part in the research, the results of which were unveiled this week and show the impact…
The US Coast Guard will soon acquire a new autonomous vessel for testing and evaluating the capabilities of available autonomous vessel technology, as part of its regulatory changes for the development of autonomous maritime systems. Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics announced it has partnered with Louisiana-based shipbuilder Metal Shark Boats, to supply the USCG’s Research and Development Center (RDC) with a…
CE Delft issued a new study, in which it finds that scrubbers have a lower climate impact than low-sulphur fuels. Specifically, the study finds that the CO2-emissions associated using a scrubber vary between 1.5% and 3% for a number of representative ships. In many cases, the emissions caused by the production of low-sulphur fuels for these ships are higher, depending…
Seafarers from the Philippines are the most satisfied seafarer group by nationality serving onboard ships, as shown by the SAFETY4SEA Crew Wellness survey. The difference with the other nationalities was actually so wide that it could lead us to assume that there is a correlation between nationality and happiness onboard. The SAFETY4SEA survey took place in Q4 2019, gathering responses…
Many companies are taking part in Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ship Project (DFFAS Project), which aims to realize a domestic coastal shipping business supported by crewless maritime autonomous surface ships. Accordingly, the project will move towards the standardization of technology and the establishment of systems and infrastructure as well and plans to carry out a long-distance demonstration trial…
Ships are extraordinary designs, which even with just their size can amaze. But there is one specific element of a ship’s design that stands out, and what is more, not many know what it does exactly. We are talking of course, about the bulbous bow. The bulbous bow is that strange protrusion at the ship’s forward end, sticking out below…
The era of digitalization has made room for Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (AUV) to take place and become a powerful tool for ports and the overall shipping industry, playing a major role in a variety of ‘shipping duties’, such as surveillance, safety, accident and pollution reporting, representing the importance of technology in shipping and making us wonder whether drones will be…
The Asia Wind Energy Association has partnered with Dutch De Oude Bibliotheek Academy (DOB-Academy) to launch a regional Academy for the fast-developing offshore wind industry in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) Region. The Asia-Pacific Offshore Wind Academy would be set-up in Singapore and would provide educational services for the regional offshore wind industry. The Academy would provide offshore education for professionals in the region…
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced an agreement for Ørsted to lease a portion of the Portsmouth Marine Terminal for offshore wind staging materials and equipment. If fully executed, the lease will run through at least 2026, during which time, Ørsted plans to install nearly 3,000 megawatts of wind energy projects in the US. The agreement between the Port of Virginia and Ørsted…
The Indian Union Cabinet approved the proposal of entering to the Hong Kong International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, being the 14th country to join the convention, following the most recent member, Germany. India is a leader of the global ship recycling industry, with a share of more than 30% of the market. The industry being…
Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore urged the shipping industry to adopt higher standards in ship recycling. Thus, BVS provides insight into meeting ship recycling requirements, as well as 10 tips to achieve compliance. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform issued its Q3 2019 results noting there were 122 ships broken, of which 73 were sold to the beaches of South Asia…
Mooring and unmooring operations provide the circumstances for potentially serious accidents. There is no doubt that this duty requires a good technique initially in lifting the heavy eye of the rope, followed by a good pulling technique. Care must be taken, therefore with the laying out of heavy mooring ropes and wire ropes/hawsers. Seafarers involved in mooring operations should be…
At the last SAFETY4SEA Conference, Capt. Hans Hederström, Managing Director, Center for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART), discussed steps to create a safety environment in shipping. Among the most important things, he stressed, “The Captain has the role of a leader instead of an operator, willing to delegate and coach officers. Combining voyage planning and Bridge Resource Management, and effective communication…
Singapore is considered as the top world’s shipping centre for the fifth year in a row, followed by Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, and Dubai. The outcome is based on the International Shipping Centre Development Index (ISCD) issued by Baltic Exchange and Xinhua news agency. The index, which was first introduced in 2014, ranks 43 of the largest global ports and…
Denmark presented its plan to ratify the 2010 International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS). The Convention aims to provide compensation for costs, including clean up and restoring the environment in case of an incident involving HNS cargoes. With entry into force of the convention, access…