The Poseidon Principles establish a framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of ship finance portfolios. They set a benchmark for what it means to be a responsible bank in the maritime sector and provide actionable guidance on how to achieve this. The Poseidon Principles are consistent with the policies and ambitions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), including…
Amendments to an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of potentially invasive species in ships’ ballast water entered into force on 13-October-2019. Ships regularly take on sea water in tanks to ensure their stability. Known as ballast water, this can contain many aquatic species, including in microscopic or larval form. These can become invasive and harmful if the ballast…
Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet has been selected as the World Maritime theme for 2020. This will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and showcase the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States are undertaking to achieve the targets. The IMO Council, meeting for its 122nd session…
Seaspeak is the official language of navigators the world over. As the official language of the seas, Seaspeak helps to prevent any form of miscommunication. And since miscommunication can easily lead to serious and dangerous situations, seafarers use a specific language to prevent nay accidents from happening. Have you ever wondered how crews on ships at sea communicate? Nowadays, crews…
A mandatory requirement for national governments to introduce electronic information exchange between ships and ports came into effect on 8-April-2019. The aim is to make cross-border trade simpler and the logistics chain more efficient, for the more than 10 billion tons of goods which are traded by sea annually across the globe. The requirement, mandatory under IMO’s Convention on Facilitation…
Dutch maritime start-up We4Sea secured funding from ENERGIIQ, Mainport Innovation Fund II and angel investors to accelerate development and roll out of its fuel and emissions monitoring platform. Based in Delft, Netherlands, We4Sea has an ambitious goal of saving 1 million tons of CO2 emissions from ships. Speaking with Digital Ship, CEO and cofounder of We4Sea‘s Dan Veen explained that…
In support of customer preparedness for IMO 2020, Shell Marine is introducing Shell Alexia 40 – a new two-stroke engine cylinder oil specifically for use with engines running on 0.5% sulphur content Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO). With a Base Number (BN) of 40, Shell Alexia 40 has been developed to optimize equipment performance and condition as ship owners…
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In the first week of April, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) showed massive support agreeing to include maritime corruption as a regular work item on its agenda. A paper on the topic of maritime corruption was presented by the Marshall Islands with many countries and international organizations expressing their endorsement of a proposal to develop guidelines to assist all stakeholders…
Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship. Ship recycling yards are required to provide a “Ship Recycling Plan” specifying the manner in which each ship will be recycled, depending on its particulars and its inventory. The Netherlands recently became the 8th country to become a…
A four-man team from global trade association Interferry were in Manila from March 18-22 in the first stage of a project to study significant safety improvements in Philippines ferry operations and produce a “lessons learned” report to help other developing nations. The FerrySafe project team had arranged one-hour meetings with a wide range of stakeholders to learn how fatal incidents…
The ICC – International Maritime Bureau (IMB) was established in 1981 to act as a focal point in the fight against all types of maritime fraud, malpractice and piracy. The United Nations (UN) International Maritime Organization (IMO) in its resolution A 504 (XII) (9) adopted on 20-November-1981 has among other things urged all governments, interests and organizations to exchange information…
Finland’s Norsepower wind propulsion solution, the Rotor Sail, has received the first-ever type approval design certificate granted to an auxiliary wind propulsion system on-board a commercial ship. DNV GL granted the type approval following a design assessment of Norsepower’s 30m x 5m Rotor Sail. The certification means that vessels operating with the Rotor Sail are technically capable of navigating all…
LNG Cargo Handling Simulator Course is a training program conforms to the requirements of SIGTTO or Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators LNG Shipping Suggested Competency Standard. Upon completion of the Course, the participants will be equipped with the Theoretical knowledge, background and aspects of LNG Cargo Handling Operation on board such as Loading and Discharging. This is…
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a new logo for its Women in Maritime program, as part of its mission to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Program lead Helen Buni said: “The IMO Women in Maritime program supports the participation of women in both shore-based and sea-going…
Modern ships are capable of carrying larger and larger loads while the number of crew aboard remains approximately the same. This means that Seafarers are more exposed to the dangers of confined space entries than ever before. What is a Confined Space? The International Maritime Organization (IMO) defines enclosed spaces as having limited openings for entry and exit, inadequate ventilation…
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will be constructing a new lighthouse in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP). The delivery schedule for the PCG lighthouse is 360 calendar days. The lighthouse is targeted for construction within the year on the South Atoll of the marine natural park. It shall also serve as its protection against possible ship groundings. “Now that…
GloFouling Partnerships: A collaboration of GEF, UNDP and IMO to address bioinvasions on ships’ hulls and other marine structures IMO Launches Biofouling Initiative. A new international effort to combat the negative environmental impacts of the transfer of aquatic species through ships has been launched in November 2018. The GloFouling Partnerships Project, a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the…
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A Regional Meeting of Asia’s leading seafaring nations has highlighted the plight seafarers face in the event of a maritime accident and has pledged to lead the drive towards proper and effective implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labor Organization (ILO) agreed Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers. The Regional Meeting, held in Manila on 13-November,…
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have jointly released new Guidelines for implementing the Welfare Aspects of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2006, the MLC aims to ensure comprehensive worldwide protection and enforcement of the rights of seafarers and to establish a level playing field…
Ocean noise refers to sounds made by human activities that can interfere or obscure the ability of marine animals to hear natural sounds in the ocean. Many marine organisms rely on their ability to hear for their survival. Sound is the most efficient means of communication underwater and is the primary way that many marine species gather and understand information…
On 16-May-2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) –responsible for regulating international shipping– began efforts on the regulation of autonomous ships with the 99th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 99). The MSC began looking at how the safe, secure and environmentally sound operation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) may be introduced in IMO instruments. With a myriad of…
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…