INSB Class is now fully authorized (altering the previous granted authorization of a “case-by-case” basis) by the esteemed Palau International Ship Registry-PISR to perform relevant surveys, audits and issue certificates to  Palau flagged ships for SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ILL, ISM Code, ISPS Code, and MLC instruments.

INSB Class is continuously endeavours to expand its recognition by governments on a worldwide scale thus be able to offer its customers with increased options on the survey and delivery of statutory related services.

INSB Class is delighted to have signed this authorization agreement with the esteemed Palau International Ship Registry-PISR and looks forward to delivering high quality and efficient services within the maritime community.

INSB

Head over to www.lofrans.com you will discover a more user-friendly, faster and easier to navigate website.

It is important to us to share information regarding solutions, services and products for those who visit LOFRANS’.

A special new feature, “Choose your new windlass” tool provides an easy way to match a LOFRANS’ according to your boat’s needs.

Another great feature, all products are connected to their accessories by choosing the tab “related products”.

 
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The US District Court in Savannah, Georgia approved the application filed by attorneys Michael G Chalos and George Kontakis from New York-based law firm K&L Gates, and Thomas Langston Bass Jr from Savannah-based firm Brennan, Harris & Rominger.

The application states that NewLead has not paid its counsel since before July, in spite of having made representations that the money was on its way.

The lawyers had been acting as defence counsel for NewLead Holdings’ arrested bulk carrier NewLead Castellano. Their withdrawal leaves NewLead without counsel.

The court has instructed NewLead to retain new defence lawyers, who must file a notice of appearance within 20 days or face a default judgment in the plaintiff’s favour.

A spokeswoman for NewLead Holdings told Splash: “Following the company’s’ recent decision to consider taking further legal action in the Ray Capital v Newlead Castellano case and therefore appointing a new counsel to the case, we are in the process of settling all outstanding amounts with Michael Chalos. There was indeed a delay in the payment of the legal costs and fees merely due to time required to evaluate further course of action.”

The handymax NewLead Castellano (pictured) was arrested off Savannah, Georgia on April 19 this year by Ray Capital, one of NewLead’s creditors, which claimed $7.1m relating to an unpaid promissory note.

The ship was subsequently sold at auction in the US in August for $7.4m to Singapore’s MT Maritime Management.

splash247.com

“We congratulate our aviation colleagues with this new milestone in reducing GHG emissions from global transport sectors”, said ECSA President Niels Smedegaard, “We are confident that at the end of this month the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will decide on the next steps for shipping.”

The shipping industry has a mandatory global CO2 reduction regime which has been in force since 2013. IMO will now build on the substantial CO2 reductions already achieved by shipping, introducing a global CO2 data collection system, which will be fully operational by 2018. Based on the data collected and a real understanding of the emissions, realistic targets for CO2 emission reduction can be set for the sector.

“We fully support our colleagues at the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in their recent plea to set a timeline for the further reduction of the shipping sector’s GHG emissions”, continued Niels Smedegaard, “It is important that IMO doesn’t stop at data collection and effectively responds to the Paris Agreement on climate change.”

Environmental sustainability and decarbonisation of shipping featured high on the agenda of the shipping policy seminar that ECSA and the Malta International Shipowners’ Association held in Valletta earlier this week.

Addressing the seminar from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Maltese MEP Miriam Dalli (S&D / Environment Committee) commented: “I do believe that IMO should be the one leading robust international action, to push forward the sector’s efforts. Acting globally would take away the fear of losing the sector’s competitiveness. But the maritime sector needs to act and it needs to act fast. It is thus crucial that the IMO sends a strong and vibrant message to the international community that action will be taken.”

Source: European Community Shipowners’ Associations

On Sunday, October 2, 2016, the American P&I Club in cooperation with HELMEPA and in celebration and honor of Ocean Conservancy's 2016 International Coastal Clean-up, attracted over 80 volunteers representing members, associates and executives from the Greek shipping sector, along with their families, for a beach cleaning event at Kavouri beach as a part of the voluntary actions’ campaign of HELMEPA for the marine environment that takes place every September. Beyond taking steps to evidence the difference individuals can make with respect to protecting the marine environment, the initiative will be valuable from a scientific perspective based on the data that was collected by the participants documenting findings from the clean-up.

Constantinos Triantafillou, Head of the Environmental Awareness sector of HELMEPA, addressed the participants and stated, “It is a great honor of ours to have The American Club as an associate corporate member of HELMEPA for many years now. The aim is to reduce ship-generated marine pollution and this is an excellent initiative, which promotes the Corporate Social Responsibility idea within the Greek Shipping Community. We are very glad we had this first occasion of doing this now and, based on the record-attendance we see today, we sincerely hope we can establish it as a regular event.”

Dorothea Ioannou, who heads up the American Club’s Manager’s Piraeus Office and is also the Global Business Development Director for the American Club, welcomed all the volunteers and thanked them for their participation in this joint effort between the Club and HELMEPA. Dorothea went on to explain “Working in the maritime industry means we all understand the value of the marine environment, but this type of initiative helps us understand how individual people contribute to its degradation and at the same time how we can all take steps to protect it. We are very proud of this joint effort to take care of our precious coastline and the oceans we thrive on!”

After some hours of tireless efforts filling many bags with trash found on the beach by the volunteers from the shipping community in support of this awareness-raising initiative for the protection of the marine environment, the American Club treated all to a well-deserved lunch at a nearby tavern.



About The American P&I Club / Shipowners’ Claims Bureau Inc.

Headquartered in New York, the American Club is the only P&I mutual domiciled in the Americas. A member of the International Group of P&I Clubs, which collectively insures approximately 90\% of the world's tonnage, the American Club offers full cover for Protection and Indemnity and Freight, Demurrage and Defense risks and has in recent years grown and globalized its tonnage.

In addition to New York, the Club's Managers, Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., has operations in Piraeus, Houston, London, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Winner of the Lloyd’s List North American Maritime Services Award for 2016, with over 70 dedicated specialized staff, including qualified lawyers and licensed mariners, the Club is proud of the ability to communicate in 11 languages, boasts an active safety and loss prevention program with proven track record of exemplary personalized service and has the know-how and capability to accommodate the needs of members both large and small.

www.american-club.com

On 28 September Lloyd’s Register (LR) organised at its premises in Piraeus The Human Element & New Technologies on board event to provide insight on how to address the human element aspects for the many new technologies that are now being introduced, especially with regard to statutorily-required systems. Dr Jonathan Earthy, LR Human Factors Coordinator/ Engineering Systems, visiting Athens from the Group Technology Centre (GTC) in Southampton, was the main speaker of the event.

Dr Earthy encouraged the attendees to go beyond seeking more training as the only answer, and to think about the users’ point of view and the context of use of a “product” (equipment, software, new technologies etc.). He guided them through the processes that are necessary for an organisation to address the human element. One of the outcomes of the discussion was that a balanced approach is required to introducing new technologies. Factors such as the design, the operating procedures, maintenance and management of new systems, and how the aforementioned support the crew in using new technology, have to be addressed for the introduction and use of a system to be successful.

Furthermore, Dr Earthy inquired the meaning of a “useful acquisition”. He highlighted the need for the ship owner/ operator to ensure that systems that they buy are usable and pointed out how to identify and mitigate the risks associated with poor usability.  He provided a worked example of the procedure to follow for Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS).

With more than 40 attendees the event raised significant interest from key clients and industry stakeholders who actively participated in a fruitful discussion that emphasised the need for executive-level support and the engagement of all stakeholders.

Dr Earthy said “It is good to see such interest in this topic.  LR considers human-system to be a key aspect in the introduction of new technologies, in particular those depending on information and communications technology.  The attendance and the quality of the discussion indicate that the Greek shipping community share our views.”

Human-centred development Putting the principles into practice 

In order to fulfil this contract, Euronav has ordered two high specification Ice Class Suezmax vessels from Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea. Additional specifications for these vessels include substantially increased steel structure, specific emissions controls and other bespoke operational capabilities. Delivery of these vessels is expected in early 2018 when each of the time charter contracts will begin.

Over many months of price discovery, management believes that the Company has secured an excellent price for two high specification vessels in line with its policy of not adding net new capacity to the global tanker fleet.

Paddy Rodgers said: “Euronav and its predecessors have been serving the Quebec refinery with purpose built new buildings since 1998. In a world of continuous change our commitment to serve our customer remains a constant point”.

About Euronav
Euronav is an independent tanker company engaged in the ocean transportation and storage of crude oil. The Company is headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, and has offices throughout Europe and Asia. Euronav is listed on Euronext Brussels and on the NYSE under the symbol EURN. Euronav employs its fleet both on the spot and period market. VLCCs on the spot market are traded in the Tankers International pool of which Euronav is one of the major partners. Euronav’s owned and operated fleet consists of 57 double hulled vessels being 1 V-Plus vessel, 30 VLCCs (of which 1 in 50\%-50\% joint venture), two VLCCs under construction which were recently acquired as resales of existing newbuilding contracts, 20 Suezmaxes, two Suezmaxes under construction and
two FSO vessels (both owned in 50\%-50\% joint venture). The Company’s vessels mainly fly Belgian, Greek, French and Marshall Island flags. 

Six panels of 18 prominent experts focused on safety perspectives, loss prevention, incident investigation, security and human element issues revealing fresh perspectives on the above issues, based on the needs of maritime community and providing best practices and practical knowledge.

The event organized by SQE4SEA and sponsored by ABS, American Club, Arcadia Shipmanagement Co Ltd, Blank Rome LLP, Capital Ship Management Corp, CHALOS & Co PC, Diaplous Maritime Services, DNV GL, Dorian LPG, Fike Safety Technology, Hellenic Mutual War Risks Club, INSB Class, MacGregor, Magsaysay People Resources Corporation, Marita Hellas, Marshall Islands Registry, Norsafe Group, RISK4SEA, SKILL4SEA, SQE ACADEMY, SQE MARINE, T&T SALVAGE and UK P&I Club. Furthermore, the event was supported by: AMMITEC, Apostleship of the Sea, Chios Marine Club, ECOMASYN, EΛΙΝΤ, HEMEXPO, Human Rights at Sea, Piraeus Marine Club, PEPEN, Piraeus Association for Maritime Arbitration, Technological Foundation Institute of Athens, University of the Aegean, WIMA, WISTA Hellas and Yatch Club of Greece.

The inaugural presentation of the SAFETY4SEA Awards took place at the closing of the forum within the scope of awarding industry’s organizations and associations who have distinguished for their initiative, excellence and training activities. The winners of the 2016 SAFETY4SEA Awards are: