Crew change crisis deepens with 400,000 seafarers stuck at sea
Some 400,000 seafarers from across the globe are now stranded on ships, continuing to work but unable to be relieved, in a deepening crew change crisis which threatens trade and maritime safety.
During a high-level event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (24 September), Captain Hedi Marzougui, who was in command of a vessel between December 2019 and May 2020, appealed to Governments to act to allow seafarers to come home.
World Maritime Day 2020 – sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet
On 24 September, IMO and the global maritime community came together to celebrate the annual World Maritime Day.
The 2020 theme is “Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet”.
ZIM to enter Australian market with a new China-Australia Express service
The role of ship agents and shipbrokers in a digital shipping environment
Ship agents and shipbrokers have been active in the industry since the beginning of commercial shipping and that coffee shop in London and have been playing an important role in the provision of services to various ship and cargo owners..
Digitalization is now changing the environment in which ship agents and also ship brokers operate, and we are seeing new and adjusted services emerging as ship agents and shipbrokers continue to strive to enhance service levels and provide added value to their principals..
This article by Mikael Lind, Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), Jonathan C. Williams FICS, FONASBA, Sue Probert, UN/CEFACT, and Juan Carlos Croston, Manzanillo International Terminal (Panama) takes a look at how the traditional roles played by the ship agent and shipbroker might change in this digital shipping environment..
More and more ship captains are seemingly facing personal prosecutions
The Sri Lankan Attorney General’s office has indicated that there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the Captain of the VLCC, New Diamond, under the country’s marine pollution act as well as the penal code for criminal negligence and pollution charges..
This announcement has seemingly raised concerns in shipping circles about the number of Captains who have recently been held personally responsible for maritime disasters..
Global groups to collaborate on container safety improvements
Five international freight transport and cargo handling organisations are collaborating on the production of new guidance on packing standards for freight containers and other cargo transport units. The Container Owners Association, the Global Shippers Forum, the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association, the TT Club and the World Shipping Council are co-operating on a range of activities to further the adoption … Read more here..
More calls for Governments to recognize seafarers as keyworkers amidst humanitarian crisis
Yet another appeal has been sent to Governments to recognize seafarers as keyworkers and address the humanitarian crisis faced by the shipping sector, ensure maritime safety and facilitate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic..
MSC accelerates adoption of electronic Bill of lading (eBL) in India with WAVE
The Electronic version of the most powerful document in shipping – the Bill of Lading has been making news for quite a while..
I wrote earlier that 2020 will be remembered as the year that saw the beginning of the end for the paper “Bill of Lading” and the year in which the switch to “Electronic Bill of Lading” (eBL) began in earnest..
Carriers are pushing more and more for the adoption of the eBL in various regions of the world with the aim to improve documentation flow and avoid costly delays to customers..
MSC has just released a statement confirming that they will be accelerating the adoption of their eBL with the WAVE platform in India..
Allow crew changes to resolve humanitarian crisis says Mr.Kitack Lim
A humanitarian crisis is taking place at sea and urgent action is needed to protect seafarers’ health and ensure the safety of shipping, the IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has warned.
In a strong statement issued ahead of the General Assembly of the United Nations, he called on governments to take swift action to resolve the crew change crisis.
Blockchain transaction capacity and speed boost for shippers as Shipchain’s ‘MAINNET’ goes live
Complete supply chain transparency, unprecedented security, and the transactional capacity to serve the needs of even the largest Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies are all now possible following the launch of ShipChain Mainnet.
This launch is a significant milestone toward achieving a modular system across the entire supply chain.
With all the uncertainties in the world today, it gives supply chain decision-makers the incentive to move from considering how blockchain might be used in global supply chains to realizing its evident promise across transport modes and continents.
Should the Captain of the Wakashio be held responsible for dead dolphins
Any maritime disaster will have severe impact on assets, people and environment.. The effects of the oil spill from the Wakashio is beginning to manifest itself as there have been several reports of dead dolphins washing ashore on the beaches of Mauritius, even as the bow of the ship has been scuttled and sunk about 14 nautical miles of where the incident happened..
The Captain of the Wakashio has been arrested and charged and currently faces a possible 60 year jail term for failing to safely navigate the vessel in Mauritius waters..
What is your opinion..?? Should the Captain of the ship be responsible for this incident and is a possible 60 year jail term (if convicted) justified..??