Circular 11/02: Annual General Meeting
01/10/2002
To update Bulletin 199 we have been advised of restrictions Iraq are imposing on the import of wheat, exported from Australia. This action is reported to have commenced in July of this year. The reason we believe is political, Iraq apparently asked Australia to confirm that they would not support the USA's proposed action against Iraq, this was not verified therefore Iraq immediately announced a review of the Australian wheat imports for the pending year which they may cut in half.
Many Members will have heard from their spill managers that the California contingency plan regulations regarding salvage, firefighting and emergency lightering requirements for non-tank vessels trading to the State will become effective on 28 Oct. 2002.
New regulations have come into force from the 7th October 2002 for the transit of the Bosporus and Dardanelles.
Circular 10/02: Technical Bulletins
01/09/2002
261 - 09/02 - Hatch Coaming Drains
31/08/2002
Since 1994 it has been obligatory under the Mexican Navigation Act for all vessels in Mexican waters to have P&I coverage. Up until now this has not been enforced. We are advised that this has now changed and that as of the 12th August this requirement is being strictly adhered to.
The following photographs highlight a novel way of saving time on a weighbridge not long enough to take a complete articulated unit.
We are advised that the USCG in New Orleans (at the request of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service - INS) are requiring numerous foreign ships arriving in New Orleans to hire a guard service for the duration of the vessel's stay (for owners' account). We understand the INS request for guard service depends on whether any of the crew members are in a "detain on board" status. This status is most frequently assigned when either the individual crew member does not have a US visa or the ship does not have a crew visa. The guards (normally two are required) have to board at the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy and remain on board until passing the buoy again out bound.
260 - 08/02 - Custom Fines - Syria
31/07/2002
Bulletin 168 (12/00) advised that the Minister of Finance in Syria had decided to reduce the rate of settlement of customs contraventions from 25% to 10% of the volume of the goods.
As part of a worldwide crackdown on substandard shipping, Beijing has announced a three-month concentrated inspection campaign to 'guarantee that operational safety and environmental standards are enforced'. This year's campaign ends on September 30th. This concentrated campaign is being mirrored by all 18 member states of the Tokyo MOU.