A disturbing trend has emerged where new companies are appearing in the maritime market as 'medical service consolidators', offering their services to ship agents and operators. These companies are taking advantage of personal injury and illness on board ships and the nature of their operations mean that ships are often faced with large and unfair charges.
A deck officer was recently killed in yet another lifeboat incident where the lifeboat fell from the embarkation level after the hooks disengaged from the falls during an abandon-ship drill.
Seamen's Personal Injuries
17/08/2006
Seamen's Personal Injuries and persons entitled to limit their liability under the Limitation of Liability Convention for Maritime Claims 1976.
On 11 August 2006 the European Union (EU) Directive 2005/33 Control of Emissions from Ships came into force adding to the legislation under Marpol Annex VI.
476 - 07/06 - Drug Smuggling - Caribbean
30/06/2006
The Club has been alerted to an increase in the number of drug smuggling incidents in the Caribbean where parcels of drugs are being secured to the underside of the ship.
On the 11th July 2006, President Bush signed into law the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006 containing provisions to increase liability limits of shipowners and operators for oil spills in the US.
Last week the Club published loss prevention bulletin 477, which stated that "While the law took effect immediately upon enactment by the signature of the President, the increased OPA liability limits will only apply to incidents occurring on or after the 90th day after enactment i.e., on or after the 8th October 2006".
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have announced a new rule proposing a pre-departure Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) requirement. This requirement will allow DHS to collect passenger information for flights and cruises bound for the United States prior to their departure from foreign ports.
The Association has been informed by its local correspondent in Argentina that over the present year a total of eight ships have grounded in a section of the Rio Parana. The groundings occurred within the proximities of km 314/316 (Abajo las Hermanas Passage) and 292/285 (Los Ratones Passage).
Alert! 12 - It makes sense...
30/06/2006
Highlights Issue 14: June 2006
01/06/2006
The 2000 OPRC- HNS PROTOCOL
31/05/2006
Like the OPRC Convention, the HNS Protocol aims to provide a global framework for co-operation in combating major incidents or threats of marine pollution.
465 - 05/06 - Visa Requirements - Brazil
30/04/2006
The association would like to alert Members to two recent incidents involving Member ships registered in the Bahamas and visiting Brazilian ports. The ships received substantial fines by Brazilian immigration authorities for invalid crew documents because crewmembers had Bahamian Seaman's Record Books.