The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) recognised the negative effect that bullying and harassment can have on seafarer health and wellbeing, and have voted to bring these serious issues under Regulation 4.3 - the health and safety protection and accident protection code.
Venezuelan Sanctions - Designations against PdVSA
We would like to draw Members' attention to the latest Client Alert 4-2019 from ECM Maritime Services LLC.
Chinese New Year
04/02/2019
Thomas Miller staff would like to wish all Club Members and friends a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year.
The UK P&I Club, a leading provider of P&I insurance and other services to the international shipping community, has announced an initial shortlist of ten finalists for its 'Investing in a Safer Tomorrow' global maritime competition which coincides with the Club's 150th anniversary.
On 14 January 2019, the Singapore Parliament passed the Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. The main objectives of the Bill are to amend the Merchant Shipping Act to implement i) the 1996 Protocol to the 1976 LLMC; and ii) the International Convention on Salvage, 1989.
At their meeting on 28th January 2019, the Directors reviewed the basis on which special war risks P&I cover could be made available to Members in accordance with the proviso to Rule 5E, and determined that this cover should be made available to Members for the 2019 policy year in accordance with the terms of the attached Directors' Resolution of 28th January 2019.
We would like to draw Members' attention to the attached Circular PNI1902 - Measures for Supervision and Management of Ship Ballast Water and Sediment.
The UK P&I Club has received the following client alert from Freehill Hogan and Mahar, regarding changes to the U.S
The UK Club has received the attached circular from the Port of Fujairah Marine Department, regarding a recent ban on open loop scrubbers within the port.
UK P&I Club, a leading provider of P&I insurance and other services to the international shipping community, has launched its third video in a series of reflective learning training videos entitled, 'Fall from a Generator Platform'. '
This video focuses on an engineer who fell from a generator platform. The videos feature solutions and thought-provoking preventative strategies to mitigate the risk of accidents like those portrayed happening again.
Sunda Straits, Indonesia - Update
21/01/2019
The UK Club has received the following update from local correspondents, SPICA Services (Indonesia), regarding the recent tsunami in Indonesia.
Legal Update: 2018 HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules - in effect from 1st November 2018
17/01/2019
The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre ("HKIAC") completed a comprehensive revision of its Rules at the end of last year. The 2018 HKIAC Rules, hereafter "the New Rules", came into effect on 1st November 2018. They are accompanied by a Practice Note on the Appointment of Arbitrators ("Practice Note") which came into effect on the same day.
As Members may be aware from previous bulletins on the subject, new regulations related to Fuel Oil sulphur content will come into force from 01 Jan 2020. To prepare the maritime industry, various port states have released guidance on how changes will be implemented.
This circular informs Members of the significant risk of evading the comprehensive international sanctions regime against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The UK Club has received the attached circular from our local correspondents, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd, regarding the prohibition of discharging waste water generated by open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems (Scrubbers) within Emission Control Areas in China.
Reference is made to the most recent update from the Club, giving notification of the new tariff for pollution fines in Turkish waters. Particular attention should be given to the fact that these administrative fines imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to the Turkish Environmental Code (EC), are drastically increased in comparison to previous tariffs.
Legal Article: Turkey - Compulsory mediation for resolving commercial disputes as of 1 January 2019
10/01/2019
New articles have recently been added to the Turkish Commercial Code making it compulsory for parties to refer their commercial disputes to mediation before commencing proceedings in court.