The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), along with the International Maritime Health Association (IMHA) and the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), on Wednesday (25 August) issued new protocols to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 cases on board vessels.
The protocols aim to safeguard the health of seafarers and guarantee the safe operations of maritime trade – offering governments and the general public reassurance that seafarers can embark and disembark ships safely, it said.
Recently, there have been concerns over COVID-19 infections on board ships, due to a small minority failing to adhere to industry guidance.
While the number of cases has been limited, ICS said the newly issued protocols will provide shipowners and operators with the tools to safely manage cases on vessels.
Building on previous health guidance released by ICS in May, the new protocols equip ships operators with two useful instruments:
Since the beginning of the pandemic, COVID-19 related travel restrictions have limited the global shipping industry’s ability to rotate ships’ crew. There are now over a quarter of a million seafarers stranded at sea, waiting to be repatriated, explained ICS.
In light of this humanitarian crisis and its far-reaching impact on the industry, ICS put forward a COVID-19 health guidance in March, updated in May, to protect the health of seafarers and passengers, as well as the general public.
These comprehensive documents ensure the safe operations of maritime trade and serve as a reassurance to governments that crew change and seaborne trade pose limited health risks.
“The new protocols build on our previous guidance and should give confidence to the industry and governments that maritime trade can operate safely. Especially when there are suspected COVID-19 cases on board,” said Natalie Shaw, Director of Employment Affairs for the International Chamber of Shipping.
“We have observed a small number of COVID-19 cases among ships’ crew in recent weeks and decided to take the initiative to create new protocols, together with IMHA and INTERTANKO.”
The ICS Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance to help protect the health of seafarers (and passengers) as well as the general public can be downloaded here.
Photo credit: International Chamber of Shipping
Published: 28 August, 2020
TMD and Lumut Maritime Terminal will also set up a bunkering terminal namely “Pit-Stop Bunker Hub @ Lumut” to support the business venture.
KPMG has been appointed by Maybank to be receiver for Ocean Success, Marine Topaz and Ocean Supreme, reports The Business Times.
Cooperates in information exchange and R&D between MPA and Waterborne Transport Research Institute.
Research aims to create a visual twin model for optimisation, engine operating state monitoring and engine failure diagnosis.
Ecuadorian reliance on imports and lack of local LSFO refiners could keep Ecuador’s prices less competitive.
Xie Wenyan continues role as the Chief Executive Officer of Brightoil’s upstream business, states company.
Bunker orders of ISO 8217:2010 spec LS 380 cSt 0.5% for Nord Gemini, Nord Titan, Ocean Rosemary, and Luzern were placed through global commodities trading and logistics house Trafigura Pte Ltd.
While Covid-19 concerns are important, Captain Rahul Choudhuri was quick to note this does not mean bunker fuel related issues have indeed disappeared from the shipping sector.
‘Therefore, representing the players of the Malaysian bunker industry, we sincerely hope that this matter can be refined and reconsidered immediately so that all parties benefit together,’ says communication.
Maureen Poh, a Director of Helmsman LLC, offers plain practical tips on the differences between US and EU Sanctions and shares some thoughts on what companies could do if they are potentially exposed to sanctioned entities.
‘We [Consort Bunkers] have the opinion that the bunker business in Singapore is not related to the widely reported earlier cargo commodity trading mishaps,’ company source tells Manifold Times.
Representatives of INTERTANKO, Helmsman and Rajah & Tann gather to discuss IMO 2020, legal frameworks for the purchase and supply of alternative marine fuels, and the handling of bunker claims.
