February 28, 2008 - Members Update : 18 February

1. INTERCARGO WORK PROGRAMME ITEMS

AIR EMISSIONS : Feedback from the CASTEC Committee is being sought to enable a paper to be put together for the IMO Maritime Safety Committee.

COMMON STRUCTURAL RULES & GOAL BASED STANDARDS : No further MA amendments at this stage.

CASUALTIES / TRANSPARENCY : MA 20080215 (A-Z Technical) : A short statistical summary from Intercargo's own database on fires on Bulk Carriers

CRIMINALISATION : No further action at this stage, as we await the response of the Grand Chamber in the next few weeks. We note that Intermanager has also issued a press release criticising the principle of criminalisation.

DEFINITION OF BULK CARRIER : Feedback was requested from CASTEC on 6 February on the "Definition" issue which is being discussed at IMO's DE meeting in Bonn this week. (Intercargo is present and a report will feature on the MA in due course). A proposal from the EU (which Intercargo is minded to support) seeks to allow double hulled multi purpose ships to trade occasionally with bulk cargoes - and allow PSC inspectors identify the difference (either through LL or SAFCON certification). It is proposed to keep definitions for existing ships unchanged and to introduce the new definition in a Resolution for new ships. The intention is to introduce an economic disincentive (B+60 which would restrict dwt compared to a B or B-60 ship) so that a multipurpose ship would not find it commercially viable to compete with a typical bulk carrier.

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION : MA to be updated.

LIFEBOATS : A report from Intercargo's Operations Manager is being assimilated and will appear on the Intercargo website in due course.

LOADING RATES : A) A draft IMO paper will be considered by CASTEC; B) Port of Newcastle - Roger Holt met last week with the Port of Newcastle when the issue of slow loading rates was raised. A further report will be made at the forthcoming Executive Committee meeting.

POOLING : MA still contains current advice on EC Competition Law developments

PORT STATE CONTROL : DEFECTIVE NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT IN THE US : 20080206 MA (Port State Control). The following has been received from the Chief, Port State Control Branch USCG Sector Houston Galveston - "All vessels are required to have properly operating navigation equipment as listed in 33 CFR 164.35 (radar, illuminated magnetic compass, gyrocompass, etc.).

There have been instances where vessels making arrival to Houston, have notified the Coast Guard of malfunctioning, inoperative navigation equipment by placing a statement on their Electronic Notice of Arrivals (ENOAs).

It is our impression that some ship owners/operators/agents believe that if they indicate such navigation equipment deficiencies on their ENOA, that is all they have to do, in advance of port entry. This is NOT TRUE.

Entries of navigation equipment deficiencies on the ENOA do suffice in meeting the notification requirement to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) per 33 CFR 164.53. However, this is only half of what is required.

Per 33 CFR 164.55, a written request (application) for a deviation IS STILL REQUIRED, EVEN IF the master of the vessel has entered the navigation equipment deficiency (e.g. echo depth sounder inoperable) on the ENOA.

Please pass this information to all appropriate parties (e.g. shipping companies, etc). Vessels found in port with a navigation equipment deficiency, and without a COTP approved deviation in effect, are subject to civil penalty action by the Coast Guard."

RECEPTION FACILITIES : A report on the IMO Correspondence Group will appear on the MA in due course.

STOWAWAYS : A report of this Friday's seminar in London, organised by Honourable Company of Master Mariners, will appear on the MA next week.

TRAINING AND MANPOWER : MA to be updated in due course.


2. OTHER ISSUES

DIRECT REDUCED IRON : MA 20080215 (Cargoes) Intercargo sits on the IMO Correspondence Group and we have been asked to respond on three draft schedules, covering the loading and carriage of DRI. As ever, we are mindful of the past and ongoing safety issues of this commodity and we would ask all members - Full and Associate, who have carried, might intend to carry, or have had P&I issues concerning an incident, to view our Situation Report and to offer comments on the proposed restrictions by 26 February (although there will be an opportunity to also discuss this matter at the forthcoming CASTEC and Executive Committee meetings). The Correspondence Group proposals foresee much tighter shore-side procedures on the loading of (broadly) three categories of DRI, with two out of three categories seeing shipments restricted to vessels capable of providing an inert blanket.

SPAIN, DOCKERS STRIKE (MA : Ports, Dock Strikes) 20080204. With grateful thanks to Intercargo Associate Member, SIMON MONTOLIO Y CIA, S.A (www.smontolio.com), please be advised that there will be a Dockers Strike in Spanish Ports from 15 February to 22 February inclusive.

STATISTICS, MARITIME / DRY BULK : 20080205 : MA (Market and Statistics) Ever at a loss for a quick source of Maritime Statistics such as the growth in the dry bulk trades since 2000 ? Dry Bulk related statistics from the UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2007 have now been posted on the Members Area.


3. REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK

DIRECT REDUCED IRON : See above.

MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL : 20080204 : MA : A situation report on the proposed African / World Bank project to harmonise the routeing and the Navigation Aids in the region has been added to the Members Area (A-Z Operational). We are looking for users with experience in the area to contribute their views - by e mail, on the proposed routeing scheme. Many thanks to those serving Masters who have already supplied feedback.


4. INTERNAL ISSUES TO NOTE

SHANGHAI MEETING

A) PRESENTATION PROGRAMME : The draft programme for the Presentation Session on the afternoon of Tuesday 10 March, which all Intercargo members - Full and Associate, are invited to attend is as follows :-

" Intercargo Work Programme : 10 minute resume of "Where are We Now" on the 13 point Intercargo Work Programme
" Coatings : What owners should know about the Regulatory Developments. Also - Cargo Hold Coatings (Lloyds Register plus AN Other)
" Chinese shipbuilding including Relevant Developments in Chinese Law (Peter Murray, Senior Resident Partner, Ince & Co, Shanghai)
" Recent China Trade Developments (Mr Simon Yang, COSCO Research and Development Centre. A regular speaker at Intercargo events, Mr Yang has now viewed as one of the foremost experts in analysing Chinese Trade patterns including what it will mean for Bulk Carrier interests in the future.

NEW MEMBERS : This month, we are very pleased to welcome as Intercargo Full Members: Orion Bulkers of Germany, Kassian Maritime of Greece and Marine Trust Ltd of Greece

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