compliance

Canada steeply increases the size of maritime penalties

The size of monetary penalties for violations under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 has been increased by a whopping-tenfold: from a maximum of CAD 25,000 to a new maximum of CAD 250,000 (about US$18,000 to US$180,000. The increased maritime penalties were announced by Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez and are structured into three levels: minor, medium, and serious.

Minor violations are administrative in nature and pose no threat to public safety or the environment; medium violations apply...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/compliance/canada-steeply-increases-the-size-of-maritime-penalties/

New guidelines on SMS compliance and alternative fuels

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released guidelines that make recommendations for developing and implementing the Safety Management System (SMS) under IMO’s International Safety Management (ISM) Code. They address SMS requirements when operating ships on potentially more hazardous alternative fuels.

The MTF brings together a group of leading flag administrations and class societies and this new report follows MTF’s publication last year of “Operational Management to Accelerate Maritime...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/new-guidelines-on-sms-compliance-and-alternative-fuels/

USCG won’t enforce controversial CARB CHC regulation

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) continues to get push back on a commercial harbor craft (CHC) regulation slammed as “unworkable” and “deeply flawed” by the American Waterways Operators (AWO), even before they went into force. AWO noted that, among other things, the CARB CHCn regulation mandates engine technology that is not available and is not certified as safe by the U.S. Coast Guard.

One of those technologies is the diesel particulate filters (DPFs) called for by the CARB...

https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/uscg-wont-enforce-controversial-carb-chc-regulation/

CBP ruling clears way for Mexican LNG exports from Altamira Fast FLNG to Puerto Rico

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rulings on Jones Act compliance are always controversial, but New York, N.Y., headquartered New Fortress Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NFE) has welcomed a CBP ruling confirming that the transportation of LNG produced at the company’s Altamira Fast FLNG facility, located offshore Altamira, Mexico, by non-U.S. qualified vessels would not violate the Jones Act.

As a result of the CBP ruling, says New Fortress, it is now able to sell and deliver LNG produced at the...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/cbp-ruling-clears-way-for-mexican-lng-exports-from-altamira-fast-flng-to-puerto-rico/

USCG approves use of ABS Wavesight’s eLogs on U.S.-flagged ships

ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service company, ABS Wavesight today reports that the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has formally approved ABS Wavesight’s eLogs software for use by U.S.-flagged ships, making ABS Wavesight one of only three maritime software providers to receive such approval on the basis of the USCG’s guidance under USCG NVIC 01-23.

“The maritime industry is entering an era of rapid digitalization,” said Gurinder Singh, director of solutions engineering at ABS Wavesight. “We are...

https://www.marinelog.com/technology/uscg-approves-use-of-abs-wavesights-elogs-on-u-s-flagged-ships/

IMO Assembly seeks to crack down on “dark fleet”

The IMO Assembly wrapped up its 30th session on December 6. The Assembly is the International Maritime Organization’s highest governing body and among its actions in this latest session were to elect a Council that, for the first time since 1960, did not include Russia as a member. In another move that Russia was unlikely to be happy with as it tries to circumvent sanctions on its oil exports, the Assembly also passed a resolution urging IMO member states and all relevant stakeholders to...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/shipping/imo-assembly-seeks-to-crack-down-on-dark-fleet/

Lawsuit alleges MSC civilian mariner was raped by captain

A complaint filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey alleges that an MSC civilian mariner was raped by the captain when working as the 1st assistant engineer aboard the USNS Carson City, a Spearhead class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EFT). The suit alleges that the United States failed to adequately protect the mariner, Elsie E. Dominguez, the ship’s 1st assistant engineer, from sexual assault.

The complaint asserts that the United States’ conduct violates the...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/lawsuit-alleges-msc-civilian-mariner-was-raped-by-captain/

12 migrant stowaways interdicted on barge headed into San Juan

U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection have apprehended 12 stowaway migrants in a response that began at 8.43 a.m Saturday, Nov. 25, when watchstanders at Sector San Juan received notification from a Coast Guard Station San Juan boat crew of a possible stowaway sighting aboard a barge that was being towed by the tugboat Sarah Dann.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan’s Boarding Team responded to the report and found nine stowaways aboard the barge, including one who was unresponsive. The...

https://www.marinelog.com/inland-coastal/coastal/12-migrant-stowaways-interdicted-on-barge-headed-into-san-juan/

New USCG guidance on SASH crew safety compliance

Following on from its April Marine Safety Bulletin (MSIB) on reporting harassment on U.S.-flag vessels (see earlier story) the U.S. Coast Guard has now released further guidance on vessel operator compliance with changes to the law enacted as part of the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to enhance crew safety and address sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) issues.

Key changes include mandated surveillance systems, crew training, reporting procedures, and master key...

https://www.marinelog.com/legal/compliance/new-uscg-guidance-on-sash-crew-safety-compliance/

OFAC sanctions three more Russian oil price cap busters

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today imposed sanctions on three entities and identified as blocked property three vessels that used Price Cap Coalition service providers while carrying Russian crude oil above the Coalition-agreed price cap.

Treasury says the action underscores its commitment, alongside its international partners, to responsibly reducing oil revenues that the Russian government can use to bankroll its brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Today...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/ofac-sanctions-three-more-russian-oil-price-cap-busters/

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