pollution prevention

Canada, US sign marine pollution contingency plan

US Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard signed the newly revised Dixon Entrance Annex to the national Canada-United States Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan in Juneau.

The updated annex includes basic content and format changes according to new national guidelines, clearer pollution notification and response protocols, and refreshed references to US Customs Service procedures for transboundary movement of personnel and resources. The new annex also includes organizational changes...

https://safety4sea.com/canada-us-sign-marine-pollution-contingency-plan/

BIMCO restructures committees balancing safety and environment

BIMCO announced that it is making changes to its structure to represent the importance of the environment, while in the meantime maintaining the debate on safety matters.

As decided by the BIMCO Board of Directors in December, the Association will have a Marine Environment Committee and a Maritime Safety and Security Committee.

The existing committee structure included the safety and environment agendas which were covered by the Marine Committee. The new structure will include shipping’s trends,...

https://safety4sea.com/bimco-restructures-committees-balancing-safety-and-environment/

Petition asks Carnival Corp. to suspend operations in Glacier Bay National Park

Activists with the Clean Up Carnival Coalition conducted a press conference outside the National Park Service’s Anchorage Regional Office in Alaska and presented a petition that was signed by more than 46,000 people who call for the suspension of Carnival Corporation’s cruise ship permits in Glacier Bay National Park.

The people that signed the petition ask for the suspension of Carnival Corporation’s cruise ship allowance in Glacier Bay National Park until the company installs third-party...

https://safety4sea.com/petition-asks-carnival-corp-to-suspend-operations-in-glacier-bay-national-park/

CLIA confirms limited impact of open-loop scrubbers on marine environment

According to a recent statement, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), highlighted the findings of three independent reports released in 2019 suggesting that, when operated in open-loop mode, Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS), also known as scrubbers, have minimal impact on water and sediment quality.

In fact, the most recent report, conducted by CE Delft and co-sponsored by CLIA, analyzed the long-term impact of wash water discharges from EGCS on port water and sediment. Using...

https://safety4sea.com/clia-confirms-limited-impact-of-open-loop-scrubbers-on-marine-environment/

USCG secures 360 gallons of diesel spilled in Texas

The US Coast Guard is responding to a crude oil spill in Tabbs Bay near Baytown, Texas, where for the time being the causes of the incident remain unknown and the authorities closely monitor the situation.

Specifically, Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received a report concerning a crude oil discharge in Tabbs Bay through an oil wellhead.

Therefore, personnel from Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston Incident Management Division and Texas General Land Office arrived to the...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-secures-360-gallons-of-diesel-spilled-in-texas/

Canada increases aerial surveillance for marine pollution

Canada’s Minister of Transport announced that Transport Canada acquired a new addition to its National Aerial Surveillance Program’s aircraft fleet to improve the monitoring of potential oil spills and other marine pollution.

Specifically, in the two years following, the Dash 8 will undergo changes to become a maritime patrol aircraft. The aircraft will be equipped with specialized maritime surveillance systems that are currently used on Transport Canada’s existing fleet.

Canada’s program is...

https://safety4sea.com/canada-increases-aerial-surveillance-for-marine-pollution/

Greece: Increased pollution fines from 2020

With effect from 2020, Greece has reformed its environmental law, imposing higher pollution fines for potential marine incidents. In this regard, the Shipowners Club provided a table with the updated pollution fines, to enhance operators’ awareness and provide some practical tips should a pollution incident occur.

By virtue of Presidential Decree 113/2019, the administrative fines for breaches of the Greek statute on ship-source pollution have been increased to implement EU Directives 2005/35...

https://safety4sea.com/greece-increased-pollution-fines-from-2020/

USG reports fuel spill and suspension of search of two missing

Following the incident of collision between a fishing vessel and a chemical tanker, the USCG issued an update informing of the suspension of search and rescue operations for the two fishermen missing and reporting of a spill that has been observed on the scene.

Specifically, it is reported that about 500-feet of containment boom has been placed around the fishing vessel Pappy’s Pride that capsized following a collision with Odfjell’s chemical tanker Bow Fortune on January 14, 2020 in Galveston...

https://safety4sea.com/usg-reports-fuel-spill-and-suspension-of-search-of-two-missing/

IGPI issues its Annual Review

The International Group of P&I Clubs has published its Annual Review which provides an overview of the Group, key activities and areas of engagement.

As of August 2019, some of the key issues pinpointed by the IGPI are

  • The top 10 containership operators deploy around 85% of all containership capacity; from 60% in 2010
  • The largest owned GT by nationality is Greece followed by China, Japan, Germany and the United States
  • Newbuilding orders are at 654 ships of 27.6m GT in 2019
  • Panama remains the...

https://safety4sea.com/igpi-issues-its-annual-review/

Why a Ship Execution Plan is vital for ships trading in Indian waters

In line with the requirements of Shipping Order No 5-2019 all ships trading in Indian waters, ports or places need to be provided with a Ship Execution Plan regarding the use of Single Use Plastics onboard. Scope of the Plan is to provide guidance for the actions to be taken in order to comply with the requirement. Approval by the Administration or a Recognised Organisation (RO) on behalf of the Administration is NOT mandatory.

As per India Administration, Directorate General of Shipping Order...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-why-a-ship-execution-plan-is-vital-for-ships-trading-in-indian-waters/

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