INTERPOL heads worldwide crackdown on criminal maritime pollution

A worldwide law enforcement effort designed to tackle criminal maritime pollution backed by Interpol and Europol has resulted in the discovery of hundreds of offences and exposed serious cases of contamination across the globe. INTERPOL has issued a news release stating that a month-long international law enforcement operation involving 58 nations revealed more than 500 maritime pollution incidents, including illegal… Read more →

Restriction of Paris MoU Data Poses Serious Threat

. I like to party on New Year’s Eve. This year, though, my celebrations will be somewhat muted. That’s because when midnight strikes on December 31, it won’t just usher in 2019; it’ll also mean the end of open access to port state control data collected by the Paris MoU. The decision to do this poses a serious threat to… Read more →

The IMO has launched a new international effort to combat the negative environmental impacts of biofouling.  The GloFouling Partnerships project is a collaboration between the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the IMO. It will push the implementation of the IMO Guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling, which provide a globally-consistent approach… Read more →

BIMCO – Paris MOU Port State Control inspection guide (05/2018)

More than 18,000 Port State Control inspections annually take place on board foreign ships in the Paris MoU ports, ensuring that these ships meet international safety, security and environmental standards, and that crew members have adequate living and working conditions. The basic principle is that the prime responsibility for compliance with the requirements laid down in the international maritime conventions lies with the shipowner/operator. The booklet can… Read more →

Agreement reached to increase minimum wage for seafarers

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), convened in Geneva at the Joint Maritime Commission Subcommittee on Seafarers Wages. The two organizations decided to update the minimum wage for an able seafarer by 27 USD over the next 3 years. ITF and ICS convened at the Joint Maritime Commission Subcommittee on Seafarers Wages, to review the… Read more →