Contracts & commerce
17/05/2012 -
Vessel response plans in respect of potential pollution and the contracting of oil spill response organisations are now required in many jurisdictions. The announcement earlier this week the waiver on compliance with vessel response planning requirements of the Oil Pollution Act 1990 in Alaskan waters was terminated, highlighted the need to check OSRO contracts for compliance with International Group guidelines.
11/05/2012 -
The Managers have been made aware that legislation has been passed in Indonesia which purports to place a ban on the expert of minerals from Indonesian ports, unless the shipper has been granted a specific export permit. The cargoes which may be affected include nickel ore, bauxite and iron ore. Reports suggest that ships which are scheduled to load or are in the process of loading ore cargoes may be subject to delays where the exporters of the cargo do not possess the relevant permit.
03/05/2012 -
An executive order by the President of the United States was issued on the 1st May extending further the impact of US sanctions against Iran and Syria. This order strengthens the US Treasury’s ability to tackle foreign individuals and entities determined to have violated US sanctions on Syria or Iran.
03/05/2012 -
An executive order “Prohibiting Certain Transactions with and Suspending Entry into the United States of Foreign Sanctions Evaders with Respect to Iran and Syria” (“FSE E.O.”) by the President of the United States was issued on the 1st May extending further the impact of US sanctions against Iran and Syria. This order strengthens the US Treasury’s ability to tackle foreign individuals and entities determined to have violated US sanctions on Syria or Iran.
26/04/2012 -
Amendments to increase the limits of liability in the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims were adopted by the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), when the Committee met for its 99th session in London.
25/04/2012 -
Updated FAQs have been issued by the International Group following discussions with the UK Treasury. A number of common areas of enquiry from Members were addressed. These FAQs replace those issued earlier in March 2012.
02/04/2012 -
The attached FAQs issued by the International Group of P&I Clubs address the the legal Status of EU Council Regulation 267/2012; the effect of the "grace periods"; and the impact on the cover provided by clubs. These FAQs should be read in conjunction with the FAQs issued on 8 February 2012 regarding EU Council Decision 1012/35. These FAQs, the Regulation and the Council Decision can be found on this website.
29/03/2012 -
The EU’s formal Regulation implementing the enhanced sanctions against Iran proposed in January this year has now been issued. The position of shipowners in respect of the ban on transport of Iranian crude, petroleum products and petro-chemical products is largely unchanged from the EU Decision of 23 January. However, the position of insurers and reinsurers has been relaxed somewhat in response to strong lobbying from the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG) over the past two months.
29/03/2012 -
This updated flowchart provides guidance on compliance with sanctions against Iran following the EU Council Regulation of 23rd March 2012. It references both US and EU sanctions arrangements and offers answers in the context of trading to and from Iran, or with Iranian parties outside the country.
26/03/2012 -
The EU Council has now agreed a Regulation to implement enhanced sanctions against Iran, including a ban on transport of Iranian crude, petroleum products and petro-chemical products, as was expected in the light of the EU Decision of 23 January. There is now an exception to the insurance ban, for third party and environmental insurance, although only up until 1 July for crude oil and petroleum products and only until 1 May for petro-chemical products. It is not clear whether the position will be reviewed again before those dates.
Industry developments
Click on a section below to see information collated from across the website on topical issues of interest to our Members
Recent guidance & corresponding material in respect of international sanctions against various countries has been updated with respect to Syria. READ MORE
Piracy
Essential precautions and preparation against piracy, as well as additional information and resources, loss prevention advisories and useful external web links
China’s first comprehensive system of marine pollution regulations took effect from 1st March 2010, but many aspects are yet to be developed or advised.
MARPOL Annex VI limits sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from ship exhausts. It prohibits deliberate emissions of ozone depleting substances and establishes more stringently controlled special SOx Emission Control Areas (SECAS)