The Ballast Water Management Convention 2004 will enter into force on 8 September 2017. The International Group has prepared an update and guidance on compliance with this Convention and with US BWM Regulations. Further updates and guidance will be provided as and when necessary.

Proposed amendments to rules and Directors' remuneration. Please attached papers for a Special General Meeting to be held on 19th January 2017 in Bermuda.

The International Group today announced that it had concluded terms for 2017 in respect of the excess of loss reinsurance.

For the 2017 policy year, the Club retention will remain $10 million. The Group Pooling retention will remain unchanged at $80 million and continues to be insured by the Group captive, Hydra, and pre-funded by a premium contribution from each club. This premium is included in the reinsurance rates.

Mutual Premium Discount of 3 per cent on the total mutual premium for the 2015 policy year. Standard deductible will be $12,000 per event for the 2017 policy year. Any change in the cost of the International Group reinsurance will be passed on to the mutual Members. An explanation of the financial background to the Board's decisions can be found in the "Autumn Review 2016" which accompanies this Circular.

Circular 18/16 is a Report of the AGM proceedings and resolutions adopted. New Directors elected to the Board and Proposed changes to the Club's governance structure was approved by the Members.

This circular provides details of the AGM of the Association, which will take place in Zurich at 9am on 19th November 2016 and the arrangements for voting by proxy.

This circular sets out details of the arrangements that will be made by the Club to assist owners to comply with the MLC financial security requirements applicable from January 2017

The UK Insurance Act 2015 will enter into force on 12 August 2016. As an update, the eight Clubs in the International Group whose rules are subject to English law took a common approach to contracting out of certain aspects of the Act.

Update on the Maritime Labour Convention: Amendments to the MLC to implement the principles agreed in 2009 will enter into force on 18th January 2017

Members are referred to Circular 9/15 informing Members that non-tank vessels in transit through Western Alaska waters en route to or from a US port are required to follow Alternative Planning Criteria (APC) in order to fulfil federal requirements.

The International Group and the shipping line members of the Cargo Incident Notification System have collaborated to produce a new set of guidelines for the carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite in containers

The European Union and the United States continue to apply trade sanctions against the Government of Syria

Review of open policy years: 2013 policy year closed, Open years developing in line with expectations

The International Group recommends that the 2011 Inter-Club Agreement should be applied to all NYPE/Asbatime charterparties. The Group has therefore drafted a charterparty clause to promote the application and incorporation of the 2011 Agreement into all NYPE/Asbatime charterparties.

Members are referred to our Circular 3/16 concerning Iran sanctions.This Circular is intended to update members on the latest developments in relation to the interim and longer-term solutions to the reinsurance recovery shortfall risk under the Group General Excess Loss reinsurance programme and Hydra retrocession programme.