Legal Update: Establishing a Limitation Fund Recent developments in Singapore and the UAE

The United Arab Emirates has acceded the International Convention On Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced that 47 individuals and 7 companies, including ocean-going vessel interests, were penalized between November 2020 and June 2021 for breaching safe management regulations, apparently related to the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.​

The region comprising Latin America and the Caribbean is a busy one for the UK P&I Club. Some prominent Members have a large number of tons entered with the Club and have this region as their principal place of business. Moreover, many of the Club’s entered ships frequently call at Latin American and Caribbean ports regardless of where the Member is based, which can undoubtedly be anywhere in the world.  

Loading grains in the Pacific Northwest can be a real test of patience. For shipowners not familiar with the Pacific Northwest, where it rains approximately 150 to 180 days per year, with rainfall totals averaging 40 inches per year, it is important to maximise loading during periods of light rain and to prevent vessel delays while avoiding moisture damage to the cargo during periods of moderate to heavy rain.