Following the introduction of the European Directive concerning "Sulphur Content of Liquid Fuels", the European Commission issued a recommendation (2009/1020/EU) regarding the safe implementation of regulations requiring the use of low suphur fuels by ships at berth in community ports.
This article provides an overview of the law and procedure of the ship arrest in Spain and consider the effect of the new Law of Civil Procedure, which entered into force in January 2001.
This Legal Briefing reviews the key directives issued by the EU regarding environmental protection and the regulation of shipping. The main directives are presented in tabular form to compare their scope and impact.
The Association has recently faced problems in the Ukraine with consignees failing to collect cargo. The following advice, on the matter, has been received from the Club's correspondent in Odessa.
This edition of HiLights includes advisory articles on steel cargoes "Big deal about steel"; grain cleanliness of holds "Grain clean" as well as commentary on rising people claims, the UK Defence Club seminar report and "Chronia polla"
EU states will bring the provisions of the Insurance Directive into law by 1st January 2012 at the latest. The Insurance Directive requires all ships greater than 300 gt to evidence insurance for maritime claims subject to LLMC 96 . Imminent changes to certificates of entry to comply with the Insurance Directive include incorporation of the registered shipowner's name and principal place of business
The Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (Rotterdam Rules) was adopted in December 2008 by the UN General Assembly. It will significantly increase the liability of shipowners and maritime carriers in respect of the carriage of cargo.
Over 20 States in the EU have now brought the European Directive on Environmental Liability (ELD) into law. Under the ELD shipowners are strictly liable for the costs of preventative and remedial actions for the environmental damage arising from the transport of dangerous or 'polluting' goods, if such costs are outside the scope of application of a relevant liabilty convention. Differing liability and compensation regimes of the ELD and relevant international conventions are explained. The three levels of remediation required under the ELD are also explained.
This circular explains the impact of the 3rd EU Maritime Safety Package on Members whose ships enter EU waters, including: A requirement to carry P&I certificates on board which may be enforced by Port State Control. The extension of the 2002 Protocol to the Athens Convention to domestic sea-going and inland waterways voyages. The establishment of an independent authority in individual EU states to respond to ships in distress with powers to board ships and direct them to designated places of refuge.
It has been brought to the attention of the Association that a number of seafarers have been detained in Liverpool on charges relating to pornographic material found on personal laptops and mobile phones.
The Association would like to draw the attention of its members towards the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) which will be carried out for a three month period between the 1st of September and the 30th of November by both the Paris and Tokyo Memorandums of Understanding.
