Supreme Court considers the POEA-SEC and rules that a seafarer's heirs are entitled to death benefits for work related illness even after term of employment.

Hong Kong and China have agreed new measures to allow parties to an arbitration seated in one jurisdiction to attach assets in the other jurisdiction pending an award. This is an important extension to arbitration proceedings of measures previously restricted to litigants before Hong Kong and Chinese courts. It also reflects the increasing use of Hong Kong as a forum for arbitration.

The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre ("HKIAC") completed a comprehensive revision of its Rules at the end of last year. The 2018 HKIAC Rules, hereafter "the New Rules", came into effect on 1st November 2018. They are accompanied by a Practice Note on the Appointment of Arbitrators ("Practice Note") which came into effect on the same day.

The latest 'Soundings' from UKDC is available above.

Liability without fault under the Inter-Club Agreement ("ICA")

QCR Spring 2017: The Court of Appeal provides guidance on the interpretation of a Clause Paramount incorporating the Hague Rules

QCR Spring 2017: The Commercial Court clarifies that the package limitation in the Hague Rules does not apply to bulk cargoes

Our local Correspondents have supplied the Club with their latest circular on recent amendments and alterations made on the "Regulation on Ports" in Turkey.

In October 2016 the U.S. Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC") announced further amendments to the Cuban Asset Control Regulations ("CACR"), which restrict the scope of the application of the "180 day rule," by permitting ships to carry a wider range of cargos to be imported to Cuba from third countries without their being subject to the '180 day rule'.

The Ministry of Transport ("MOT") of China has issued a formal notice on the revision of its Provisions on Prevention of Marine Environmental Pollution Caused by Ships and Their Related Operations.

A reminder that the USCG will not hesitate to impose penalties for non-compliance with the USCG's Final Rule, Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in U.S.Waters issued on 23 March 2012.

Available on Apple, Android and Blackberry: The Correspondents app contains contact details for the UK Club's worldwide correspondents network. Search by Port or Country to find the local correspondent in the Club's network.

STOPIA and TOPIA have had their 10 years' period review with participation of ship and oil cargo interests.

US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions yesterday against Venezuela's Vice President Tarek El Aissami and his primary frontman in the US. His assets in the US were seized (bank accounts, corporations, real property), and US nationals and entities prohibited to trade with them.

As a result of legal challenges, the recent Executive Order setting forth restrictions on immigration to the U.S has been temporarily suspended.

The latest publication from the UK Club Legal Briefing team provides a guide to cargo claims under US law.

Port authorities may require evidence of insurance prior to the expiry of current documents. Ships without 2017 policy year documentation prior to 20th February may face trading delays.

The Club has been advised by our Correspondent that the Port of Fujairah has put in place a new regulation prohibiting a vessel from sailing when a crew member is disembarked for medical reasons.