The UK Club Correspondent, GAC Shipping Ltd, would like to remind Members of the commencement of bulk crew changes of international seafarers from 22nd December 2020, through the Offshore Crew Transit Hub (OCTH) operated by a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP).

Since early 2019, vessels calling in Dakar have been at an increased risk of Customs fines and/or detention for cargo shortages or overloading.

When using the ECDIS, it is necessary to know specifically what the problems for navigators are; in this article Captain Sekine extracts the problems related to the use of ECDIS in regard to the current status of ships operated around the world.

In November 2020, OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) published "Recommendations on Usage of ECDIS and Preventing Incidents" regarding the use of ECDIS.

​This maritime security guidance has been drafted jointly by BIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, and OCIMF following an incident in which a Tanker conducting STS Operations in International waters in the Persian Gulf reported a limpet mine attached to the hull of the vessel.​

The UK Club's Crew Health team have partnered with Red Square Medical to supply this critical advice on musculoskeletal disorders to Seafarers.

The Club would like to draw Members’ attention to the new 2021 pollution fine tariffs in Turkey, applicable from 1 January 2021.

On 10 December 2020, the Ministry of Transportation and Communication in Turkey issued a Circular containing new Covid-19 precautionary measures which need to be complied with by Pilot Stations and the vessels at Turkish ports.

The 2018 amendments to the MLC, 2006 will bring about a change to a seafarer's employment agreement (SEA) where it shall continue to have effect and wages shall continue to be paid while a seafarer is held captive on or off the ship as a result of acts of piracy or armed robbery against ships.

​The IMO in its Circular Letter No.4204/Add.35 14 December 2020 announces that, at the time of issuing the letter, 46 States have designated seafarers as key workers.

The UK Club’s Correspondents in China, Huatai Insurance Agency & Consultant Service Ltd, would like to alert Members to recent cases where crewmembers onboard ships were required to perform antibody testing in addition to NAT (swab) tests prior to entering shipyards in Shanghai and Zhoushan.

Prolonged waiting periods of vessels carrying Australian coal to China: Cargo hazards and precautions while waiting to discharge coal.

Commodities such as soya bean meal, sunflower seed pellets, palm kernel expellers, and others have been shipped for many years in large volumes.  These are the solid residues left behind when oil is removed from oil-bearing seeds.  They can self-heat and some are spontaneously combustible.

The UK P&I Club’s correspondents in Brazil, Representacoes Proinde Ltda, have published on their website a Practical Guidance entitled Loading Soya Beans in Brazil.

Communication is vital for the safe navigation and management of ships, this is true for communications within a ship as well as for ship-to-shore communications.

On September 18, 2020, the COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines for Operators of Oceangoing Passenger Ships (in Japan) were announced.

FATCA became law in March 2010 and came into effect on 1st July 2014, the FATCA form has since been updated as of November 2020.

Award winning reflective learning animations from the UK P&I club.

On 18 November, 2020, the US Coast Guard issued a bulletin to remind stakeholders that revisions to MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code will be coming into effect on 1 January, 2021.

The ports concerned have been busy putting in place the necessary measures for conducting crew change operations in compliance with the requirements laid down by the authorities.