ITF News Update – 26th October to 3rd November
South Africa, Ghana and Panama find mutual agreement on seafarers certification | Samsa – 26th Oct
Panama and Ghana have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Africa that will for the first time, allow the countries to formerly recognise each other’s seafarers’ certificates under the same condition within which the countries accept all other foreign certificates.
Transparency in shipping – Industry warns of unintended consequences of greener shipping | Lexology – 27th Oct
A leading tanker broker has recently warned that the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI), due to come into effect on 1 January 2023, may give rise to unintended consequences for the tanker market and, at least in the short-term, render the global fleet less efficient.
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=e1311d97-07c7-4ccd-b176-288532cb6eed
About 50,000 Philippine Seafarers Might Lose Their Jobs On EU Vessels | Marine Insight – 28th Oct
The deployment of a host of new Filipino seafarers to the EU vessels and jobs of 50,000 others employed on EU-flagged vessels are at risk should the Philippines fail to comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for the Seafarers (STCW Convention), the House committee on overseas workers affairs got to know during a hearing that took place on Thursday.
World’s 1st hydrogen-powered tugboat arrives in Belgium | Offshore Energy – 28th Oct
The Hydrotug 1, the world’s first hydrogen-powered tugboat, has arrived in the Port of Ostend, Belgium.
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/worlds-1st-hydrogen-powered-tugboat-arrives-in-belgium/
American Fishing Trawler Sinks After Collision with MSC Containership | G Captain – 31st Oct
An American fishing trawler sank Friday after being involved in a collision with a containership off the coast of Virginia, approximately 63 miles southeast of Chincoteague. All thirteen people aboard were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard and good samaritan vessels.
https://gcaptain.com/american-fishing-trawler-sinks-after-collision-with-msc-containership/
Seafarer Happiness Continues to Rebound While Welfare Issues Persist | Maritime Executive – 31st Oct
Seafarers’ happiness and job satisfaction are continuing to rebound from a record low seen at the beginning of the year as COVID-19 related issues impacting their lives continue to recede. The Mission to Seafarers publishes the findings of its Q3 2022 Seafarers Happiness Index report, undertaken with the support of the Standard Club and Idwal, citing the progress while also cautioning that the more persistent issues relating to working conditions and crew welfare persist.
English Heritage drops partnership with P&O Ferries | Civil Society – 31st Oct
English Heritage has officially ended its partnership with P&O Ferries following a review but rebuffed criticism of its controvertial acceptance of a donation from Airbnb.
https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/english-heritage-drops-partnership-with-p-o-ferries.html
Danish fisheries enforcement vessel built for extended patrols in North Sea | Baird – 31st Oct
The Danish Fisheries Agency (Fiskeristyrelsen) has taken delivery of a new patrol vessel for operation in the North Sea and the Skagerrak.
COP 27 Q&A: How the Shipping Sector Can Help Us Restore our Oceans | UN Foundation – 31st Oct
Ahead of the next United Nations Climate Conference, known as COP 27, the UN Foundation’s Senior Advisor and Senior Director for Ocean and Climate, Susan Ruffo unpacks what’s at stake for the world’s ocean – and explains why it is the source of some of the most powerful climate solutions.
https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/cop-27-qa-how-the-shipping-sector-can-help-us-restore-our-oceans/
U.S.-Flagged Fishing Vessel Busted for Use of “Paper Captain” | G Captain – 31st Oct
The U.S. Coast Guard busted a Washington State-based tuna fishing vessel for using a “paper captain” in violation of the Jones Act.
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-flagged-fishing-vessel-busted-for-use-of-paper-captain/
Gov’t urged to ensure quality of maritime education | Inquirer – 1st Nov
MANILA, Philippines — Concerned state agencies should work together in addressing the deficiencies in the country’s maritime education that put at risk the jobs of about 50,000 Filipino seafarers deployed on European Union ships, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said on Sunday.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1687698/govt-urged-to-ensure-quality-of-maritime-education
More grain ships leave Ukraine ports despite Russian suspension | Reuters – 1st Nov
ISTANBUL, Nov 1 (Reuters) – Three outbound vessels had left Ukrainian ports by midday on Tuesday under the Black Sea grain export deal, the United Nations-led coordination centre said, the second day of sailings after Russia suspended participation in the initiative.
Report: American Ship Captain Surrenders License Amid Rape Accusation | G Captain – 1st Nov
An American ship captain has surrendered his license amid allegations that he raped a female U.S. Merchant Marine Academy cadet and attempted to assault another while working on board a U.S.-flagged ship at sea, according to an exclusive report by Long Island-focussed Newsday.
https://gcaptain.com/report-american-ship-captain-surrenders-license-amid-rape-accusation/
Panama ratifies ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment | ILO – 2nd Nov
Panama is the 21st country to ratify ILO Convention No. 190 which aims to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work.
With COP27 on the horizon, shipping industry feeling increased pressure to reduce emissions | CBC – 2nd Nov
Climate summit in Egypt expected to zero in on shipping emissions
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/global-shipping-emissions-1.6636413
Broadband connectivity network installed for Mediterranean shipping | Riviera – 2nd Nov
Nowhere Networks is working to bring broadband to coastal areas of Greece, Italy and Spain in 2023, providing an alternative to satellite communications for passenger vessels and merchant ships
Seafarers are at the heart of decarbonisation | Riviera – 2nd Nov
Decarbonising OSVs will require more than just investments in new technologies and low- and zero-carbon fuels; it will require people, too
https://www.rivieramm.com/opinion/opinion/seafarers-are-at-the-heart-of-decarbonisation-73603
Marcos seeks agencies’ joint plan to keep Filipino seafarers’ jobs in EU: Ople | ABS CBN – 3rd Nov
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to come up with a “joint implementation plan” to ensure the job security of Filipino seafarers in European vessels, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople on Thursday.
Seafarer dies due to linehandling incident at Port of Charleston | Safety4Sea – 3rd Nov
A crewmember from a vessel at the Port of Charleston, South Carolina lost his life during a linehandling accident, on October 26.
https://safety4sea.com/seafarer-dies-due-to-linehandling-incident-at-port-of-charleston/
Danish Maritime Officers file complaint with ITF on improper practices prior to Svitzer strike | Hellenic Shipping News – 3rd Nov
Danish Maritime Officers (DMO) has Wednesday filed a complaint with the International Transport Worker’s Federation (ITF). The complaint concerns Danish union CO-SEA disclosing confidential union information to shipowners prior to an ITF collective action.