ITF News Update
Tragedy on Gatun Lake: A Call to Strengthen Maritime Security
The MICA ship, where the accident occurred, is a Liberian-flagged tanker. The accident that occurred on Lake Gatun, where a young sailor lost his life after falling from the deck of a ship into the water, has raised alarm bells about the importance of strictly complying with safety regulations in the maritime sector.
Tragedy on Gatun Lake: A Call to Strengthen Maritime Security – Newsroom Panama
Fewer pirate attacks in 2024, but rising number of seafarer hostage-takings cause concern says Danish Shipping
Globally, there were slightly fewer pirate attacks in 2024 compared to the previous year. Notably, the Gulf of Guinea has seen a significant decline in the number of attacks since 2020. However, piracy remains a serious threat to seafarers, particularly with a sharp rise in the number of hostage-takings being a cause for concern. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has just released a report showing that there were slightly fewer pirate attacks on shipping in 2024 than in previous years. In total, 116 incidents of pirates targeting ships were reported globally last year, which is four fewer than the year before.
EU and the Philippines to boost seafarers’ training, certification, and labor conditions
Filipino seafarers stand to benefit from a joint initiative between the European Union (EU) and the Philippines to enhance maritime education, training, certification, and labor conditions. In a special press briefing on Dec. 2, 2024, organized by the European Union Embassy, Niclas Kvarnström, managing director for Asia and the Pacific of the European External Action Service, emphasized the Philippines’ importance as a partner of the EU.
EU and the Philippines to boost seafarers’ training, certification, and labor conditions
The Seafarers’ Charity helps fund vital seafarer crisis support for another year
Sailors’ Society’s unique Crisis Response Network (CRN), which provides 24/7 care and support to seafarers, their families and shipping companies following critical incidents, has received funding again this year from The Seafarers’ Charity. Sailors’ Society CEO Sara Baade said, “Our CRN supports seafarers through abandonment, imprisonment, piracy attacks and, recently, we have also been there for crew caught up in the Red Sea crisis.
The Seafarers’ Charity helps fund vital seafarer crisis support for another year – Sea News
Shipping Industry Adopts Tougher Safety Standards to Snuff Out Charcoal Fires on Ships
The shipping industry is implementing enhanced safety protocols for charcoal transportation ahead of mandatory International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations set for 2026. The initiative comes in response to a series of devastating fires aboard vessels caused by improperly handled charcoal shipments.
Shipping Industry Adopts Tougher Safety Standards to Snuff Out Charcoal Fires on Ships
ITF calls on Houthis to halt all attacks in Red Sea, release kidnapped seafarers, warns shipping industry against risking lives
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) calls on Yemen’s Houthis to halt attacks all on commercial ships in the Red Sea, to de-escalate threats to shipping and release seafarers who continue to be held hostage. On Sunday, the Houthis declared they would suspend attacks on non-Israeli vessels following the new Gaza ceasefire—while maintaining threats to Israeli-owned or -flagged ships until all phases of the ceasefire agreement are implemented.
IMO’s sub-committee on Ship Design and Construction
Considerations of ship design and inspection received detailed scrutiny during this week’s IMO proceedings. Considerations of ship design and inspection, ranging from bridge alarms to bulk cargo access ladders, received detailed scrutiny at this week’s eleventh meeting of the IMO’s sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction.
IMO’s sub-committee on Ship Design and Construction
How AI is Revolutionizing Safety Management in the Maritime Industry
The maritime sector is embracing digital transformation, with artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a game-changer for safety management. Companies like WiseStella are leveraging AI to simplify compliance, reduce cognitive strain on seafarers, and enhance safety standards across global fleets.
How AI is Revolutionizing Safety Management in the Maritime Industry – Global Trade Magazine
Drewry: Shipping Lines Cautious on Suez Return
Despite the Houthis’ recent pledge to halt attacks on non-Israeli commercial vessels following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement of January 19th, shipping industry analysts at Drewry warn against expecting an immediate return to Suez Canal transits.
Drewry: Shipping Lines Cautious on Suez Return
Houthis release Galaxy Leader crew after 14 months
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group has released the crew of the Galaxy Leader over a year after seizing the vessel off Yemen’s coast. According to Al Masirah TV, the crew members were handed over to Oman in coordination with Palestinian militant group Hamas following a Gaza ceasefire brokered between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports.
https://safety4sea.com/houthis-release-galaxy-leader-crew-after-14-months/
Final Call For IMO-WISTA Survey to Count on Gender Diversity Progress
Further improving maritime gender diversity will take action as well as attitude, writes WISTA International President Elpi Petraki, in a final call for submissions to the Women in Maritime survey. Our industry is making steady progress on gender diversity – with more women working in various roles across multiple sectors today than ever before.
Black Sea MoU: CiC Results on Crew Wages and Employment Agreements
From 1 September 2024 to 30 November 2024, Black Sea MoU carried out a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) focusing on Crew Wages and Seafarer Employment Agreements in accordance with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). The campaign also included relevant questions pertaining to financial security provisions introduced under the 2014 amendments to the MLC, 2006. It involved the member Authorities of the BS MoU that have ratified the MLC, 2006.
https://safety4sea.com/black-sea-mou-cic-results-on-crew-wages-and-employment-agreements/
Navigating shipping’s most pressing challenges
In an era marked by growing uncertainty, knowledge and trusted sources are more powerful than ever. The International Chamber of Shipping’s annual Barometer survey, the fourth edition of which was recently launched, obtains critical insights into the evolving risks and challenges confronting the ICS maritime leadership community across the world.
https://splash247.com/navigating-shippings-most-pressing-challenges/
The shipping sector must reach net zero by 2050. Here’s how scalable maritime green fuels will help
The maritime industry represents a backbone of global commerce, with approximately 100,000 shipping vessels traversing the oceans at any given time, connecting continents and forming logistical networks. However, in light of the impending climate crisis, the sector confronts a pressing challenge: the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has mandated a reduction in carbon intensity by 40% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/scalable-maritime-green-fuels/
Nautilus recovers more than £2.17 million in unpaid wages for yacht crew
Nautilus International has released new figures for the year 2024 which show that the Union was able to recover more than £2.17 million in unpaid wages and benefits for its members in the yacht sector.
This is significantly higher than the £1.3 million recovered during 2023 and approaches the record total for 2022 – more than £2.75 million – which was inflated by the impact of sanctions on Russian-owned superyachts.
Nautilus recovers more than £2.17 million in unpaid wages for yacht crew
Crew “Exasperated” as Bulker Waits for USCG Rescue from Lake Erie Ice
The Canadian-flagged bulker Manitoulin became stuck midday on Wednesday, January 22, in the ice outside Buffalo, New York on Lake Erie. The crew took it in stride and while the vessel was waiting for the arrival of a U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker had a little fun posting their destination on the AIS signal as “exasperated sigh.”
Crew “Exasperated” as Bulker Waits for USCG Rescue from Lake Erie Ice
From Russia’s shadow fleet to China’s maritime claims: The freedom of the seas is under threat
The maritime order, which ensures the freedom of the seas, is under intense and growing threat from rule violations in areas including maritime borders and the right of innocent passage. As the Atlantic Council has documented in the first two reports within its Threats to the Global Maritime Order: Securing Freedom of the Seas initiative, continuing attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and beyond pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas.