The German TUI Group announced that it completed the sale of its subsidiary Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to TUI Cruises, an joint venture company that TUI operates with the Royal Caribbean Group.

The transaction was announced in February 2020, prior to the coronavirus sidelining the cruise industry. At the time, the transaction, which valued the company at 1.2 billion euros, was reported to be part of TUI Group’s strategy to deliver additional profitable growth at a lower level of capital intensity. The integration of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises into the joint venture was reportedly designed to allow TUI to participate in the global cruise industry’s growth at a low level of capital expenditure.

One of the most historic names in cruising, Hapag traces its roots to the 1800s and the immigrant trade. In 1891, the company operated its first luxury cruises, but after World War II the cargo operations were rebuilt before returning to passenger operations in the 1970s. TUI AG entered the tourism market in 1997 with the acquisition of Hapag-Lloyd, which at the time was separated from the cargo shipping operations.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises had recently begun ongoing efforts to upgrade and expand its cruise operations with the introduction of two new luxury cruise ships for the expedition cruise market and an order for a third expedition cruise ship scheduled for delivery in 2021. In addition, the company operates two luxury cruise ships, the Europa and Europa 2, and recently began to expand marketing beyond German-speaking travelers into the international markets.

TUI reported that the transfer of the individual Hapag-Lloyd Cruises vessels to the joint venture will be completed in the coming days. During the global cruise suspension, the ships have been laid up in Hamburg, Germany.

TUI and Royal Caribbean had launched the joint venture TUI Cruises in 2008 targeted at the German-speaking traveler. Recently, the company has been expanding its fleet currently with seven large cruise ships, known as Mein Schiff, and has three additional new builds on order for 2023, 2024 and 2026.

TUI Group said it will use the transaction proceeds to strengthen the group’s balance sheet and to drive its transformation into a digital organization. The company is evolving from a traditional tour operator model into a developer, investor and operator of hotels and cruise ships, as well as destination activity provider. TUI announced its digital business model with operations in hotels, resorts and cruises that is less asset and capital intensive.
Source: maritime-executive

To mark this year’s Maritime Safety Week and the launch of the Home and Dry Campaign by the Fishing Industry Safety Group, Sean Friday, an inspector of marine accidents for 8 years, talks candidly about his journey to the MAIB and what can be done to make commercial fishing safer.

Tell us about your career to date and your journey to the MAIB?

Although I had always wanted to go to sea, on my father’s insistence my career began with an engineering apprenticeship as a civilian in the British Army. With this providing a good grounding I went to sea as a deckhand in the fishing industry and progressed to the role of skipper of one the UK’s largest fishing vessels.

In 2006, I decided I needed a new challenge and left the sea for a full-time role with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) delivering safety advice and safety interventions to commercial fishermen.

In 2012, I began as nautical inspector and commercial fishing lead at MAIB and after an intensive two-year training and accreditation period I have investigated many accidents, not just to fishing vessels but also merchant and leisure craft.

What made you want to become an inspector of marine accidents?

In 1986, 3 years before the creation of the MAIB, my father, along with two of his crew, was lost at sea when his trawler capsized. I remember being frustrated by not knowing how, why or if this could happen again to another fishing crew. From this tragedy I became interested in accident investigation and prevention.

How has your background helped your work as an inspector?

My career at sea and personal experience of what drives fishermen and the reasons why they can be less risk averse gives me a valuable insight. This insight combined with the safety delivery work during my time at the RNLI puts me in an ideal position to be able to understand why accidents happen and develop recommendations to prevent a reoccurrence.

Fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the UK, what are the main safety challenges the industry is facing?

The industry has many safety challenges, not least the struggle to recruit, train and retain seafarers. The fishing industry is often seen as a place for itinerant workers and as such training and professionalism sometimes take a back seat.

What can be done to make commercial fishing safer?

Aside from all the good work that the MCA are doing to regulate and raise vessel standards, I believe that if the fishing industry is promoted as an exciting career path and deckhands are developed into conscientious, qualified, and professional skippers then better safety will follow and become ingrained.

What more can be done to change behaviour and ensure that PFDs are worn?

The introduction of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention 188 requires that fishermen wear lifejackets and subsequently we are seeing an increase in wear rates. However, there is no ‘quick fix’ and all the organisations involved in the Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG) are determined to keep working hard to change fishermen’s behaviour and ensure that we don’t continue to lose lives unnecessarily. That’s why it is so important that behaviour change campaigns such as the FISG’s Home and Dry campaign target the fishermen and skippers directly to remind them to be safety aware.

Source: gov.uk

Each year, Maritime Safety Week marks the UK government’s recognition of the excellent safety work that goes on across the maritime sector. Now in its third year, it provides a valuable opportunity to focus on specific safety challenges and what is being done to tackle them, as well as helping to share knowledge, experience and best practice and to deliver key safety messages.

Maritime Minister Kelly Tolhurst will be heading this year’s Maritime Safety Week, which takes place from Monday 06 July to Friday 10 July. We’re proud to showcase some of our own projects in the diverse markets in which we operate and highlight some of the work we do around the globe to keep those using our seas and waterways safe.

Supporting safety in national defense

We work with our customers in the defence industry to help them keep their assets safe along with the people that operate them and their surrounding environments. As experts in defence maritime safety management, we ensure that principal hazards have been assessed and that all risks are minimised to an acceptable level. This, in turn, helps to maintain through life operational capability and availability – keeping naval fleets fit to fight.

Specific examples include our work with South Korean Shipbuilders, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, in which we designed the Tide Class support tankers for the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. As part of this project, we were responsible for ensuring that these innovative, double-hull tankers were designed, constructed and could be operated in full compliance with the UK Ministry of Defence ‘s Safety and Environmental Regulation and Policy.

We also provide technical support for the UK Defence Safety Authority’s Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR). DMR is responsible for developing the regulatory framework to demonstrate that MOD shipping, diving and port regulations are meeting the overarching Safety and Environmental regulations and legislation, thus protecting people, equipment and the environment. Our independent objectivity, innovative ideas and proven methodologies have all been key in helping the DMR in their vital role to ensure maritime safety and environmental compliance.

Protecting reefs, lives and assets

We’ve built our reputation on delivering innovative solutions to complex problems. That philosophy has shown that improving maritime safety can sometimes involve supporting the environment in a way that also helps protect shipping and assets on vulnerable shorelines. For example, in Australia, we’ve been working in collaboration with the University of Queensland to develop new approaches to stabilise sections of the Great Barrier Reef. By taking broken coral from the seabed and placing it into natural-fibre nets in carefully chosen areas, we’ve been able to provide a stable base for new coral to grow, thus protecting vessels and shorelines from cyclone wave damage.

In addition to helping mitigate damage from natural maritime disasters, we also deliver safety measures to help reduce the risk of conventional grounding incidents before they happen. For example, we provide complete program management for dredging and sand bypassing operations to maintain safe shipping channels.

Keeping the lights on

As the world’s demand for clean energy has grown, so too has the number of offshore windfarms and the range of vessels that support them. Our design for a new 36m Service Accommodation Transfer Vessel (SATV) allows technicians to spend a week or more at sea as they service and maintain the turbine towers that power the industry. The design posed a technical challenge in that the vessel had to be both large enough and comfortable enough to live on whilst still being small enough to engage with the turbine landing tubes, thus enabling service technicians to transfer onto the towers safely. The answer lay in the latest iteration of our patented Active Fender System™ – a well proven and highly regarded solution that allows conventional windfarm vessels or even larger vessels such as our SATV to push up to wind turbine generators with a significantly reduced impact load, thus reducing the risk of damage to the towers and the risk to key personnel.

Training safely

BMT REMBRANDT is our high-fidelity, 3D ship navigation simulator that has long set the standard for maritime training simulation software. So much so that select cruise lines Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn North America and P&O Cruises Australia have signed multiple contracts to order office and ship-based licences for nearly 40 cruise ships.

By delivering the highest standards of manoeuvring simulation, BMT REMBRANDT is trusted to provide a versatile and scalable system that powers the fleets of these prestigious leisure travel companies. We’re proud that our solution for maritime simulation and virtual training has been essential in helping protect the safety and comfort of cruise guests worldwide.

This innovative technology has also been adopted by the world’s leading statutory marine agencies, including the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) Office of Marine Safety (OMS), the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch, the Australian Transport Safety Board and the Dutch Safety Board.

Although the coronavirus pandemic gives Maritime Safety Week a very different atmosphere this year, it nevertheless plays an important role in helping the public to understand how BMT continue to innovate, improve and lead the way in international maritime safety.

Source: bmt

A group of governments from twelve countries have come together to pledge urgent action to resolve the crew change crisis that has emerged as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint statement presented Thursday during the virtual International Maritime Summit on Crew Changes, representatives from 12 countries expressed their deep concern about the current crisis and acknowledged that “the inability of ship operators worldwide to conduct ship’s crew changes is the single most pressing maritime operational challenge to the safe and efficient movement of global trade”.

At least 200,000 seafarers are estimated to stranded on ships and awaiting repatriation amid government-imposed travel restrictions. This inability for routine crew changes has led to a growing humanitarian crisis in shipping, in addition to concerns that seafarer fatigue and mental health issues may lead to serious maritime accidents.

The joint statement encourages all IMO states to designate seafarers as key workers and to implement the Protocols for Ensuring Safe Ship Crew Changes and Travel during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, which were endorsed and circulated by IMO in May. The joint statement also recognizes the importance of considering the possibility of waivers or exemptions from visa or documentary requirements for seafarers, and to help increase access to commercial flights to and from the principal countries of origin of seafarers.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim welcomed the call to facilitate crew changes and achieve key worker designation for seafarers.

“It is time to act for seafarers. Safe ship operations and crew wellbeing should not be compromised. The humanitarian crisis seafarers face has implications for all of us, for the world economy and for the safety of life at sea and the environment,” said Secretary-General Lim.

The joint statement was signed by representatives from the following countries: Denmark, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States of America.

The full text of the joint statement is below:

Joint statement of the international maritime virtual summit on crew changes

Our collective efforts to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have demonstrated the critical need to prioritise the continued functioning of global supply chains to ensure the resilience of our national economies, and the importance of facilitating the safe and efficient operation of the maritime transportation system, which moves over 80% of global trade.

Critical to this endeavour is the ability of shipping companies to continue conducting crew changes throughout the world, notwithstanding the restrictions applied by many national authorities in response to the pandemic.

We, as the representatives of governments attending the International Maritime Summit on Crew Changes held on 9 July 2020 by the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, are deeply concerned by the global crisis.

Specifically, those created by ongoing obstacles affecting ship’s crew changes, the impact on the wellbeing of seafarers, and the impact that any failure by governments to resolve these issues will have on maritime transport, which must be permitted to continue to operate safely and efficiently throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, we acknowledge, as a matter of urgent concern:

• that the inability of ship operators worldwide to conduct ship’s crew changes is the single most pressing maritime operational challenge to the safe and efficient movement of global trade
• at least 200,000 seafarers are estimated to require immediate repatriation, with many serving on extended crew contracts who are overdue to return home, in addition to a similar number of seafarers that urgently need to join their ships in order to allow the world’s internationally trading vessels to continue to operate safely
• seafarers’ tours of duty cannot continue to be extended and need to be kept to a duration of less than 12 months, as set out by the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, as amended – the global shipping industry estimates that, since March 2020, only about 25% of normal crew changes have taken place; apart from the humanitarian and crew welfare concerns, and issues of regulatory compliance, there is an increasing risk that fatigue and mental health issues could lead to serious maritime accidents
• the complexity of facilitating ship’s crew changes, regardless of the seafarers’ nationality, requires concerted action as well as access to commercial flights to the principal seafarer countries of origin and those countries where crew changes take place
• that the health and wellbeing of seafarers is paramount and is inextricably linked to the continuing safety and efficiency of ship operations
• that the uncertainty around a possible second wave of COVID-19 underscores the need for swift actions without further delay to allow crew changes and to avoid further consequences to the already fragile global supply chain, which relies on goods transported by ships
• that the lessons learned during the COVID-19 outbreak be used to create international protocols in partnership with the maritime industry and the regulatory agencies, to provide practical instruments to facilitate shipping operations and enable seafarers to perform their essential role, in case of a future global pandemic

We therefore recognise the importance of the pledges set out below and, as a matter of urgency, to:

1. Encourage all International Maritime Organization (IMO) states to designate seafarers as “key workers” providing an essential service, to facilitate a safe and unhindered movement for embarking or disembarking a vessel.
2. Consider the legal possibilities for accepting internationally recognised documentation, such as International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers certificate, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Seafarers’ Identity Document (ILO 185) and a letter by the seafarers’ company, carried by seafarers as evidence of their status as key workers, and purpose of their travel and movement for crew changes.
3. Engage, nationally, multilaterally and bilaterally, in discussions about implementation, to the maximum extent possible, as appropriate to the circumstances that may prevail nationally or locally, of the recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, circulated to IMO member states as Circular Letter No.4204/Add.14 on 5 May 2020.
4. Review, working in conjunction with our health, immigration and other relevant ministries, agencies and authorities, the necessity of any restrictions that may continue to apply, at national and/or local level, to the movement and travel of seafarers for the purpose of conducting ships’ crew changes. This includes the possibility of allowing exemptions from quarantine or similar restrictions in accordance with relevant international rules or health regulatory guidelines.
5. Consider, in liaison with our relevant ministries and authorities, including those responsible for immigration, temporary measures including (where possible under relevant law) the possibility of waivers, exemptions or other relaxations from any visa or documentary requirements that might normally apply to seafarers.
6. Explore, in cooperation with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the aviation industry, ways of increasing access, as soon as possible, to commercial flights to and from the principal countries of origin of seafarers and the airports in reasonable proximity to those seaports where crew changes are effected.
7. Urge all IMO members to take any necessary measures, within their area of jurisdiction, to ensure seafarers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic enjoy safe crew changes as well as repatriation to their home countries or to their place of ordinary residence.

We express our deepest appreciation to the world’s seafarers who have continued tirelessly to operate ships and move trade throughout this global crisis, and pledge to take forward these actions at this summit with the urgency and resolve needed by the situation.

Together, we can avert the global crisis that is unfolding at sea and play our part in helping the world defeat the coronavirus (COVID-19).

The governments of:

• United Kingdom
• Denmark
• Germany
• Greece
• Indonesia
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Singapore
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America

Source: gcaptain

Rotterdam-based McNetiq launched a new line of magnetic anchors for fall protection when working at height.

The first product in this series from McNetiq is the workplace safety device McNetiq Fall Restraint, intended for workplaces constructed of steel without edge protection.

The operator is connected to this anchor with a measured working line so that the worker can never get past the unsecured edge. Areas of application are: loading and unloading work on ship decks, construction and demolition work on drilling platforms, shipbuilding and maintenance, and working on cranes and windmills.

This new application is based on Controlock technology. McNetiq is the inventor of this patented technology, with which the breakout point and shear force of a magnetic anchor can be determined in advance.  In fact McNetiq was founded following the invention of Controlock technology in 2014.

Source: oedigital

The shipping and logistics group is reinforcing its procedures for shipping protected species, the trade regulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

As part of these tighter procedures, shippers must expressly state whether a species is covered by the CITES convention and, where appropriate, provide the requisite export permit whenever any animal or plant goods are carried.

In parallel, CMA CGM will draw up a black list of exporters suspected to be involved in the collapse of biodiversity.

“We are also enhancing the training of our sales agents around the world and tightening up our ‘know-your-customer’ audit procedures, in coordination with the CMA CGM Academy and the CITES,” CMA CGM said.

Moreover, following several suspicions that undeclared rosewood may have been part of cargo shipments from the Gambia, the group has decided to halt its timber exports from the country until further notice.

Rosewood is a protected species, and trade in it is regulated by the CITES. This highly sought-after wood is felled illegally in the region and then exported under various different guises. This illicit trade is heavily implicated in the deforestation of West Africa.

With these measures, CMA CGM said it is demonstrating its commitment to the protection of the environment.

“This decision, which is part of the strengthening of the group’s CSR policy, illustrates CMA CGM’s resolve to help conserve global biodiversity and not to further imperil our planet’s future,” CMA CGM further said.

CMA CGM operates a fleet of 489 vessels serving more than 420 ports around the world. In 2019, the company’s ships carried nearly 22 million TEUs.

Source: offshore-energy

New Delhi (NVI): The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Bakamla RI (Indonesian Coast Guard) have signed an agreement on ‘Maritime Safety and Security’ to boost maritime relations amid the Covid-19 pandemic, despite limitations of travel and physical meetings.

The MoU between Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia, Head of Indonesian Coast Guard and Director General, ICG, K Natarajan through video conference.

Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Ambassador of India to Indonesia & Timor-Leste’ was also present on the occasion at Jakarta. A token ceremonial handing over of the MoU to the respective Defence Attache’ was undertaken – Captain Amitabh Saxena at Jakarta and Captain Asdi Yasin at New Delhi being the recipients, as per an official release.

India and Indonesia are historically connected through the Indian Ocean and it has been the resolve of both nations to ensure safe and secure sea passage for all seafarers in the region. This is also enshrined in PM Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR i.e. Security And Growth for All in the Region.

Relations between the two countries were elevated to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ in May 2018 during the visit of Hon’ble PM of India to Indonesia. The focus on maritime security was re-iterated with the Shared Vision of India-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The logical step of an MoU between the two Coast Guards was also conceived at this stage.

This MoU will strengthen cooperation by augmenting information exchange mechanisms. This real-time Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) will then be the foundation for controlling and responding to incidents of piracy, smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal migration and other such maritime crimes which will bring safety and security to the region and also result in protection of our precious marine environment.

The MoU will also provide avenues to improve our interoperability and carry out joint search and rescue when required. There is also an immense scope of jointly working towards capability and capacity building through closer involvement of all stakeholders.

-ARK

The Vessel Traffic Management system is open, flexible, and contains modular architecture, which gives a scope to upgrade the system by utilizing computer and communication systems. The VTMIS system is evolved on the basis of client-server architecture, where the server offers services to clients who are disconnected from the server. The client and server are independent of each other.Additionally, the VTMS is comprised of various information system, which is integrated, processed, and correlated with each other. Various information system includes radars, automatic identification system, direction finders, port management & information system, electro-optical systems, and surveillance networks sharing radar and AIS data. These system requires frequent solutions and services to remain operative in maritime transports.The market for telecom order management has generated approximately USD xx million in 2017 and it is expected that the market will grow at xx% CAGR, the market size by 2027 will be USD xx million.

Get Access to sample pages @  https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/3252

Market Dynamics:

Increasing demand for the implementation of technologies, such as Global Navigation Surveillance Systems (GNSS), e-navigation, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) in busy commercial ports is one of the key factors driving the vessel traffic management market. High cost of the Vessel Traffic Management (VTM) equipment and instalment is a factor restraining the exponential growth of the VTM market.

Key Players:

The Vessel Traffic Management System market is dominated by a few global players, and comprises several regional players. Some of the key players operating in the Vessel Traffic Management System ecosystem are Kongsberg, L3 Communication, Transas, Saab AB, Thales, Rolta India, Japan Radio Co. Ltd., Frequentis, TERMA, Tokyo Keiki Inc., Indra, Leonardo Finmeccanica, and Kelvin Hughesand other.

Market Segmentation:

Vessel Traffic Management System market is segmented based on Component, End-user, Systems and geography.Vessel Traffic Management System market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa, Latin America. By region, Europe is expected dominated the Vessel Traffic Management System market. The United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany are expected to be the leading countries in the region. This is attributed to the presence of large number of manufacturers in the region. Asia Pacific is also anticipated to be the fastest growing region in the vessel traffic management system market over the forecast period. India, Japan, and China are the leading countries in the vessel traffic management system market, owing to the rise in number of defence deals with the European market.

Market segmented on the basis of systems:

– Port Management Information Systems
– Global Maritime Distress Safety System
– River Information Systems
– A to N Management & Health Monitoring System

Market segmented on the basis of End-user:

– Commercial
– Defense

Market segmented on the basis of component:

– Hardware
• Marine radar sub-system and automatic identification sub-system
• Communication and computer networks
• Operator consoles
• Servers
• Databases
• Video walls
– Solution
• Sensor integrators
• Routing monitor
• Multi-sensor tracker
• Electronic navigation charts.
– Services
• Maintenance
• Operating services

Market segmented on the basis of region:

– North America
• US
• Canada
• Mexico
– Europe
• UK
• Germany
• France
• Rest of Europe
– Asia-Pacific
• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• Rest of Asia-Pacific
– Latin America
• Brazil
• Rest of Latin America
– Middle East and Africa (MEA)
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• Rest of MEA

Source: https://coleofduty.com/

South Korean shipbuilders Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) have gained Approval in Principal (AiP) for the application of the “solvent free 1 coating system” for ballast water tanks from both the Korean Register of Shipping (KR) and the Liberian Registry.

The eco-friendly (solvent free) 1 coating system has been verified for excellent coating quality when compared to the traditional double coating system and has passed quality standards for alternative specifications as laid out in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) PSPC regulations.

An award ceremony in honor of the approval was held at KR headquarters in Busan, Korea on Wednesday. Senior officers from the stakeholders were present for this momentous occasion, including Oh Min Ahn, Senior Vice President of HHI; Yeong Jun Nam, Executive Vice President of HMD; Yean Tae Kim, Executive Vice President of KR; and Jung Sik Kim, Managing Director of the Liberian Registry in Korea.

“This acquisition of AiP will be a foundation to secure competitiveness in the shipbuilding industry also following global eco-friendly trends, eventually maximize the satisfaction of our clients, ship owners,” Ahn said.

Nam added, “We can lay the groundwork for dramatically improving the shipbuilding process with the eco-friendly 1 coating system, which has an excellent protective coating performance. And we believe it will contribute to increase of coating productivity and enhance the coating quality in the near future”

KR’s Kim said, “We are very pleased to be working on this project with the Liberian Registry, which has long contributed to maritime safety and environmental protection, and Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, which are leading global shipbuilding technology. This project will provide an opportunity to decisively enhance the prestige of the Korean shipbuilding industry by leading eco-friendly shipbuilding technology.”

Liberian Registry’s Kim delivered a message from Alfonso Castillero, Chief Operating Officer of the Liberian Registry in HQ: “On behalf of the Liberian Registry, and our entire global team, I want to thank all stakeholders for making Liberia a part of this important project. We are proud to have been able to use our experienced Technical in-house experts to work with HHI, HMD and KR closely to reach this Approval in Principal.”

Source: https://www.marinelink.com/