Tankers, fishing vessels and bulk carriers were the three highest sectors for sending distress signals between 2018-2021, Inmarsat’s The Future of Maritime Safety Report 2022 reveals.

Among the findings from the Inmarsat data was an abrupt spike in GMDSS calls in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, according to the report, is likely to have been caused by “issues with crew change, rapid turnaround in ports and fatigue on board”.

Peter Broadhurst, Senior Vice President of Safety and Security, Inmarsat Maritime, said, “The Future of Maritime Safety Report provides insights into safety trends from GMDSS data gathered between 2018 and 2021 and reveals patterns at a local and global level. Better understanding these patterns can help us to take proactive steps to prevent such incidents going forward and help guide us to a safer future.

Adding context to the data analysis, the report features opinions from industry representatives and seafarers invited to share their views on the most pertinent maritime safety issues and the changes they would like to see implemented to address them.

Cyrus Moody, Deputy Director, International Maritime Bureau, addresses the value of communication and collaboration in tackling piracy.

“Protecting our seafaring workforce requires constant vigilance and a concerted effort from the international maritime community, working with agencies and governments around the world”, says Moody. “All too often, piracy is out of sight and out of mind.”

Other contributors include International Maritime Rescue Federation CEO, Theresa Crossley, who shares her views on the lessons shipping must take from the Covid-19 pandemic; and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Maritime Safety Watch Branch Chief, Christopher Janus, who emphasises the importance of embracing existing technology solutions to improve vessel safety.

Click here for your copy of The Future of Maritime Safety Report 2022.

PCG: Vice Admiral Rodolfo D Isorena PCG presided the turn-over ceremony of the Maritime Safety Services Command at Sangley Point, Cavite City. Commodore Elson E Hermogino PCG was designated as the new Commander of Maritime Safety Services Command (MSSC). Prior to his new assignment, Commodore Hermogino was the former Commander of Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog (CGDSTL). The outgoing MSSC Commander, Commodore Gilbert S Rueras PCG retired yesterday, November 21, 2014 after completing 32 years of service in the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

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Just In Time (JIT) arrivals allow ships to optimise speed during their voyage to arrive in port when berth, fairway and nautical services are available. Containerships can reduce fuel consumption and resulting carbon dioxide emissions by 14% on a per voyage basis using JIT arrival, according to a new study, commissioned by the IMO-Norway GreenVoyage2050’s Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA).  

Aiming to establish the main safety concerns currently facing the shipping industry, The Future of Maritime Safety Report 2022 examines data from Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) calls made to Inmarsat, the world leader in global mobile, satellite communications, from 2018 to 2021.

Among the key findings from the Inmarsat data was an abrupt spike in GMDSS calls in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, according to the report, is likely to have been caused by “issues with crew change, rapid turnaround in ports and fatigue on board”.

Peter Broadhurst, Senior Vice President of Safety and Security, Inmarsat Maritime, says: “The Future of Maritime Safety Report provides insights into safety trends from GMDSS data gathered between 2018 and 2021 and reveals patterns at a local and global level. Better understanding these patterns can help us to take proactive steps to prevent such incidents going forward and help guide us to a safer future.

“The Inmarsat GMDSS data shows the top three sectors with the highest distress calls as tankers, fishing vessels and bulk carriers, with the lowest incidents arising in passenger ships. This data should help us focus our attention and tackle known safety issues in these sectors.”

Adding context to the comprehensive data analysis, the report features expert opinions from industry representatives and seafarers invited to share their views on the most pertinent maritime safety issues and the changes they would like to see implemented to address them.

Cyrus Moody, Deputy Director, International Maritime Bureau, addresses the value of communication and collaboration in tackling piracy. “Protecting our seafaring workforce requires constant vigilance and a concerted effort from the international maritime community, working with agencies and governments around the world”, says Moody. “All too often, piracy is out of sight and out of mind.”

In the cruise sector, Rachel Arnold, Chief Officer, cruise sector, states that “the root cause of most safety issues is cost-cutting”, in discussing how to minimise risk to crew and passengers.

Other contributors include International Maritime Rescue Federation CEO, Theresa Crossley, who shares her views on the lessons shipping must take from the Covid-19 pandemic; and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Maritime Safety Watch Branch Chief, Christopher Janus, who emphasises the importance of embracing existing technology solutions to improve vessel safety.

On describing a newly created NGA Source Maritime Automated Processing System which uses autonomous natural language processing and basic machine learning, Janus says that “this kind of automated system could be considered more widely by our industry as we head towards implementing new S-124 navigation warnings for electronic charts and effectively processing even more information”.

Establishing a clear link between the global health crisis and a “drastic rise in distress calls in the last three years”, the report suggests that shipping “has not emerged from the pandemic unscathed”. It concludes with a call to action, imploring the industry to put “safety at the core of its operations” and use “every solution available to prevent incidents and save lives”.

The Future of Maritime Safety Report 2022 is available to read in full today, 07 June 2022, and can be accessed here.
Source: Inmarsat

More than 100 people, many of whom were elementary school students, were evacuated safely from the Spirit of Norfolk dining cruise on the Elizabeth River near Naval Station Norfolk on Tuesday after a fire broke out near the stern of the vessel.

The incident prompted a response that involved commercial tugs and crews from the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and local fire departments. Thankfully no injuries were reported.

The fire was reported just after noon as the Spirit of Norfolk was located near Naval Station Norfolk.

Officials said there were 106 passengers on board, according to Captain David Dees, Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk’s commanding officer. There were also a number crew members. Among the passengers were 89 students, a spokesperson for the vessel’s operator said.

Smoke and flames could be seen from shore at the naval base.

The firefighting effort included two tugboats and firefighting crews from Naval Station Norfolk, U.S. Coast Guard and Norfolk Fire and Rescue. With the fire burning, Spirit of Norfolk was brought alongside Pier 4 at Naval Station Norfolk where firefighting efforts continued through at least late afternoon.

Reports indicate many of the passengers were evacuated to the Victory Rover cruise vessel. It wasn’t immediately clear how many passengers and crew were evacuated to the Victory Rover vice transferred to shore at the naval base.

Officials said the fire likely originated in the ship’s engine room.

Captain Jennifer Stockwell, Deputy Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia, told a late afternoon press conference that the fire was still active.

Spirit of Norfolk is operated by City Experiences (City Cruises), part of Hornblower Group. The vessel has a capacity of 372. A spokesperson for City Cruises confirmed that the vessel was hosting a school group with 89 students on board.

“Today Spirit of Norfolk suffered an on board fire while servicing a school group of 89 students. Our on board crew acted swiftly and immediately notified first responders upon notice of the incident and brought all 106 passengers and crew safely ashore. On behalf of City Cruises, I would like to thank the local authorities, including the Norfolk Naval Station, the Coast Guard, and our local fire departments for working so quickly to ensure that all of our passengers and crew made it safely ashore.”

KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will organise the Raja Tenggiri fishing competition on June 18.

Sarawak MMEA deputy director of operations, Capt (M) Yousry Yaali said the main purpose of the competition was to create safety awareness, especially among those going out to sea.

“MMEA has officially taken over search and rescue operations or better known as SAR, together with other agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela), and to commemorate this, MMEA will organise a Maritime Safety Awareness Day every June 6.

“The fishing competition is one of the programmes organised together with the Sarawak Fishing Community Association, Department of Fisheries Sarawak (JPLS), Bomba, Marine Operations Force (PGM), Marine Department Malaysia (Jabatan Laut) dan Sarawak Coast Guard,” he said here today (June 8).

He added that on the day of the competition, all participants are required to use safety jackets, indirectly educating them, especially fishermen, to prioritise safety.

“A safety exhibition will also be held, including a demonstartion on how the Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) device works in the event of an emergency.”

First place is RM3,000 while second and third place winners get to walk away with RM1,500 and RM1,000 respectively.

For further details, the public can contact Sarawak Maritime Operations Room or Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) Kuching at 082-432544 or 082-432006.

In direct response to the maritime crisis, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) convened an Emergency Task Force (“ETF”) to attempt to minimize the danger to the shipping industry and the extreme health risks to crewmembers stranded in the region.1 To that end, the ETF developed a stranded ship reporting form and disseminated advice and guidance to the Flag States.

The Crisis in the Region
At the inception of the conflict, IMO reported that approximately 94 vessels and 2000 seafarers were stranded in Ukrainian ports, including but not limited to Mariupol, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. By April 2022, the number of ships that were stranded had only been reduced by 12 vessels to 84.2

The IMO describes the circumstances of the stranded vessels in the region as “untenable.”3 The IMO, in conjunction with the International Labour Organization (“ILO”) have collaborated and jointly appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to assist seafarers. Further, the IMO has made a humanitarian appeal to Ukrainian charities, governmental port authorities, and the ILO to support seafarers and ports.4

IMO Seeks to Establish a Blue Safe Maritime Corridor
On March 10 and 11, 2022, the IMO Council encouraged the establishment of a blue safe maritime corridor, in cooperation with the relevant parties. The corridor’s purpose was to allow safe passage for ships to securely evacuate from the area.5

On March 31, 2022, the IMO Council at its thirty-fifth extraordinary session sent Circular Letter No. 4524/Add.2 to (1) the United Nations; (2) intergovernmental organizations; and (3) non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO. The Circular Letter was prepared pursuant to Article I of the IMO Convention and the mission of the IMO Strategic Plan to promote safe, secure, and environmentally conscious shipping through the joint cooperation of the Member States. In that Circular Letter, the IMO solicited proposals to reduce the suffering of the trapped seafarers and vessels.

Resolution of the Maritime Safety Committee
Actions to facilitate the urgent evacuation of seafarers from the war zone area in and around the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov as a result of the Russian Federation aggression against Ukraine” during its multi-day session on April 28, 2022.6 The MSC Resolution contained the following statements:

• The MSC adopted the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/ES-11/1 March 2, 2022 condemning the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine and demanding that the Russian Federation cease military action.
• The MCS encouraged Member States to assist in the effort to provide safety and security to seafarers and ships in the region impacted by the armed conflict.
• The MSC emphasized the need to protect the global shipping industry and prevent disruption of supply chains in international trade.
• The MSC condemned the harassment of seafarers and ships in international trade based upon their Flag States and the nationality of the crew aboard the ships.
• The MSC emphasized that ships should be entitled to safely leave ports of Ukraine at the earliest opportunity without threats of attack.
• The MSC expressed its support for the IMO Secretary-General to collaborate with Member States to establish a blue safe maritime corridor in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to allow safe passage from the area.
• The MSC emphasized that ships in international trade should not be “collateral victims in the political and military crisis.”7

The MSC expressed alarm and concern that commercial ships had been illegally seized and detained in violation of international law. Further, the MSC members stated that they were vitally concerned that the Ukrainian ports did not have secure access to food, water and medical supplies. Finally, the MSC urged the international community to work together to provide a blue safety corridor for the evacuation of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov regions.
Source: ATLP

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday urged Congress to “crack down” on ocean carriers that have raised shipping prices significantly and helped drive up the cost of goods in the country.

“One of the reasons prices have gone up is because a handful of companies who control the market have raised shipping prices by as much as 1,000%,” Biden said in Twitter post. “It’s outrageous—and I’m calling on Congress to crack down on them.”

“We’ve got to change this. I asked the Congress to pass a piece of legislation to remedy this. Democrats and Republicans voted for it. It’s over in the House of Representatives. I expect it to be voted on fairly shortly, and I expect it to pass. And I’m looking forward to signing it because we’ve got to bring down prices. The underlying elements of our economy are incredibly strong—stronger than any other nation in the world—But inflation is a problem. This won’t solve it all, but it will solve a big piece of it,” Biden said.

In March, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which would strengthen the investigatory authority of the U.S. agency that oversees ocean shipping and boost transparency of industry practices.

If passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, the legislation would allow the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to begin investigations of ocean common carrier’s business practices and apply enforcement measures.

It would also prohibit ocean carriers from unreasonably declining opportunities for U.S. exports that would be determined by the FMC, which would write new rules, and it would require ocean common carriers to report to the FMC each calendar quarter “on total import/export tonnage” making port in the U.S.

To determine the main safety concerns currently facing the shipping industry, the Future of Maritime Safety Report 2022 examines data from Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) calls made to Inmarsat, the major in global mobile, satellite communications, from 2018 to 2021.

Among the key findings from the Inmarsat data was an abrupt spike in GMDSS calls in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, according to the report, is likely to have been caused by “issues with crew change, rapid turnaround in ports and fatigue on board”.

Speaking about the finding of the report, Peter Broadhurst, Senior Vice President of Safety and Security, Inmarsat Maritime, said: “The Future of Maritime Safety Report provides insights into safety trends from GMDSS data gathered between 2018 and 2021 and reveals patterns at a local and global level. Better understanding these patterns can help us to take proactive steps to prevent such incidents going forward and help guide us to a safer future.

“The Inmarsat GMDSS data shows the top three sectors with the highest distress calls as tankers, fishing vessels and bulk carriers, with the lowest incidents arising in passenger ships. This data should help us focus our attention and tackle known safety issues in these sectors.”

Adding context to the comprehensive data analysis, the report features expert opinions from industry representatives and seafarers invited to share their views on the most pertinent maritime safety issues and the changes they would like to see implemented to address them.

Cyrus Moody, Deputy Director, International Maritime Bureau, addresses the value of communication and collaboration in tackling piracy. “Protecting our seafaring workforce requires constant vigilance and a concerted effort from the international maritime community, working with agencies and governments around the world”, stated Moody. “All too often, piracy is out of sight and out of mind.”

In the cruise sector, Rachel Arnold, Chief Officer, cruise sector, added that “the root cause of most safety issues is cost-cutting”, in discussing how to minimise risk to crew and passengers.

Other contributors include International Maritime Rescue Federation CEO, Theresa Crossley, who shares her views on the lessons shipping must take from the Covid-19 pandemic; and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Maritime Safety Watch Branch Chief, Christopher Janus, who emphasises the importance of embracing existing technology solutions to improve vessel safety.

On describing a newly created NGA Source Maritime Automated Processing System which uses autonomous natural language processing and basic machine learning, Janus noted that “this kind of automated system could be considered more widely by our industry as we head towards implementing new S-124 navigation warnings for electronic charts and effectively processing even more information”.

Establishing a clear link between the global health crisis and a “drastic rise in distress calls in the last three years”, the report suggests that shipping “has not emerged from the pandemic unscathed”. It concludes with a call to action, imploring the industry to put “safety at the core of its operations” and use “every solution available to prevent incidents and save lives”.