The Methanol Institute has welcomed the completion by the International Maritime Organization’s sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC5) of draft interim guidelines covering the safety of ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol as fuel.

In a statement today, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says it is encouraged by efforts made by IMO Member States to resolve some pressing practical challenges ahead of the global implementation of the 0.5% sulphur in fuel cap on 1 January 2020.

Seven ASEAN countries have formally launched an ambitious initiative aimed at improving the environmental health of the seas in the region, through the implementation of key International Maritime Organization (IMO) marine environment protection treaties.

European Transport Workers Federation, (ETF) and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) have today discussed possible solutions to increase women’s participation in the shipping industry in Europe. Currently only 2% of the seafaring workforce available for the EU fleet consist of women, whilst gender equality is being put at the heart of the EU’s fundamental values for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Discussions focused on maritime training and career development for women, as well as the recruitment and retention of women in the shipping industry. Alongside representatives of both the ETF and the ECSA, participants came from a wide range of stakeholders such as the European Commission (Platform for Change), the European Economic and Social Council, the UK Merchant Navy Training Board, national administrations from France and the UK, researchers from the Paris Descartes University, and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), who were there so we could learn from good practices from other sectors.
“If we want strong, prosperous and socially sustainable maritime clusters in Europe, gender diversity should be a leading principle as a means to attract and retain new talent in the shipping industry.” Said Martin Dorsman, Secretary General of the ECSA. “Women role models in senior positions can help to send a message across the industry that women do have a place in this traditionally male-dominated sector,” he concluded.
“To attract more women to the industry, we should improve the working conditions for everyone,” said Tonka Cupic, ETF Maritime Transport representative to the ETF Women’s Committee. “Reconciliation of work and family life and prevention of harassment are key to not only recruiting but also retaining more women seafarers and enabling them to develop a career in shipping,” she added.
Today’s meeting has proven that social partners are willing to work together on this important issue and have taken a first step towards finding concrete proposals for joint action.

All vessels sailing under an EU flag will eventually be required to use an approved ship recycling facility, once the EU Ship Recycling Regulation effectively applies. This will be on 31 December 2018.

At its 51st meeting last month, the Paris MoU Committee approved the 2017 inspection results and adopted new performance lists for flags and Recognized Organizations (ROs). These lists will take effect from 1 July 2018.