In September 2017 we reported the following:

Member Alerts

Guidance on Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC)
7 September – Due to recent attacks against merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and Bab Al Mandeb, Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is establishing a Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC).

Monthly Safety Scenario: Grounding in unsurveyed waters
7 September – The vessel had been loading in a European port and the navigation officer fixed the passage plan for next port of call which was in Mexico. Prior to departure the Master received a weather routing voyage plan, which suggested a route over the Silver Bank and via the Windward Pass to Mexico.

Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks welcomes Singapore
8 September – The Convention entered into force on April 14, 2015, with currently 34 existing members. The Convention adopts strict liability and compulsory insurance, regulating that the registered shipowner has an obligation to locate, mark and remove the wrecks considered to pose a hazard within the area covered by the Convention.

Ballast Water Convention (BWM Convention 2004) in force as of 8th September 2017
14 September – The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention 2004) was adopted in 2004 to introduce global regulations to control the transfer of potentially invasive species. With the treaty now in force, ships need to manage their ballast water.

Check IMO list certificates to be carried onboard vessels
21 September – IMO has issued a circular listing all certificates to be carried onboard vessels pursuant to IMO conventions.

Bangladesh: Operational Guidelines at Port of Chittagong
25 September – Congestion in the Port of Chittagong leading to pile-ups and delays has been reported, in addition to a collision between two vessels that occurred in the anchorage.

USA: California Ports – Ballast Water Treatment Reporting Requirements and Forms
27 September – Updates to the Marine Invasive Species Program effective October 1, 2017. Members trading in California are advised to fill out and submit the attached forms to the California State Lands Commission.

 Circulars

Cyber Security – be aware of social engineering fraud
18 September – Social engineering fraud refers to the tricks used by criminals to deceive and manipulate their victims into giving out confidential information and funds.The tricks are carried out online – for example, by email or through social networking sites – by telephone, or even in person. If members receive a request from a supplier or vendor to make payment into a different bank account, members are strongly recommended to always confirm through trustworthy sources that the request is legitimate. One way of doing so is to make a telephone call to a known contact within the company in order to verify the request.

Club News

New Area Manager appointed for The Swedish Club’s Team Gothenburg
18 September – We are pleased to announce that Johan Kahlmeter has been appointed Area Manager for Team Gothenburg from 18 September 2017. Johan started his career with the Club in June 2007 and has most recently held the position of Head of Claims, Marine. In addition to his nautical background, he has 10 years’ experience in adjusting, and in claims and casualty management, in the Club’s Hong Kong and Gothenburg offices.

The challenge of the unknown
25 September – “So here I am in the Indian Ocean. It is 45 degrees Celsius and I’m wearing 30kg of protective equipment. Land is 1,000 km away and the sea below me is 4,500m deep – that means it takes an hour for a piece of iron to hit the seabed.” Read more about Robert Karjel, a Lt Colonel in the Swedihs air force in the latest Triton Magazine.

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Member Alert is published by The Swedish Club as a service to members. While the information is believed correct, the Club cannot assume responsibility for completeness or accuracy.