Articles

The U.S. Department of Justice aggressively prosecutes shipowners and operators of foreign-flag vessels calling at U.S. ports for MARPOL violations. These prosecutions are often the result of an initial inspection and investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard. Our authors both served as US Coast Guard attorneys before moving to the private sector.  They share their insights into the rights and responsibilities of shipowners and crew when interacting with U.S. Coast Guard inspectors and investigators.

Just one week after the IMB PRC reported a 40% increase in the number of kidnappings from within Gulf of Guinea waters in 2020, major shipping industry organizations warn that an upturn in piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea is likely now that the dry season approaches and sea conditions improve.

Biofuels may not become the zero-carbon solution of choice in the shipping industry’s decarbonization process in the longer term, but could have a significant role to play to accelerate the process. In a recent article DNV GL summarizes the regulatory issues, safety and other operational issues faced by those using these new fuels or fuel blends.

From 12 January 2021, vessels that have visited certain ports in Asia Pacific between May and September in the previous 24 months must document that they have been inspected and “certified free of Asian Gypsy Moth” prior to arriving in Argentina.

Despite the elevated piracy risk in the Gulf of Guinea, ships operating in the region should maintain their automatic identification systems (AIS) in operation at all times.

When the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act was signed into US law in December 2018, the US Environmental Protection Agency was given two years to develop new national discharge standards for vessels that are at least as stringent as the discharge requirements established in its 2013 Vessel General Permit scheme.