Articles

The IMO has adopted a new voluntary speed restriction scheme in the North-West Mediterranean Sea to protect local whale populations. This area is also marked on the newly released global whale chart aimed at helping seafarers in planning their voyages to reduce the risk of vessel-whale collisions.

In the past few months, Gard has received several queries on the safe carriage of battery energy storage systems (BESS) on ships. In this insight, we highlight some of the key risks, regulatory requirements, and recommendations for shipping such cargo.

Geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea have increased since the commencement of the Israel-Gaza conflict and this is particularly relevant for assets with links to Israel transiting the region.

Accidents related to shore pipeline clearing operations are on the rise. Over-pressurization or overfilling of tanks can cause physical damage, pollution and even personal injuries. This article gives an overview of best practices to reduce risks and prevent losses.

This Circular confirms approval by the International Group of the ICE Access Agreement (2023.01) (‘the ICE Access Agreement’). The ICE Access Agreement allows parties to use ICE’s electronic trading system for electronic bills of lading without the need to sign the multilateral DSUA, in cases where i) any relevant bill of lading is subject to a law that recognises its legal validity as equivalent to a paper bill of lading; and ii) ICE has issued a circular notifying the user accordingly.   

They can be hotter, more toxic, quicker to spread – and possibly more explosive. Most experts agree that lithium battery fires are different and that the risks for people on board are serious. The industry needs to align and collaborate more to address the issue.