Growing interest in year-round Arctic cruises has prompted GAC Norway to open its newest branch, in Tromsø. Sitting 300km north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is the largest urban area in Northern Norway and serves as a portal to the Arctic. It is a popular port of call for cruise vessels, including those specialising in […]
ABS marks two-year safety milestone
ABS has recorded zero lost time work-related incidents for the second year in a row. The Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) has remained at 0.00 throughout 2017 and 2018, underscoring ABS’ industry-leading safety performance. “Safety is the foundation of all we do and our record of two consecutive years without a lost-time injury stands as […]
Survitec received DNV GL certification for global safety inspections
Survitec has received DNV GL Z-17 certification as a class-approved service provider for all DNV-GL classed vessels operating various brands of safety and survival equipment, including lifeboats, liferafts, marine evacuation systems (MES) and fire-fighting equipment and breathing apparatus. “The certification means that all Survitec sites carrying out work on lifeboats, fire-fighting equipment, SCBA and LSA […]
Department for Transport launches Maritime 2050, its first ever long-term strategy for UK maritime sector
The Government has strengthened its recognition of the importance of the UK maritime sector to Britain’s future success with the launch of Maritime 2050, the first long-term strategy developed in close partnership with industry. The importance has only increased in the context of the UK leaving the EU, with 95% of all UK trade being […]
Britannia granted licence to underwrite business in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s insurance regulator, the Insurance Authority (IA), has granted Britannia a licence to underwrite business from its Hong Kong office. This positive news is in line with Britannia’s strategy of ‘think global, act local’ which has seen new Exclusive Correspondents for the Association opening in Taiwan and Denmark and the recent purchase by Tindall […]
S&P upgrades The Swedish Club to ‘A-‘ Rating
The Swedish Club has hailed the upgrade of its insurer financial strength and issuer credit ratings to A- with stable outlook as an “important step”. S&P Global Ratings raised its previous rating of BBB+ by one level yesterday (23rd January), reporting that through disciplined underwriting and strong risk controls The Swedish Club has continued to […]
UK Hydrographic Office welcomes Department for Transport’s Maritime 2050 strategy
The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has welcomed the publication of the UK Government’s ‘Maritime 2050’ strategy paper, which sets out the vision for the future of the UK maritime sector. The strategy, which has been developed in consultation with agencies including the UKHO and the wider public and private sectors, sets out a series of […]
Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) wins two Indian Navy contracts
The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has secured a contract for the provision of classification services for four large survey vessels for the Indian Navy. These 110-metre vessels, which will be constructed by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata, are the largest hydrographic survey vessels ever constructed for the Indian Navy. IRClass has also […]
Svitzer appoints two new Cluster Managers in Europe
Svitzer, the provider of harbour and terminal towage to the global shipping industry, has recently appointed Fred Jeeninga as Cluster Managing Director, Continental Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, Georgia) and Maurice McKeating as Cluster Managing Director, UK South. Kasper Nilaus, Managing Director of Svitzer Europe: “It is very pleasing to fill two senior positions with candidates who […]
European ship owners call upon the EU to take immediate actions on the situation in the Mediterranean
ECSA regrets the decision of Germany to withdraw from Operation Sophia because of the dispute with the Italian government over the reception of refugees. “We are very disappointed with Germany’s decision to suspend its participation in Operation Sophia. Operation Sophia’s contribution to maritime security in the Central Mediterranean is very important,” said ECSA’s Secretary General […]
One year of the Seafarers Happiness Index – what have we learned?
The Mission to Seafarers has launched a new website for its ongoing Seafarers Happiness Index, a seafarer welfare survey designed to monitor and benchmark seafarer satisfaction levels across the industry. The website will act as a repository for the data collected during the survey, and will create an open framework for improvement which shipping companies […]
North P&I Club enhances Asia Pacific Loss Prevention team
North P&I Club has further strengthened its Loss Prevention team in the Asia Pacific region with the addition of Andrew Glen, who has relocated to Singapore from North’s UK based head office. Mr Glen, a Master Mariner, joined North in 2006 and spent seven years in Loss Prevention in its UK head office, before being […]