[轉貼]WEEKLY NEWS IN SUMMARY

EU SHIP SOURCE POLLUTION DIRECTIVE - INDUSTRY'S APPLICATION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW IS HEARD IN THE ENGLISH HIGH COURT Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OUTLINE REPORT FROM IMO - FSI 14 Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MEDITERRANEAN MOU DETENTION REVIEW PROCEDURES Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECA COSTS NOT YET REFLECTED IN WORLDSCALE Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERTANKO COMMENTS ON NEW US BALLAST WATER LEGISLATION Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ALL-EMBRACING FUTURE EUROPEAN UNION MARITIME POLICY PAPER ISSUED Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GREEN AWARD HONOUR FOR INTERTANKO MEMBER Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET INFORMATION SAUDI OIL RESERVES - ABUNDANT OR PLAYED-OUT? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PIRACY REPORT Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIARY 13 June - INTERTANKO Offshore Tanker Committee meeting, Oslo 21 June - Executive Committee meeting, London 31 August - Documentary Committee meeting, Stavanger (tbc) 19 September - Associate Members Committee (AMC) meeting, London 22-23 September - INTERTANKO Safety, Technical and Environmental Committee meeting, Spetses 3 October - Vetting Seminar, London 4 October - Vetting Committee meeting, London 14-15 November - Council meeting, London Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORT NEWS CANADA - TRANSPORT CANADA MARINE SECURITY NOTIFICATION NO: #2006-001 GUINEA - GENERAL STRIKE OMAN/SALALAH PORT - SUSPENSION OF STS & BOAT SERVICES AT ANCHORAGE PANAMA - SAFE BOARDING WEEK 2006 U.A.E./FUJAIRAH - OIL BOOMS US/CORPUS CHRISTI - PARTLY REOPENED AFTER OIL SPILL CLEAN UP US/NEW ORLEANS - MARITIME SAFETY AGREEMENT SIGNED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORT COSTS AUSTRALIA/HAY POINT - INCREASE IN TONNAGE DUES AUSTRALIA/CAIRNS - INCREASED PILOTAGE RATES IN TORRES STRAIT AUSTRALIA/MACKAY - INCREASE IN WATCHMEN CHARGES AUSTRALIA/DAMPIER - INCREASE IN PORT DUES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERTANKO PUBLICATIONS Extended and expanded 6th edition of 'A Guide to the Vetting Process' now available Commentary on SHELLVOY 6 just published Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERTANKO IN THE NEWS Read article -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEEKLY NEWS IN DETAIL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EU Ship Source Pollution Directive - industry's application for judicial review is heard in the English High Court The case mounted by a broad coalition of the shipping industry reached a key stage this week with the hearing taking place before Mr Justice Hodge sitting in the Administrative Court of the High Court in London. The case is extremely important for owners, seafarers, salvors, class, charterers and others in the shipping industry whose vessels trade to Member States of the EU. Furthermore, the case is raises an important issue as to the rights of EU Member States to take unilateral legislative measures as opposed to following existing multi-lateral established conventions. The application for judicial review brought by INTERTANKO together with INTERCARGO, the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, Lloyd's Register and the International Salvage Union was heard in the High Court in London on 7 June 2006. The industry coalition was represented in court by Prof. Christopher Greenwood Q.C. and Mr Hugh Mercer of counsel. It will be recalled that the applicants are seeking a preliminary reference to the European Court of Justice to examine the validity of the EU Ship Source Pollution Directive 2005/35/EC. The Directive seeks to criminalise accidental pollution and to depart from the subjective tests of liability laid down in the International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from ships 1973/78 (MARPOL). EU Member States have until 1 March 2007 to implement the Directive into their national laws. The industry coalition contends that the Directive conflicts with international law and if implemented would put EU member states in breach of existing treaty law obligations under MARPOL and/or the United Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS). The application has been made to safeguard the supremacy of international law, preserve the rights of seafarers and others in the maritime industry by international law, and to seek clarity in this area of law. The coalition's eminent legal team presented to the court comprehensive evidence, a thorough analysis of the relevant law and clear illustrations of the practical difficulties that the industry would face if the Directive were to be implemented. Prof. Greenwood Q.C. emphasised the weight of the coalition that is bringing the action and that it comprises responsible bodies in a major industry, and that it is committed to maintaining proper standards and does not include those who want freedom to pollute. It was submitted that the Directive was fundamentally unclear and sought to depart from the established uniform regime laid down by MARPOL. The judge's attention was drawn to the clear disparity between the preamble to the Directive which states that the purpose of the legislation is to ensure the consistent application of MARPOL whereas the articles themselves seek to depart from MARPOL. In order to succeed, the applicants had to persuade the court that there were well founded doubts as to the validity of the Directive. If the court is so persuaded then a reference to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will be granted. Counsel for the Secretary of State took the view that it was their role to assist the court and should the judge grant the applicant's request then they would further assist with regard to the formulation of the reference. As regards the substance of their submissions this was that the Directive was in their view sufficiently clear and therefore did not fall foul of the EU requirement for legislation to be legally certain. Counsel took issue with the applicants as to the whether member states had jurisdiction to legislate over and above the standards laid down in MARPOL. Mr Justice Hodge reserved judgment. Given the import of the case the judge advised the parties that he would make a reasoned judgment and understood that time was of the essence. It is hoped that judgment will be given in the coming weeks. Members will be kept advised. Contact: John Fawcett-Ellis [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Outline report from IMO - FSI 14 INTERTANKO was in full attendance at the IMO's Flag State Implementation Sub-committee # 14 (FSI) this week. Several important agenda items were under discussion and agreements were reached including: Amendments to procedures for Port State Control (Resolution A.787(19)) Harmonisation of PSC activities PSC on seafarers' working hours Action plan to tackle the inadequacy of port reception facilities The code of investigation of marine accidents At the time of going to press a lot of these issues were still under review at the IMO. A full report will be available in the next issue of Weekly NEWS. Contacts: Howard Snaith Tim Wilkins Fredrik Larsson [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mediterranean MoU Detention Review Procedures We are pleased to advise members that an independent detention review process is now formally in place within the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (MoU). This system is very similar to those within the Paris and Tokyo MoUs and is in line with the work by INTERTANKO's Vetting Committee to harmonise PSC requirements, targeting schemes and review procedures. INTERTANKO was invited to the 7th Committee Meeting of the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding (Med MoU) on Port State Control (PSC) in Alexandria, Egypt in January 2005 where we gave a presentation to the Mediterranean MoU (see Weekly NEWS No. 5/2005). One of the points we raised was a request for the Mediterranean MoU to instigate an independent detention review process similar to that in place by the Paris and Tokyo MoU. Within each of these MoUs there exist Detention Review Boards in addition to the formal legal appeals process under the detaining authority. Click here for the Tokyo MoU detention review procedures and click here for the Paris MoU detention review procedures. Details of both are also permanently posted on the Vetting/PSC section of our web site. That such an independent detention review process is now in place within the Mediterranean MoU is a significant step. Full details of these procedures can be accessed at the Mediterranean MoU web site (click here) in addition to details of each Mediterranean MoU member's formal legal appeal procedures. As with all independent detention reviews, in cases where the member feels that a detention is not justified, we recommend members initially to request an independent review (via either their flag state or their classification society) under the appropriate MoU before seeking a legal appeal. Seeking a legal appeal first will subsequently prevent a detention review under the independent review process because the case will be sub-judice. Contact : Howard Snaith [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECA costs not yet reflected in Worldscale Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 sets limits on sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and prohibits deliberate ozone-depleting emissions from ships. Annex VI contains provisions allowing for special SOx Emission Control Areas (SECAS) to be established with more stringent controls on sulphur emissions. In these areas, the sulphur content of fuel oil used onboard ships must not exceed 1.5% m/m. Alternatively, ships must fit an exhaust gas cleaning system or use any other technological method to limit SOx emissions. The Baltic Sea Area was designated as a SOx Emission Control Area in the Protocol and this took effect on 19th May 2006. The North Sea and the English Channel will also become SECAs on 21st November 2007. INTERTANKO's Worldscale Committee has been in touch with the Worldscale Associations underlining that the extra costs associated with these rules need to be reflected in the Worldscale system in order to achieve the best comparability. The Worldscale Associations have on 6th June issued a circular (click here) to their subscribers in which they i.a. state: The Associations will continue to monitor developments closely. In the meantime, subscribers are reminded that, by definition, Worldscale is a 'nominal' scale, and the basis of calculation of the flat rates is clearly set out in the preamble of the schedule to allow users to take into account, when estimating voyage costs, any additional costs which may influence their decision on what the negotiated market rate should be for any particular voyage. Contact: Kristian R. Fuglesang [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERTANKO comments on new US ballast water legislation In a coordinated response to the recently-proposed US national legislation for ballast water management, INTERTANKO, as part of the Shipping Industry Ballast Water Coalition (see attached letter for details of Coalition members), has submitted comments in support of a new Ballast Water Management Act (S.363), but has at the same time expressed concern over certain provisions that should be resolved before the Bill is enacted as US law. The Bill, S.363, proposes a single federal requirement on ballast water management for the US, removing the necessity for individual states to develop their own separate requirements. S.363 is also to a large extent based on the IMO's International Ballast Water Convention. However there are some fundamental differences which have been highlighted by the Coalition in its response to the Senate Committee. In general, three concerns have been raised by the Coalition: The legislation provides for an extension of the entry into force dates by 24 months if it is found that technology does not exist to meet the ballast discharge standards specified in the US legislation. The Coalition noted that it may even be possible that the technology still does not exist even after the 24 month delay and so requests that the legislator consider a further review following this 24 month period. Some of the implementation dates specified in the US proposal are 2 years sooner than those specified in the International Convention. The Coalition has raised concern over the acceleration of the dates already agreed to by the IMO. There remains ambiguity in respect of coastal voyages, and the Coalition has suggested that the text could be improved to facilitate treatment options for vessels involved in coastal trades. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here: Contact: Tim Wilkins or Joseph A. Angelo [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All-embracing future European Union maritime policy paper issued INTERTANKO participated in the first official discussion on the new Green Paper on a Future Maritime Policy for the European Union this week at an Intergroup conference in Brussels, which took place the day after the Green Paper was published. One of the political priorities of the European Commission under President Barroso is to enhance Europe's maritime dimension by developing an all-embracing and integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union. The work on this paper has been underway for some time already with broad-based consultations that have included meetings with and written submissions from INTERTANKO. Dr. Joe Borg, the European Commissioner responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, has chaired a Steering Group of seven Commissioners (including Transport Commissioner Barrot), which, with the help of an inter-disciplinary Task Force, has prepared the Green Paper which was published on 7th June. This European Commission Green Paper, which is basically a discussion paper inviting a debate and consultations, should result in a possible White Paper in the second half of 2007 under the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union. This 2007 White Paper will aim to draw the conclusions from the Green Paper debate, and will include conclusions reached on the initial suggestions and questions posed in the original Green Paper, but also issues that might been missed in the original Green Paper. Commissioner Borg has summarised the purpose in the following manner: "The Green Paper seeks to address, in a holistic and cross-sectoral way, the challenges we are facing in relation to the oceans and seas. It defines options for a future Maritime Policy that will maximise the benefits that Europe draws from its maritime activities in terms of growth and employment. And it contains ideas intended to launch the debate on a number of different angles of the maritime policy sphere: How to preserve European leadership in sustainable maritime development, How to maximise quality of life in coastal regions, Which instruments can be used to manage our relation to the sea, including data collection, spatial planning and financial instruments, How to establish a better governance in maritime affairs 穡C at national, European and global level, How to sustain European maritime heritage and strengthen the maritime identity of Europe." In his intervention at the INTERGROUP Conference on the Future Maritime EU Policy Green Paper, INTERTANKO's Kristian Fuglesang generally welcomed the Paper and said that INTERTANKO is looking forward to the fruitful consultation period which is now expected. The Green Paper contains reference to most of the suggestions made by INTERTANKO in the process so far, including the need for speedy ratification of international treaties; a stable regulatory environment; an international level playing field for the shipping, shipbuilding, marine equipment and port industries; places of refuge. He also underlined the efficient and environment-friendly way in which tankers perform their role which is of vital importance for every European's daily life, emphasising that only a small shortfall in the delivery of this service would have untold impact. He also underlined the good safety record for tankers which has been achieved at a time of significantly increased commercial and operational activity. He did not, however, agree with the Green Paper's suggestion that the introduction of penal sanctions for accidental pollution is a positive measure to improve maritime safety. Fuglesang went on to refer to the concept of a clean ship - a ship which is designed and operated in an integrated manner to eliminate harmful operational discharges and emissions. Shipowners face a continual struggle to balance improvements with the ever increasing need to comply with a myriad of environmental and safety requirements, often developed in isolation of one another, and sometimes regionally rather than internationally. The consequence for the owner can be conflicts in the implementation of each requirement which may result in a net environmental loss. For instance, poor hull anti-fouling systems can result in dramatically increasing the risk of transporting invasive species as well as increasing fuel consumption and therefore air emissions. But many of the ballast water treatment systems currently under development rely on the introduction of chemicals introduced to destroy all the organisms in the tanks. There is concern that the now 'tainted' ballast water will become a new source of pollution. The Green Paper highlights the need for integrated design and operation. Fuglesang points out that this already exists in extensive research and collaboration within the industry. What is needed, he says, is an integrated and holistic approach to legislative development. Developing legislation to combat one source of pollution on board at a time ends up being counter productive to the objective of a clean ship concept. However the Clean Ship concept cannot be explored in its entirety without assessing the role and responsibility of all the players in the maritime industry - not least the member states themselves. While the focus in the effort to eliminate ship source pollution remains on improving surveillance of maritime traffic and targeting seafarers over accidental cases of pollution, one fundamental element in this objective of zero-discharges is lacking. This deficiency lies in the failure for over thirty years of many coastal states to honour their obligation to provide adequate facilities for the receipt of ship and cargo generated wastes. A copy of Kristian Fuglesang's speaking notes can be seen here. A copy of the Green Paper can be downloaded here. Contact: Kristian R. Fuglesang [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Green Award honour for INTERTANKO member Green Award Managing Director Jan Fransen presented the 200th Green Award Certificate to Thenamaris Ships Management's 105,000 dwt Seaoath this week during the Posidonia Exhibition in Athens. This signifies that, along with many other Thenamaris vessels, the Seaoath has met the stringent Green Award requirements related to quality, safety, environment, management and technical aspects. Capt. John Mavrides, Manager of Thenamaris' Safety and Quality Department, accepted the certificate on behalf of Thenamaris Ships Management. A firm supporter of the Green Award scheme since it started in 1994, Thenamaris currently has 14 ships certified by Green Award. The Athens-based operator counts high environmental, safety and management standards among its top priorities and believes that the benefits that result from having Green Award-certified ships go well beyond reductions in port dues and other service charges. Contact: Bill Box [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET INFORMATION Saudi oil reserves - abundant or played-out? There has been a great deal of focus around PEAK oil and it has been questioned whether Saudi Arabia's oil reserves are big enough to meeting the world's growing oil demand. According to an article in Petroleum Intelligence Weekly (PIW), both history and theory provide ample evidence of Saudi resources. All of the major estimates of Saudi reserves and resources show that they are still abundant, confirming the Saudi claims that their reserve data is conservative, while the keen desire of foreign firms to enter the Saudi upstream does not suggest played-out reserves. Other data supports the idea that the Saudi resource is underexploited, continues PIW. The country's well density is a fraction of what the US had when production peaked in 1970 (see table). And the Saudis are still drilling relatively few wells. In the past two years, the number of Saudi rigs has doubled to just 60 compared to 1,500 in the US. Moreover they plan 550 wells in 2006 compared to 45,000 in the US - and in terms of land area with petroleum potential, Saudi Arabia is one-fifth the size of the US. These statistics are hardly indicative of a nation that is intensively explored, suggests PIW, nor would an increase to 90 operating rigs require an enormous effort, as some have suggested. In fact, Saudi Aramco's decision to scale back exploration, given the huge backlog of unexploited reserves claimed by the producer, is a rational business decision. US and Saudi Arabia: Relative Resource Bases US Saudi Arabia Discovered Oil (billion bbl) 279 284 Undiscovered Oil (billion bbl) 83 87 Discovered (%) 77.1 76.5 Prospective Area ('000 sq. miles) 2,534 560 Wells Drilled (US 1970) 2,270,000 8,000 Drilling Density (Wells/100 sq. miles) 896 14 Rigs Active (2005) 1,383 37 Wells Drilled (2005) 40,824 373 Production/Well (b/d) 11 5,680 Sources: Oil resources USGS 2000; prospective area Grossling (1976);wells drilled Grossling and API (1997); for Saudi Arabia, Grossling, API and World Oil; some data estimated or interpolated for Saudi Arabia. Per-well production in Saudi Arabia averages around 5,700 b/d, which is down only marginally from 7,000 b/d in 1963 during the period when data first became available. An analysis of Saudi expansion plans shows that per-barrel full-cycle production costs are about $2.90. Pessimists argue that the costs of expansion would be impossible to meet, states PIW. But Saudi investment is large because the capacity additions are large. An expansion cost of $11.2 billion may bring about the addition of a gross 4.5 million b/d of capacity (2.5 million b/d net). Contact: Erik Ranheim [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Piracy Report The following is a list of areas where an actual attack took place in the period 30 May - 5 June 2006, as reported by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Piracy Reporting Centre. A more detailed description of each incident can be found in the IMB website. Recently reported incidents P.P Kali anchorage, Merak, Indonesia (05:53:28:S - 106:05:29:E) Dar Es Salaam Roads, Tanzania Tg. Priok anchorage, Indonesia (05:52:2:S - 106:04:5:E) Kindly note that the piracy reports cover all types of ships. Contact: Minerva R. Alfonso [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIARY 13 June - INTERTANKO Offshore Tanker Committee meeting, Oslo The 14th meeting of the INTERTANKO Offshore Tanker Committee will be held on 13 June, commencing 1000 hrs, at INTERTANKO's Oslo office. Click here for a copy of the draft list of agenda items. Contact: Dragos Rauta 21 June - Executive Committee meeting, London INTERTANKO's Executive Committee will meet on 21 June in INTERTANKO's office in London. Further details to follow. Contact: Minerva R. Alfonso 31 August - Documentary Committee meeting, Stavanger The next meeting of INTERTANKO's Documentary Committee will be held on 31 August 2006 in Stavanager, Norway. Contact: John Fawcett-Ellis 19 September - Associate Members Committee (AMC) meeting, London The autumn meeting of INTERTANKO's Associate Members Committee (AMC) will be held on 19 September at INTERTANKO's London office. Contact: Gunnar A. Knudsen 22-23 September - INTERTANKO Safety, Technical and Environmental Committee meeting, Spetses The next meeting of INTERTANKO's Safety, Technical and Environmental Committee will be held on 22-23 September in Spetses, Greece. Contact: Dragos Rauta 3 October - Vetting Seminar, London A half day Vetting Seminar will be held on 3 October in London followed by dinner in the evening for the Vetting Committee and for seminar speakers. Contact: Howard Snaith 4 October - Vetting Committee meeting, London The autumn meeting of INTERTANKO's Vetting Committee will be held this year on 4 October in London at INTERTANKO's office. Contact: Howard Snaith 14-15 November - Council meeting, London The autumn meeting of INTERTANKO's Council will be held in London, 14-15 November. Further details to follow. Contact: Minerva R. Alfonso [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORT NEWS Canada - Transport Canada Marine Security Notification No: #2006-001 Following the arrest of people suspected of planning terrorist activities in Ontario over last weekend, Transport Canada advises all ports, marine facilities, vessel operators and owners to maintain their vigilance and strict adherence to the Marine Transportation Security Regulations as outlined in their respective Marine Security Plan for MARSEC Level One. Anyone who sees anything suspicious is asked to contact the local authority in accordance with their respective Security Plan, and also to advise the local Transport Canada marine security regional office. We would also appreciate your cooperation in maintaining vigilance in domain awareness. Any comments, suggestions or concerns can be addressed to the Director, Marine Security Operations by e-mail at nassifs@tc.gc.ca and/or to the undersigned. Source: Canadian Chamber of Shipping, Vancouver Contact: Gunnar A. Knudsen [Back to top] Guinea - general strike A general strike started in Guinea on 8 June 2006. Trade unions have requested that the Government honours its promise to increase salaries, reduce the price of bags of rice, control the inflation rate of the Guinean national franc, reduce the exchange rate variations that are weekly at present, and decrease the price of petroleum products (mogas , gasoil, jet fuel, etc.) No predictions have been received as to the likely duration of this strike. Members should therefore take due note and seek necessary protection in future charter parties. Source: Afritramp Contact: Gunnar A. Knudsen [Back to top] Oman/Salalah Port - suspension of STS & boat services at anchorage With immediate effect and until the end of the Monsoon Season due to deteriorating swell conditions (monsoon) and the increasing risk to safety, ship-to-ship [STS) & boat services at the anchorage are suspended until conditions improve at the end of August or early September. Any transfer of stores or crew to vessels has to be inside the harbour or alongside. At all times, ship-to-ship operation is prohibited during the following weather conditions: - Wind speed 25 knot or more - Wave height 1.8 m or above - Visibility is less than 500 m. Source: GAC Hot Port News Contact: Ann Saether [Back to top] Panama - Safe Boarding Week 2006 The Panama Canal Authority considers proper boarding facilities to be an absolute necessity to ensure the safety of operating personnel, as well as others using these facilities while transiting the Canal. To promote awareness and compliance with Canal requirements by transiting vessels, the Panama Canal Annual Safe Boarding Week will be held this year from 19 through 23 June. During this period, the ACP will emphasise and encourage safe boarding and disembarkation for all vessels arriving at the waterway. Click here to view MR's Advisory to Shipping No. A-13-2006 together with the accompanying Inspection Checklist. Source : Panama Canal Authority, Balboa Contact: Gunnar A. Knudsen [Back to top] U.A.E./Fujairah - oil booms In a notice dated 29 May, the port authority gives one month's notice in which to purchase the required length of boom. Boom(s) must be deployed around oil product vessels at Khor Fakkan in the following cases: 1) During loading/discharging oil products 2) During bunkering/supplying lubricating oil in bulk 3) During slopping/de-slopping. The above is mandatory during oil product transmissions, operations, loading, discharging, bunkering, slopping and de-slopping, in order to minimise the risk of oil pollution. GAC Fujairah is seeking clarification on the application of this new regulation and will revert soonest on how it will work, if the new procedures apply in anchorage, etc. Source: GAC Hot Port News Contact: Ann Saether [Back to top] US/Corpus Christi - partly reopened after oil spill clean up The US Coast Guard issued a Press Release stating that the port of Corpus Christi has been partially reopened while response to the oil spill continues. A subsequent Press Release states that the response effort continues. A third Press Release states that the inner harbour east of the Tule Lake Bridge has been reopened, with traffic to the west of the bridge still daylight-restricted. The oil spill originated from a large storm containment tank which was struck by lightning during a storm, igniting the waste oil it contained. Source: Holland & Knight LLP, Washington DC Contact: Gunnar A. Knudsen [Back to top] US/New Orleans - maritime safety agreement signed Officials from the US Coast Guard and State of Louisiana have formalised an important maritime security partnership with the signing of a memorandum of agreement. In August 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law the "Coast Guard Maritime Security Act of 2004" which, among other things, empowers any state or local government law enforcement officer who has the authority to enforce state criminal laws to also enforce violations of federal safety and security zones. This agreement sets forth the framework and procedures by which Louisiana law enforcement officers working with the Coast Guard in the enforcement of safety and security zones will have the authority to stop, board vessels, and take enforcement action against persons found violating these zones. The Coast Guard cooperates daily with such partner agencies as Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. This is the fourth such agreement executed in the Eighth Coast Guard District. Previous agreements have also been established in Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania. INTERTANKO will, despite the apparently enhanced focus on safety and security, keep watching the effects of such intensified monitoring. It will for instance be interesting to see whether it will result in a worsening in the situation for shore leave for seafarers and for legitimate access to ships while at terminal. Source : GAC Hot Port News Contact: Gunnar A. Knudsen [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PORT COSTS Australia/Hay Point - increase in tonnage dues Effective 1 June, tonnage dues have been increased from AUD 0.34 per GRT to AUD 0.37 per GRT. Source: GAC Hot Port News Contact: Ann Saether [Back to top] Australia/Cairns - increased pilotage rates in Torres Strait Effective 1 June, Torres Strait pilots have increased their rates for vessels transiting the inner route between Cairns and Goods Island, as well as those transiting the Great North East Channel, by an average of 8%. There is no increase in pilotage charges for vessels transiting Hydrographers Passage to Hay Point. Source: GAC Hot Port News Contact: Ann Saether [Back to top] Australia/Mackay - increase in watchmen charges Effective 1 June, watchmen charges have increased by approximately 4%. Source: GAC Hot Port News Contact: Ann Saether [Back to top] Australia/Dampier - increase in port dues Effective 1 July, port dues will be increased from 4.9 cents to 7.5 cents per GRT (plus GST = Goods & services Tax. Current rate is 10%) Source: GAC Hot Port News Contact: Ann Saether [Back to top] INTERTANKO PUBLICATIONS 3 easy ways to order: Download an order form and fax to our Oslo office on +47 22 12 26 41 Send your order by e-mail Order directly from our online bookshop Extended and expanded 6th edition of 'A Guide to the Vetting Process' now available INTERTANKO receives many requests for up-to-date information on the different ship inspection systems carried out by oil companies, port state control authorities, insurers, underwriters and other bodies. Such inspections form an essential part of the tanker vetting process. To overcome the lack of available information on vetting inspection systems, and to assist tanker crews and onshore personnel, INTERTANKO has published the 6th edition of 'A Guide to the Vetting Process'. The publication provides a concise, yet comprehensive description of the principal tanker vetting systems. 3 easy ways to order: Complete this form and return by fax: +47 22 12 26 41 Send your order by e-mail to publications@intertanko.com Order directly through our online bookshop, www.intertanko.com/publications Price: USD 130 for members/associate members USD 180 for non-members This extended and expanded 6th edition is considered a MUST onboard each vessel and in shore offices to assist tanker crews and personnel ashore to better understand, and to be better prepared for, vetting inspections. Discounts are available for multiple orders: 11-20: 5% 21-30: 10% 31-40: 15% 41 and above: 20% If you have any questions regarding this publication, please phone Sally Woulfe in our London office +44 20 977 7022 or Petter Markussen in our Oslo office +47 22 12 26 40, who will be happy to help you. Contact: Sally Woulfe Commentary on SHELLVOY 6 just published On 16 March 2005 Shell launched Shellvoy 6, its updated form of tanker voyage charterparty. Shell's stated intention is to include in the new form all current amendments issued since 1987 and to "clarify standard interpretations and practice". Shell issued the new form together with an explanatory note and its standard template for recaps (both charter in and charter out) and accompanying notes as well as a note to brokers. The new charterparty form comprises three parts. Parts I and II form the main body of the form and Part III contains clauses for specific countries. INTERTANKO's Commentary on Shellvoy 6 is not comprehensive as it is confined to the material new amendments not previously circulating in the market and focuses on Parts I and II of the new form. It should be read in conjunction with INTERTANKO's commentary on the SHELLVOY 5, which is published in A Guide to Tanker Charters, which remains relevant to many of the clauses in SHELLVOY 6. 3 easy ways to order: Complete this form and return by fax: +47 22 12 26 41 Send your order by e-mail to publications@intertanko.com Order directly through our online bookshop www.intertanko.com/publications Price: USD 75 for members/associate members; USD 125 for non-members Discounts for multiple orders: 11-20: 5% 21-30: 10% 31-40: 15% 41 and above: 20%. If you have any questions regarding this publication, please phone Sally Woulfe in our London office +44 20 977 7022 (sally.woulfe@intertanko.com) or Petter Markussen in our Oslo office +47 22 12 26 40, who would be happy to help you. Contact: Sally Woulfe [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERTANKO IN THE NEWS Fairplay Weekly, 1 June 2006 - Paint rules still opposed Fairplay Weekly, 1 June 2006 - Common rules: revolution or devolution? Lloyd's List, 7 June 2006 - Maritime leaders embark on pollution directive challenge Lloyd's List, 8 June 2006 - QC slams Brussels' anti-pollution plan as a 'muddle' [Back to top] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERTANKO'S WEEKLY NEWS DESK Since the replacement of the monthly printed circulars with the e-mail Weekly NEWS in July 2000, the circulation for the Weekly NEWS now exceeds 1,600. To ensure that we continue to provide the best possible service, please let us know if you would prefer the Weekly NEWS to be sent to an alternative e-mail address and/or to one of your colleagues. E-mail to INTERTANKO's Weekly NEWS Desk: mailto:weekly.news@intertanko.com Disclaimer: INTERTANKO's Weekly NEWS is for distribution to INTERTANKO members and associate members only. The information it contains should not be taken as any form of advice and should not be relied upon without independent verification. Furthermore, INTERTANKO does not accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions or any consequences there from.