In January 2016 we reported the following:

Club News

Rice Cargo – a continued problematic issue
28 Jan – The shipment of rice to West Africa remains a problematic issue and continues to generate a significant number of claims for our members. Experience shows that allegations of loss or damage are essentially unavoidable for most shipments of rice cargoes to West Africa. However, there are still a number of preventative measures which can be undertaken by a prudent owner to ensure that the likelihood of facing serious problems at discharge
can be reduced.

Easier to arrest vessels in China?
21 Jan – In February 2015, China’s Supreme Court released a new Judicial Interpretation on Vessel Arrest in China. The Interpretation has been in force since 1 March 2015. When a vessel is arrested in China, two guarantees have to be provided. The one is the guarantee to lift the arrest; the other is the guarantee required toecure any claim for wrongful arrest.

The Swedish Club PEME: Summarising the first four years
19 Jan – We are able to conclude that The Swedish Club’s PEME (Pre Engagement Medical Examination) is of benefit to the individual member through less claims and costs in their records, but also our membership at large.

The Insurance Act 2015 (IA2015): Moving from draconian certainty to fair uncertainty?
14 Jan – The Insurance Act 2015 (IA2015) aims to modify the legal regime of marine insurance that has been dominated for more than a century by the Marine Insurance Act 1906 (MIA1906).

Court of Appeal decides OW Bunker claim against the owners
11 Jan – The Res Cogitans decision – so far – illustrates that there is a fundamental risk for owners and charterers when purchasing bunkers through intermediaries.

Main Engine Safety Scenario
4 Jan – The Club’s Loss Prevention department issues a Safety Scenario every month as an initiative for helping members in their efforts of complying with the safety regulations the ISM Code and the Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seamen. Latest Safety Scenario can be found in the Service-section on our web. Monthly Safety Scenario.

Circulars 

Lifting of Certain Sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
20 Jan – Advises to Members of the current position on their insurance cover arrangements regarding to the partial lifting of Iran sanctions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Protection & Indemnity Insurance 2016/2017 Part 2 – final
15 Jan – This is the second circular letter in respect of 2016/2017 policy year including updated information. The information in the circular is regarded as a supplement to our circular P&I 2605/2015 dated 11 December 2015.

Member Alerts

Restrictions in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
27 Jan – No ships flying the flag of Bahrain are allowed to visit any of the Iranian ports.

IC1553 – Air Pollution Control Regulation in Hong Kong and Mainland China
26 Jan – Air pollution control regulation in Hong Kong and Mainland China will be implemented from 1 Apr 2016 in Yangtze River core ports – Shanghai, Zhoushan-Ningbo, Suzhou and Nantong ports. Until the end of 2017 ships will be required to use fuel of less than 0.5% sulphur content while berthing excluding the one hour before departure and arrival. 

New regulation on Wood Packaging Material – effective from 1 February 2016 – Brazil
25 Jan – The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) issued a new regulation through Normative Instruction No. 32 of 23 September 2015 and it regulates the procedures for control and phytosanitary certification of wood packaging material for import and export cargoes. 

Disembarkation of stowaways in Banjul, Gambia
25 Jan – Banjul Authorities now accept to disembark stowaways Off Port Limits.

Port situation in Yemen – an update
20 Jan – All Yemeni ports are operational in a normal manner except Ash Shihr oil terminal, Balhaf LNG terminal and Ras Isa oil terminal, which are still closed. 

Algeria – Restrictions on import of vehicles, cement and steel bars
20 Jan – The official Algerian Press Service APS reported today 13rd January 2016, that according to a member of the Monitoring Committee for issuing import licenses, the country will greatly reducing imports of vehicles in 2016. The vehicle quota was set at 152,000 units in 2016.

Chemical explosion at Santos Port Brazil
18 Jan – The fire started last Thursday 14 January in the afternoon, in a container with chemicals. Although not having ascertained the cause yet, it seems the cargo in the container came into contact with rainwater, which then ignited. It was raining heavily at the time.

EU and US lift Iran sanctions but sanction risks remain
18 Jan – The International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) issued a report on Saturday (16 January 2016) confirming that Iran has completed the necessary steps to start the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), triggering much awaited sanctions relief from the EU and US.

Extension of Iran sanction relief
15 Jan – The Club is advised that EU and US sanctions imposed against Iran as a response to Iran’s alleged nuclear program are expected to be lifted within short.

Amendments to IMO regulations and documents as of 1 January 2016
7 Jan – A number of important amendments to IMO treaties enter into force on 1 January 2016, including new requirements for verification of compliance, making audits mandatory under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme. 

Solvency II is going live
7 Jan – On 1 January 2016 the Solvency II regime entered into force. It entails a new era for European insurers, including The Swedish Club.