Issue No. 344 15 February 2008

Panama Canal tariff changes
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) issued Advisory to Shipping No. A-05-2008, 8 February 2008 entitled "Changes in Tariffs for Transit-Related and Other Marine Services. The revised tariffs take effect on 1 March 2008 and include a general 8% increase to rates for tug services, a general 7% increase to rates for linehandling services and a 50% increase to rates for locomotive services (per wire). To view the advisory and full details of the tariffs to be introduced please go to: www.pancanal.com/common/maritime/advisories/2008/a-05-2008.pdf

Violence in Nigerian ports
Lloyd´s List reports that a seafarer onboard a naval escort vessel was killed on 11 February 2008 after unknown gunmen fired on at least two ships in the Niger Delta; the Nigerian Navy has confirmed the incident. The incident marks the second case of armed attack on merchant shipping in the West African nation´s leading oil and gas export hub so far this year, and comes just days after the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) tabled a demand that the region be designated a war risk area. Should such a designation be implemented this will effectively give seafarers the choice between serving on higher pay or signing off ships heading for the area. In a separate move, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) issued Advisory Number 5, series of 2008, banning the entry of Filipino seafarers to Nigeria that are serving onboard vessels on liner services calling at Nigerian ports. This advisory was issued on 7 February 2008.

Early ban for single hull tankers
BIMCO reports that following the collision between a barge and the HEBEI SPIRIT off South Korea´s west coast on 7 December 2007 South Korea has decided to bring forward the ban on single hull tankers from 2015 to 2011. BIMCO further reports that the Philippines has also decided to introduce a ban on single hull tankers earlier than previously envisaged. Abandoning their previous plan to ban such ships from 2010, the Philippines has announced that they will bring forward the ban to 1 April 2008. BIMCO advises members to take note therefore that the Philippines will ban single hull tankers from its waters with effect from 1 April 2008.

Corrosion-resistant steel
Trade Winds reports that regulators are being forced to take more seriously a Japanese idea that corrosion-resistant steel can provide an acceptable alternative to coatings in oil tanker cargo tanks following successful trials. Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) announced earlier this month that it is ready to use corrosion-resistant steel that it has jointly developed with JFE Steel Corporation after a five development project. The shipping company plans to apply the steel in the top and bottom of cargo tanks of a VLCC now under construction at IHI Marine United. MOL estimates that the cost of the steel comes to about 1% of the total construction cost and, given big savings on maintenance and coatings application that are no longer required, is price competitive. It claims the product will slow down pitting to 1/5 of the level normally experienced, combats even general corrosion on the upper plate of cargo deck tanks, shows good "weldability" and will reduce dry-dock maintenance. Japan is currently trying to win the support of South Korea and the IMO to back its plan to make corrosion-resistant steel an alternative to coatings standards. The Japanese steel does not, however, show the same anti-corrosion performance in ballast tanks and will not be used to replace the existing performance standards for protective coatings (PSPC) for that area which were introduced last year.

Spain establishes emergency teams
The Spanish Ministry of Development has issued order FOM/93/2008, which will come in to effect on 30 April 2008, establishing the composition and responsibilities of the Maritime Emergency Evaluation Teams. Such teams will have full authority to board vessels in waters under Spanish jurisdiction in case of accidents or incidents that may effect the safety of the ship and human life, (collisions, fires etc) affect navigation (damage to main engine etc.), jettison of cargo and risks of pollution in Spanish waters. Teams will be allocated to five different areas along the Spanish coast; Cantabria, Galicia, South, Mediterranean and Canary Islands. These teams are under the direction of harbour masters (HM) and the General Directorate of Merchant Marine (DGMM), and will be available 24 hours a day, 365 a year. The teams will have full authority to board the ship in distress as representatives of Spanish maritime authority. For further details view the following: www.indeco-spain.com/55.pdf