After more than 25 years at our Tower Bridge Court location, the West of England London office is moving to:
One Creechurch PlaceCreechurch LaneLondonEC3A 5AF
The move will commence on Friday 21st June and will be...
June 2019
Two tankers were attacked in the morning hours of 13 June 2019, in international waters just east of the Strait of Hormuz. This follows attacks on four ships offshore Fujairah on 12 May 2019.
BIMCO has issued the...
We are grateful to our representatives in South Africa P&I Associates (Pty) Ltd for this warning about potential action by the authorities over fishing by crew:
It is not uncommon for seafarers, whilst at anchorage...
We are pleased to announce that registration for our Member Training Week, taking place between Monday 16th and Friday 20th September 2019 is now open.
The training, intended for our Members and aimed at more junior...
TO ALL TANKER MEMBERS
3rd June 2019
May 2019
By an Executive Order dated 8 May 2019 President Trump has extended Iran secondary sanctions to encompass the iron, steel, aluminium and copper sectors of the Iranian economy. Members will recall that previously the...
Introduction
The Asian Gypsy Moth (AGM) is a highly destructive forest pest that feeds on both deciduous and coniferous trees. The voracious appetite of AGM larvae (caterpillars) coupled with the ability of the female...
As reported in our Notice to Members No.11 2018/2019, when U.S. secondary sanctions were re-imposed against the purchase and carriage of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products, liquified gases and petrochemicals in...
STS Clauses – Practice vs Principle – A Case Study
It is with much sadness that we must report the death of Ken Norman after a short illness. Ken joined the West of England in September 1950 at the age of 15 and went on to undertake many roles across a forty seven year...
Further to our News Item of 11 April 2019 the United States has designated a further nine vessels and four owning companies for involvement in the carriage of petroleum cargoes from Venezuela to Cuba. A list of these...
The Club continues to receive frequent shortage claims involving bagged food cargoes (rice and sugar are those most commonly affected) being discharged in West African ports. Food is attractive to pilferers as it can...
The Club has recently undertaken an analysis of claims involving seafarers who have deserted their vessel over the previous ten years. Although these types of claims are not common and nor are they particularly...
In our News Item of 8 February 2019 we noted that "it appears unlikely that the current sanctions [against PDVSA] will impact on non-U.S. persons". As a new Client Alert from the Club's U.S. attorneys Freehill Hogan...
The Club continues to receive claims in respect of cargo shifting due to inadequate securing where roll trailers have been used. This can either be inadequate securing of the load to the trailer or inadequate securing...
The International Group has recently published some further revised FAQs on the Maritime Labour Convention (2006), reflecting the experiences that Clubs have encountered in dealing with MLC matters.
A copy of the...
Further to our News Item of 6 December 2018, OFAC has released two further advisory notices concerning sanctions against Syria and North Korea (DPRK).
The Syria advisory once again warns in the strongest possible terms...
Being domiciled in Luxembourg, the Club will not be affected by Brexit in its operations with Members and brokers in the European Union.
With regard to the UK, the Club, whose branch in London is registered under...
In recent months the Club has seen several cases where fines have been imposed by the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) is respect of alleged pollution from waste waters discharged. In all cases such discharges were from...
Club Correspondents, P&I Associates, Durban, South Africa have provided information obtained from the managers / operators of Beira port on the situation in Beira Port as of 20th March 2019, as follows:
“On the 14th...
Dear Sirs,
Working through the International Group, and with specialised legal support, the Clubs continue to monitor the developing situation in Germany as regards Insurance Premium Tax on Clubs’ business.
With...
California’s ballast water management regulations are codified in the Marine Invasive Species Act (“MISA”) which can be found within the California Public Resources Code (“PRC”) and title 2 California Code of...
Further to previous notifications in April 2012 and April 2014, the Club continues to regularly receive notifications of customs fines being imposed. Most recently:
A Chief Engineer erroneously...
The West of England has announced a positive renewal period with continued support being seen from new and existing Members and a modest increase in renewing premium.
Owned mutual tonnage has grown over the year to 90m...
In order to strengthen the Club’s Pre-Employment Medical Examination (PEME) Programme, two new measures have been put in place with effect from 20th February 2019:
Holograms – All medical certificates for service at...
We have been advised by Spica Services of a recent change of enforcement policy by the Indonesian Navy. The agreed delimitation of the territorial seas in the eastern part of the Strait of Singapore was signed in 2014...
In light of recent developments in sanctions against Venezuela - especially by the United States - the Club now has a dedicated webpage providing a comprehensive overview of the sanctions and how they might affect...