16th November 2024 – 22nd November 2024
LOCAL NEWS
1. Announcement by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping on the candidacy of the Republic of Cyprus for re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization
On the 20th of November, the Deputy Minister of Shipping of the Republic of Cyprus, Ms Marina Hadjimanolis, announced the candidacy of the Republic of Cyprus for re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization for the period 2026-2027, at an event held at the premises of the IMO, in London. The Republic of Cyprus has been a member of the Organisation since 1973 and has been elected to the IMO Council since 1987, contributing significantly to the decisions of the Organisation.
In her speech, the Deputy Minister of Shipping, presenting the candidacy of the Republic of Cyprus for re-election to the Council in category C, referred to the work of the Republic of Cyprus in the Organisation and the goals of Cyprus shipping at a global level.
The event was honoured by the presence of the Secretary-General of the IMO, Ambassadors and other Diplomats.
Related Articles:
Η Κύπρος διεκδικεί επανεκλογή στο Συμβούλιο του Διεθνούς Ναυτιλιακού Οργανισμού – 24h.com.cy
Cyprus Mail 21/11 - Shipping minister presents Cyprus’ IMO council bid
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2. EU Council updates maritime safety package legislation
On Monday, 18th November 2024, the European Council has adopted a revised maritime safety package comprising four updated directives to enhance safety, environmental protection, and compliance in maritime transport. These updates align EU regulations with international standards and strengthen enforcement mechanisms across member states.
The Key Changes are the following:
a. Accident Investigation Directive:
- Expands scope to include smaller fishing vessels (<15m) for harmonized accident investigations.
- Clarifies legal definitions, enhances investigative capacity, and ensures independence of investigative bodies.
- Updates references to EU and IMO rules for consistency.
b. Ship-Source Pollution Directive:
- Extends penalties for illegal discharges to include sewage, garbage, and exhaust cleaning residues.
- Strengthens administrative and criminal penalties in line with MARPOL standards to deter pollution.
c. Flag State Compliance Directive:
- Aligns flag state monitoring rules with the IMO III Code.
- Ensures better inspections, oversight, and adoption of digital solutions for monitoring flagged ships.
d. Port State Control Directive:
- Updates inspection processes to align with the Paris MoU and IMO conventions.
- Introduces voluntary inspections for large fishing vessels (>24m).
The legislation will be published in the EU’s Official Journal and come into force 20 days after publication. Member states have 30 months to integrate these directives into their national laws.
This package aims to improve maritime safety, support clean shipping, and protect the marine environment across the EU.
Related Articles:
Safety4Sea 22/11 - EU Council updates maritime safety package legislation
3. EU and UK Sanction Iranian State Shipping and Russian Assets
On Monday, 18th November 2024, the European Commission announced that the European Union has widened its sanctions against Iran over Tehran's support of Russia in its war with Ukraine.
The Commission said it had added the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its director Mohammad Reza Khiabani, among others, to its sanctions list.
The fresh sanctions are against vessels and ports used for transporting Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), missiles and related technologies and components. They include prohibiting any transaction with ports and locks owned, operated or controlled by the sanctioned individuals and entities.
The EU also sanctioned three Russian shipping firms - MG Flot, VTS Broker, and Arapax - for transporting Iranian weapons, including drone parts, across the Caspian Sea to resupply Russian troops in Ukraine.
Being a coordinated between the UK and the EU, the UK also launched sanctions against the Iranian state-owned shipping line as well as Russian assets.
Both Russia and Iran condemned the actions and asserted they would find new ways to respond.
Related Articles:
Consilium 18/11 - Iran: EU widens restrictive measures in view of Iran support of the Russian war
Reuters 18/11 - EU widens sanctions on Iranian shipping firms
Maritime Executive – 18/11- EU and UK Sanction Iranian State Shipping and Russian Assets
Al Jazeera 19/11 - Iran criticises EU shipping sanctions, denies sending missiles to Russia
4. Second von der Leyen era on track to start Dec. 1
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s second term is on course to begin on the 1st December 2024 after the bloc’s political parties struck a long-awaited deal to complete her top team on Wednesday 19th November 2024.
“Under control!” shouted Parliament President Roberta Metsola, stepping out of a room where members of the European Parliament had sealed the deal. Metsola preemptively invoked the meetings, in which the final commissioners were to be approved, to prevent the timetable from slipping into next week, a Parliament official said.
The full College, which consists of all the 26 nominees which have originally been assembled by Ms. von der Leyen and includes Commissioner for Sustainable Transport, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and Fisheries and Oceans Commissioner, Mr. Costas Kadis, will receive the final confirmation vote next week in Strasbourg.
Related Articles:
Politico EU 21/11 - Second von der Leyen era on track to start Dec. 1
Euronews 21/11 - Who's who in the new European Commission?
Brussels Times 21/11- EU Commission all set for 1 December
5. Norway: Updated regulations for foreign vessels
New port of call regulations will come into force on 1 January 2025 to strengthen the control of foreign vessels during voyages and calls in Norwegian territorial waters. This update, announced by Norway’s Ministry of Defense, aims to enhance security by increasing oversight of foreign vessels operating along the Norwegian coast.
The updates are part of the country’s ongoing efforts to enhance maritime security and improve situational awareness. All foreign vessels entering Norwegian waters will be subject to the stricter, updated reporting regulations.
The updates include:
- Lower Reporting Threshold: The size requirement for vessels that must submit arrival notifications will decrease from 24 metres to 15 metres. As a result, smaller vessels, such as tugs, yachts, and expedition ships, will now be required to comply with the same reporting obligations as larger vessels.
- Inclusion of Unmanned and Autonomous Vessels: The new regulations will also extend to unmanned and autonomous vessels, reflecting the increasing use of advanced maritime technology.
- Penalties for Non-Compliance: Foreign vessels will be required to submit their arrival notifications via SafeSeaNet Norway (SSN). Vessels that fail to submit the required notifications could face sanctions.
Related Articles:
Safety4Sea 21/11 - Norway: Updated regulations for foreign vessels
GAC 13/11 - Tightening of port of call regulations for foreign vessels
6. Trump taps prominent shipping name to head US Commerce Department — again
For the second time in his two terms as president, Donald Trump has tapped a top name in shipping investment to head the US Commerce Department.
Cantor Fitzgerald chief executive Howard Lutnick was Trump’s choice, eight years after the Republican chose shipping investor Wilbur Ross for the same post. Lutnick is in effect the owner of prominent shipping brokerages — Poten & Partners and Oil Brokerage — as chief executive of the BGC Group.
Cantor Fitzgerald was once a significant player in shipping investment banking during the early days of shipping’s rush on the New York equity markets in the mid-2000s.
Ross had been a prominent shipping investor through his WL Ross & Co, holding the chairmanship of Diamond S Shipping and Navigator Holdings prior to his appointment. He stayed in the cabinet through Trump’s first term.
Related Article:
Attachment 1:TradeWinds 19/11 – Trump taps prominent shipping name to head US Commerce Department — again
7. COP29: UNECE ICAO and IMO join forces to decarbonize transport
During the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which took place from the 11th – 22nd November 2024, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) came together with aligned visions to reduce the impact of their respective sectors on climate change.
The event at COP29 highlighted the recent progress made by UNECE, ICAO and IMO in addressing the impact of their transport sectors on climate change, as well as showcased how their Member States and key stakeholders are contributing to actions necessary to achieve carbon neutrality.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that international shipping carries more than 80% of international trade and has already improved its energy efficiency performance by over 20% since the first IMO climate regulations came into force.
“Both IMO and ICAO aim at carbon pricing and are also looking to strengthen our interaction with UNECE, particularly on programmes which involve multi-modal transport, including maritime, and the green and digital development of the Middle Corridor trade route”, Dominguez highlighted.
On the final day of the conference, a new climate finance text as finally been released. Now subject to intense negotiation, it concerns the amount of money developing countries can expect in climate funding for the next several years, and the proportion of that which should come directly from wealthy governments.
So far, the draft proposes a figure of $250bn by 2035 to replace a current $100bn contribution from rich countries that was set back in 2009. That sum should come from "a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources" and would include direct provision of finance such as grants, and private sector investment that such support is expected to mobilise.
Related Articles:
UNECE 20/11 - At COP29, UNECE ICAO and IMO join forces to decarbonize transport
Safety4Sea 22/11 - UN transport organizations pledge to reduce emissions at COP 29
Trend.az 20/11 - COP29 weighs up maritime sector decarbonization
Euronews.com/green 22/11 - COP29: What's happening on day 11 of the UN climate conference?
8. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 2: US Treasury Report for week 16/11/2024 – 22/11/2024
9. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 3: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 23/10/2024 – 20/11/2024
Nothing important to report from the ILO and the House of Representatives.