Sea Views: Liability limits to increase sharply in maritime claims

Following the accession of Malta to the 1996 Protocol to the 1976 Convention on limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC), amounts of compensation for maritime claims for loss of life or personal injury, and property claims, will be significantly increased from this May.

Malta, which deposited its instrument of accession on February 13, is the tenth State to accede to the 1996 Protocol, triggering the entry into force of the protocol 90 days from that date (on May 13).

The 1996 LLMC Protocol substantially increases the amount of compensation payable in the event of an incident and also introduces a 'tacit acceptance' procedure for updating these amounts.

This means that, in future, amounts can be raised with a given date for entry into force, after consideration and adoption by the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), providing that a specified number of objections are not received. This should ensure that, if the need arises, amounts can be increased without undue delays.

The LLMC Convention was adopted on November 19, 1976, and entered into force on December 1, 1986. It replaced the International Convention Relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Seagoing Ships, which was signed in Brussels in 1957, and came into force in 1968.

Under the new Convention, limits are specified for two types of claims – claims for loss of life or personal injury, and property claims (such as damage to other ships, property or harbour works).

The Convention provides for a virtually unbreakable system of limiting liability. It declares that a person will not be able to limit liability only if "it is proved that the loss resulted from his personal act or omission, committed with the intent to cause such a loss, or recklessly and with knowledge that such loss would probably result".

Details of specific limits of liability in relation to ships' tonnage have been published in the IMO Web site.

GAC Sri Lanka awarded ISO

The GAC Group (GAC) has achieved the ISO 9001:2000 certification in Quality Management for its shipping, logistics and marine operations in Sri Lanka.

David Williams, general manager of GAC Sri Lanka, commented: "Achieving the ISO 9001:2000 certification not only is a testament to our existing high standards, but it serves also as an incentive for us to continually improve productivity in our daily business activities, as well as consistently delivering the highest quality of service to our customers.

O'Neil to join Videotel as president

The UK-based maritime training company, Videotel Marine International (VMI), has announced that William O'Neil, formerly IMO secretary-general, is to become its new president. Stephen Bond, managing director of VMI, said: "Bill O'Neil has done a great deal to promote the safety culture in the maritime industry, and training is an inherent part of that culture. His experience and reputation will help ensure that Videotel remains at the forefront of the training industry."

Videotel Marine International provides computer, video and DVD-based training packages and courses in many languages for the maritime industry.

Frank Kennedy is a Dubai-based marine consultant