Sea views: Bureau Veritas proposes Rina alliance

Bureau Veritas (BV) has proposed a closer strategic alliance with Registro Italiano Navale (Rina) in addition to the Unitas agreement between BV, Rina and Germanischer Lloyd (GL).

In the aftermath of the sinking in the English Channel of the Italian owned and classed chemical tanker Levoli Sun, on October 31, BV managing director Bernard Anne believes that the risks associated with the movement of hazardous cargoes could be minimised by the adoption of clear safety rules enforced by a strong European society.

It is likely that any alliance forged by BV would only include one or both of its Unitas partners and cross-shareholdings between the three are also a possibility, according to Anne. BV has already offered to incorporate its Italian subsidiary, BV Italia, into Rina Spa and to sell some BV shares to Fondazione Rina, its parent company. When the opportunity arises, BV is also hoping to acquire some shares in Rina Spa. It is predicted by BV that over the next five years, Rina will see a doubling of turnover from the present $85 million per year and an increase in staff of around 80 per cent.

Following several high-profile incidents which have reflected unfavourably on ship regulatory bodies, members of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) have been undergoing intensive introspective examination in a bid to reinforce a consistency of high safety and environmental protection standards within the marine industry.

During this process, Rina's membership of IACS has been looking precarious, particularly after the sinking of the Erika off Brittany, on December 12, 1999, and the expulsion of Polski Rejistr Statkow (PRS) from the organisation in early June. This followed adverse criticism of the Polish society's class management of the Leader L, which sank in March of this year with the loss of 18 seafarers.

The rethink of industry standards has been prompted by pressure from within the industry, aided by the media. The posturing taking place among the members of IACS is, thus, not an unexpected development. Indeed, Rina's vulnerability makes it an obvious candidate to be absorbed into one of the larger societies.

Furthermore, despite the collapse of merger negotiations between Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and GL at the beginning of this month, recognition that closer co-operation is the best way forward is a common sentiment (as shown by Bernard Anne's comments) but is at odds with the strong feelings of independence which are so very prevalent within each society. Only when each society comes to terms with its own identity, and its perceived future role for the good of the industry as a whole, may these necessary changes then smoothly ensue. Otherwise it will probably mean only the survival of the biggest.

Call for IMO supervision of classification societies

At a recent meeting of the Singapore Shipping Associa-tion, International Chamber of Shipping secretary-general, Chris Horrocks, said that classification societies might soon be supervised by a centralised governing agency and the only logical body to do this would be the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

He suggested that statutory and associated ISM work now accounted for up to 60 per cent of class societies' workloads and he commented that past sentiments, disclaiming the IMO's ability to take up an executive role, were now being usurped by a need to take cohesive action. He said, "Someone needs to do it, and if not the IMO, then who?" He went on to say that in the wake of the negative publicity surrounding the sinking of the Erika, "Rome is still burning and the class societies are still fiddling."

Jamaica flag targeting newbuildings

The new Jamaican Ship Registry is also to include new ships under construction, according to its head, Rear Admiral Peter Brady, who is also DG of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica. The new Flag of Convenience (FOC) is emphasising its quality consciousness and is aiming to attract vessels being built at yards in South Korea, Japan and China. Registration is also being restricted to ships classified only by IACS members. Brady said that the registry had the full backing of the Jamaican government and the move was part of Jamaica's objective of making the country a one-stop shop, along the same lines as Malta.

Delays in IMO white list worry owners

The Asian Shipowners' Forum (ASF) Seamen's Committee has expressed concern over possible further delays in the publication of the IMO White List. At a meeting in Hong Kong, it was noted that if the issue of the White List was to be delayed after this week's meeting of the IMO's sub committee responsible, it could present "serious problems" for flag states.

Calling for its immediate publication, the ASF committee pointed out that flag states using non-national seafarers must complete their certificate recognition arrangements with foreign labour supply countries before February 2002 and the White List was a vital tool in this process.

Definition of piracy in dispute

At the recent piracy conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Asian security representatives expressed concern about the current definition of piracy attacks, in the face of growing numbers of reported incidents. Several speakers from 13 countries claimed that "distortion" of piracy statistics undermined the good work of enforcement agencies and gave out a negative picture.

The meeting thus proposed that some crimes be categorised as armed robbery rather than piracy. Notwithstanding this call, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which collates and analyses piracy details and statistics, declared its intention not to change the present method of counting attacks.

Noel Choong, regional manager of the IMB's Piracy Centre in KL said, "The IMB maintains its definition despite the opposition as, for a seafarer, it does not matter if the pirates board at anchor or while the ship is under way. These pirates often board with knives and the threat of injury, violence and death is always there." The IMB defines piracy as "an act of boarding or attempting to board any ship with the intent to commit theft or any other crime and with the intent or capability to use force in the furtherance of that act.

India-Black Sea plan dropped by SCI

Despite over two years of negotiations with Russian company Novoship, the Shipping Corp of India (SCI) has withdrawn its proposal to operate an India-Black Sea service.

A joint service agreement had been signed between the two parties but scarcity of cargo prevented finalisation of the actual operating terms for the service - Novoship, which operates two liner vessels, was not keen on launching the venture because of non-viability concerns.

Cargo on the route will continue to be carried by space chartering arrangements which SCI says have satisfactorily met the requirements of consignees.