Sea Views: Two more flags banned from UAE waters

Two more flags of convenience (FOCs) have been added to UAE's list that denies vessels of these administrations from entering UAE territorial waters unless they are classed by International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) full-member societies.

The latest additions are Tonga and Sao Tome and Principe. This is seen as further evidence that the UAE authorities are continuing their purge on substandard shipping, as the momentum of Port State Control (PSC) activities gathers pace in the Emirates.

Following the latest additions, the list of banned administrations now stands at twelve after the UAE cabinet's decisions Nos 23/2001 and 122/2002, which specify that ships flying flags of the specified countries are banned from entering UAE ports, anchorage areas and territorial waters unless they carry valid classification certificates issued by a member of IACS.

Bureau Veritas slams Big 3: French classification society, Bureau Veritas, has said that the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is right to support moves being developed jointly by all leading classification societies towards higher common standards for tankers.

Furthermore, BV praised the organisation's refusal to endorse unilateral initiatives taken by ABS, DNV and LR alone.

Bernard Anne, head of BV's marine division said, "OCIMF wants quality tankers, which we fully support, and the support of its members for all our efforts is vital. It is obvious that the unilateral moves by ABS, DNV and LR to develop common scantlings are not a technical issue, but a commercial one. These three societies are trying to create a dominant market position.

"That will stifle competition and stifle innovation. We have already seen the consequences of over-hasty moves in the bulk carrier field and it is obvious nonsense to suggest that by huddling together like spoilt children and trying to exclude other class majors these three societies can improve safety or quality for the world fleet."

Anne went on to label the ABS/LR/DNV relationship as 'collusion' that OCIMF would wish to avoid, and he continued, "All the class majors have areas of expertise which they can contribute to developing common standards, and each can bring something to the table.

"If we treat this (as it should be) as a technical issue, then the whole industry can move towards higher common standards, helped by the backing of OCIMF members.

"BV's position has been to work strongly with other IACS members to devise workable improvements to future designs and give practical guidance to yards and owners. We fully support IACS, and also believe that it will be possible for IACS members to develop common basic scantlings.

"This is not a question about unified IACS or not, it is a question of what is best for shipping. At the moment much of the action is about what is best for three societies that holds back efforts to find global answers to global problems. Let's stop this nonsense and all get round the table."

DNV opens office in Qatar: Norwegian classification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has opened an office in Doha due to Qatar's ambitious expansion programmes for the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, acc-ording to Jacque Powell, DNV's Qatar country manager.

"Qatar is quickly becoming an economic power house and home to all major players in oil and gas. The country also continues to make considerable strides in improving and expanding the home fleet," he said.

He also said that DNV's objective in Qatar is not only to improve services to existing clients but also to promote a healthy competition in the local shipping and offshore market, offering a quality and viable alternative to other major class societies currently active in Qatar.

The establishment of the Qatar office will also serve to support the growing number of foreign flagged vessels calling at Qatari ports. In addition to Qatar, the society has also recently opened an office in Ghana.

IOPCF issues update: According to HK Law, the 82-member, 1992, International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF) has issued an update reporting on its October 2002 sessions of the governing bodies. It reports that the Spanish Parliament has authorised its Minister of Finance to sign a global settlement agreement involving the owner of the 'Aegean Sea', the insurer, and the 1971 Fund.

The Fund will pay the Spanish government approximately £24 million. A global settlement has been approved involving the insurer of the 'Nakhodka' and the 1971 and 1992 Funds for payment in full of all claims. Payment of admissible claims involving the 'Erika' will be maintained at the 80 per cent level while claimants take legal action.

The executive committee has also authorised the director to challenge the owner's right to limit liability and the Funds have decided to oppose any attempt by the owner of the Al Jaziah I to limit liability.

AP Moller launches 6,600 teu ship: AP MOLLER, the largest container carrier company in the world, has launched its newest, large post-panamax vessel, Clementine Maersk, on November 2 from the Odense Steel Shipyard in Denmark.

The company said the latest addition to its fleet, described as one of the largest container vessels in the world, would enter Maersk Sealand's liner service soon after launch and could be used as a training vessel, as it was equipped with an education centre for up to 10 cadets, like its sister ships Cornelia Maersk and Columbine Maersk.

The Clementine, named by the wife of Denmark's Prime Min-ister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has an overall length of 347 metres, a beam of 43 metres plus a capacity of approximately 6,600 TEU. It is equipped with a 12-cylinder HSD-Wartsila Sulzer diesel engine.

The company added the vessel has a crew of 15 and is commanded by Captain Jens Christian Christiansen Odense.