News and Commentary

30 Dec 2020

News: Industry guidelines on cyber security onboard ships

Industry organisations have jointly produced a fourth version of the 'Guidelines on Cyber Security Onboard Ships'.

30 Dec 2020

News: Entry into force of the 2018 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006

On 26 December 2020, the 2018 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) came into force, which seek to provide additional protection to seafarers in the event that they are held captive on or off the ship as a result of piracy or armed robbery.

22 Dec 2020

Article: Reinforcing the importance of Seafarer Wellbeing

Seafarer wellbeing has been a focal topic for the Standard Club's Loss Prevention team in recent years, the COVID-19 world pandemic only serves to reinforce the importance of the work that we do in this aspect.

22 Dec 2020

Press Article: Regulatory risks of green shipping are issue for insurers

Insurers ignore at their peril the changing nature of risks in the maritime sector as the range of environmental regulations affecting the sector expands, Akshat Arora, of Standard Club reports in Lloyd's List Dec/Jan issue.

21 Dec 2020

News: The International Group reports on claims arising from incidents involving vessels under pilotage – liabilities exceeding US$1.8bn

The scope of this report covers a twenty-year period between 1999 and 2019 in which there were 1,046 such recorded incidents and where each incident gave rise to P&I liabilities in excess of US$100,000.

21 Dec 2020

21 December 2020, Standard UK circular - Brexit update - The Standard Club UK Limited

Please read attached circular.

18 Dec 2020

News: The International Group Pooling and GXL Reinsurance contract structure for 2021 have now been finalised

The International Group’s renewal rates for 2021.

17 Dec 2020

News: Third quarter piracy and armed robbery reports

The latest report of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB)​ for the third quarter of 2020 showed a total of 132 incidents of armed robbery and piracy. In comparison to Q3 2019, this represented an increase of 10% in the total number of incidents for the same period.

17 Dec 2020

Article: Management of death at sea - A practical guide sheet for Masters

The Marine Advisory Medical Service for Standard Club has provided a practical guide sheet for Masters regarding the management of death at sea.

15 Dec 2020

Press Article: Enclosed spaces - How to change behaviour

Akshat Arora, Senior Surveyor, looks at why the shipping sector continues to struggle with deaths and injuries in enclosed spaces, in the latest issue of Maritime Risk International.

10 Dec 2020

News: Amendments to the IBC code and MARPOL Annex II

In May 2019, the MEPC 74 adopted resolution MEPC.318(74), aiming to amend the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code).

9 Dec 2020

News: New Argentinian Hold and Tank Inspection Requirements

New procedures came into force in 2017 that allowed private certified survey companies to carry out pre-loading inspections of the holds and tanks in accordance with the criteria established by SENASA.

9 Dec 2020

News: Amendments in California’s Marine Invasive Species Program (MISP) to enter in force from 1 January 2021

Ships calling at California ports need to comply with regulations for ballast water discharges and vessel biofouling enforced under the Marine Invasive Species Program (MISP).

9 Dec 2020

News: Practical guidance for loading soya beans in Brazil

The Standard Club has seen an increase in claims activity related to the carriage of soya bean cargoes in the past few years. This is particularly evident in the trade of this cargo between Brazil and China.

7 Dec 2020

Press Article: Is vessel size a factor in collapsed container stacks?

Seatrade Maritime News asked Capt Yves Vandenborn, Director of Loss Prevention, if there was a trend of increasing incidents with regards to container loss.

7 Dec 2020

Press Article: Regulatory risks posed by green shipping are an issue for insurers

Akshat Arora, Senior Surveyor at Standard Club, discusses regulations, and the pathway to the decarbonization of the maritime industry, with Insurance Day.

4 Dec 2020

Circular: 4 December 2020, Standard Club circular - US Oil Pollution California - increased criminal penalties for oil spill related offences

Please read attached circular.

1 Dec 2020

News: UK Chamber of Shipping - Bridge Resource Management Guidance Launch

Despite the many advances in technology, navigational incidents are unfortunately a regular and recurring theme in the shipping industry. To address these issues and to discuss potential solutions, Standard Club has worked closely with the UK Chamber of Shipping as part of a BRM Task Force.

1 Dec 2020

News: Import ban of solid wastes in China from 1 January 2021

In order to implement the amendment to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Environmental Pollution by Solid Wastes, the Chinese government announced a complete ban of import of solid wastes from 1 January 2021.

1 Dec 2020

News: The Sea newspaper - Q4 2020

The 2020 quarter 4 edition of The Sea, which updates seafarers on the latest news and safety information, is now available.