If you would like to receive future editions of Flagging Up, please email the UK Ship Register at: ukshipregister@mcga.gov.uk
UK Ship Register E-Zine – Flagging-Up
Welcome to the sixth edition of Flagging-Up; the UK Ship Register’s quarterly e-newsletter.
Issue # 06 – Autumn 2008
Covered in this issue are:
• CLC and Bunkers Convention
• UK Fleet Statistics
• Stena Carron takes UKSR over the 15 million GT mark
• Safmarine Container Lines and CMA CGM
• UKSR Customer Forum – Glasgow
• LRIT – The MCA’s intentions to appoint Authorised Testing Application Service Providers for Shipborne Equipment (ATASP’s)
• UKSR Annual Reception 2009 – Sponsorship
• Security: Everyone’s Business
• David Wright departs UKSR
• UKSR back in China
• Lloyd’s Register Seminar on Ship Registration
• Monaco Boat Show
CLC and Bunkers Convention
Under the International Convention on Civil Liability (CLC) for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage 2001, all ships over 1,000GT entering or leaving a UK port are now required to maintain compulsory insurance against liability for bunker oil pollution damage.
Although UK ships are given top priority for the issue of CLC Bunker certificates the deadline is fast approaching. In order to meet the 21 November deadline for Bunker Certificates it is important that application forms & bluecards for all ships and the fee (cheque or credit card form) are couriered in one package to our bunker team address to arrive by 31 October 2008.
Any package arriving after that date will be eventually processed but can not guarantee to be completed by 21 November 2008. UK ships will be given priority in all cases. All packages containing UK flagged ships must be labeled clearly with “UK SHIPS” on the outside.
Renewal of certificates for one year from 20 February 2009 to 20 February 2010 will start from 1 December 2008 and mark your packages “RENEWAL”.
Further information and guidance on how to apply can be found at the following link: http://www.ukshipregister.co.uk/ukr-home/ukr-bunkerclcs.htm
Alternatively you can contact the CLC Bunkers team on any of the following:
CLC Bunkers/
Maritime & Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)23 8032 9202
Fax: +44 (0)23 8032 9447
E-mail: bunkers@mcga.gov.uk
UK Fleet Statistics
During the last quarter 38 ships registered with the UK Ship Register with a gross tonnage of over 500,000 GT. Of these new registrations 31 were new builds.
These new registrations cover a range of ship types, including 7 container ships; 5 oil/chemical tankers; 3 passenger vessels; 1 bulk carrier; 6 general cargo ships and 16 vessels of other types.
The average age of vessels flagging-in during the last quarter was 4 years whilst the average age of vessels leaving the register was 28.
As at the end of September 2008 the UK Ship Register now stands at 1,544 ships with a gross tonnage of 15.14 million.
Stena Carron takes UKSR over the 15 million GT mark
The Stena Carron; a new build oil drilling ship of 58,294 GT flagged-in on 5 September 2008 and in doing so took the UK Ship Register over the 15 million GT mark. The ship is managed by Stena Drilling Limited and takes their number of drilling vessels on the UK Flag to 4, totaling 143,856 GT.
Stena Drilling is based in Aberdeen and is one of the world’s foremost independent drilling contractors, managing a global business with a record of successful operation in the North Sea, the US Gulf of Mexico, South East Asia, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, North Africa, West Africa and Australia.
The MCA Aberdeen Marine Office, in the Energy Capital of Europe, is at the centre of the global offshore market, which is expanding geographically and technically into areas unimagined even 20 years ago.
In the last two years Aberdeen Marine Office has been involved with 40 new ships for the UK Flag, ranging from deep water drill ships, dive support/well service ships, platform/field support ships, anchor handlers and standby ships.
Tom Robinson, Surveyor in Charge at Aberdeen Marine Office said “With the offshore industry looking to new and more extreme environments for reserves, the standard of offshore shipping has increased to meet the challenge. As more operations go sub-sea, demands have also pushed technology innovation resulting in more complex ships and UKSR is benefiting from some of this quality tonnage.
Safmarine Container Lines and CMA CGM
One company that has significantly contributed to this recent growth is Safmarine Container Lines who have brought on six new-build container ships so far this year: the SAFMARINE NYASSA, SAFMARINE KARIBA, SAFMARINE NILE SAFMARINE KOMATI, SAFMARINE NAKURU and the SAFMARINE NUBA. In total, Safmarine Container Lines now have 12 ships on the UK Flag with a total gross tonnage of almost 557,000 GT.
Another company that has registered multiple ships with the UK Ship Register is French shipping line CMA CGM.
Their most recent addition to the UK Flag was the 54, 309 GT new build containership CMA CGM NEW JERSEY which flagged in on 10 October 2008. This ship was the last of a 12 ship new build programme destined for the UK Flag. These ships were part of the J279 and 1710 series built between 2006 and 2008.
CMA CGM are due to register a further ship during November which will bring their total number of ships on the UK Flag to 27 with a total gross tonnage of just over 1 million.
UKSR Customer Forum - Glasgow
The UK Ship Register is holding a customer forum on Wednesday 26 November 2008 at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.
This follows on from our previous Customer Forums held in Southampton and Hamburg and is designed as an information sharing exercise between the UKSR and our customers. The day will begin with a welcome and introduction from our new Registrar General Roger Towner followed by a presentation on Port State Control.
The afternoon session will be an open debate to discuss any issues that attendees wish to raise. We would also welcome any feedback from you on the day.
Please note that attendance will be based on a first come first served basis due to the restricted capacity of the venue. If you are interested in attending or would like further information regarding the event please get in contact with us at the following e-mail address: ukshipregister@mcga.gov.uk
LRIT – The MCA’s intentions to appoint Authorised Testing Application Service Providers for Shipborne Equipment (ATASP’s)
The MCA, on Monday 13th October 2008, invited organisations who wish to undertake Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) ship equipment conformance testing to respond to an invitation to be appointed as Authorised Testing Application Service Providers (ATASPs).
Responses to the invitation are expected to be swift and the MCA is hopefully looking to appoint the ATASP’s around the 17th November 2008. Hopefully from this date UK shipping companies and UK flag vessels will be able to be tested by the ATASP’s and the relevant Conformance Test Reports issued for those vessels that comply.
The MCA intends to appoint several ATASP’s that offer a suitable geographical disposition to ensure that UK flag vessels around the globe can be tested. Details will be available of the ATASP’s as soon as possible. A draft MGN is in consultation at present and will be issued as soon as possible.
UKSR 2009 Annual Reception – Sponsorship
The UK Ship Register 2009 Annual Reception will be held during the evening of Wednesday 18 March 2009 and will be hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick, MP Minister for Shipping.
The event will be held on board the ship HQS Wellington moored on the River Thames in central London. There are opportunities for sponsorship available for this event and if you are interested you should contact Daniel Tong on either of the following: Tel: +44 (0)2380 329 532 or e-mail: daniel.tong@mcga.gov.uk
Security: Everybody’s Business
A new training DVD and CD has been produced to assist with the training of all types of staff who work on ships, who are not directly responsible for security. It has been designed to be used as part of an induction training programme for new staff or for refresher training for existing staff. This could include the master, officers and crew - in fact anyone who works on a ship. Security staff will also be interested in the content.
The objective of the DVD is to make everybody who works on a ship aware of the security regulations in force. It puts this into the context of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). The more vigilant staff are, the less opportunity there will be for terrorists to find a loophole in the ship’s security measures to exploit.
The story is documentary style and shows what staff can do to help protect the ship when at berth or anchor. There are separate sections for cargo, passenger ferries and passenger cruise ships.
The main menu gives a choice of type of ship so that the most appropriate version specific to their needs can be run. The secondary menu allows trainers to run each section separately so that key messages can be emphasised. Running the sections individually also allows for group discussions on specific areas of concern affecting particular ships.
The DVD and CD will be distributed to all UK flagged ships during the month of October 2008.
For further information please contact:-
Maritime Security Training Manager
Department for Transport
Transport Security and Contingencies Directorate
Zone 6/5
Southside
105 Victoria Street
LONDON
SW1E 6DT
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7944 2844
Fax: +44 (0)20 7944 2175
E-mail: maritimesecurity@dft.gsi.gov.uk
David Wright departs UKSR
David Wright, the UK Ship Register’s former Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen has taken voluntary early retirement from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
David has been with the MCA for over ten years and has worked in a variety of roles. His time as Registrar General included the re-launch of the UK Ship Register in February 2007 as well as the Register’s climb to the highest number of ships and tonnage in recent history.
Roger Towner has replaced David Wright as Registrar General of Shipping and Seaman and is also the new Head of Seafarers Services and Ship Registration.
UKSR back in China
Following on from recent productive visits to China the UKSR was invited to attend and present a paper on Ship Registration at the inaugural International World Shipping Forum, organised by the Shanghai Shipping Association. This initial event proved a great success with speakers from Asia, Europe and the US giving informative presentations on the world’s shipping industry.
During the visit the UKSR also held several company meetings with Shanghai based shipping companies. These meetings enabled UKSR to discuss, on a one-to-one basis, the benefits and understanding of the Flag and show we are the flag of choice for Chinese ship owners who trade into Europe
Lloyd’s Register Seminar on Ship Registration
UKSR representatives attended a seminar on Ship Registration at the Lloyd’s Maritime Academy Training Suite on 11-12 September.
The seminar, organised by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy, acted as a complete guide to ship registration choice and register performance. The two day seminar included a range of high profile speakers and delegates and covered many of the topical subjects within ship registration such as
The UK Ship Register gave presentations on registry requirements – what the flag administration needs for the ship owner and also the process of how to Register a ship.
Monaco Boat Show
MCA representatives attended the 18th Monaco Yacht Show from 24-27 September; the only show in the world devoted exclusively to international luxury yachting.
As originators of the Large Commercial Yacht Code the MCA were available to talk to industry and the public throughout the duration of the show to clarify and reaffirm regulations and policies across the field of yacht coding, surveying, training and certification, and UK ship registration.
Mike Sanderson, Head of Ensign, said:
“Ensign - the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Large Yacht Division, provides an exclusive service to the growing world-wide large yacht industry, and consists of a dedicated team of surveyors and support staff, widely experienced in the application of the large commercial yacht code, which has now become a world-wide standard.”