AUSTRALIA – The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is reminding seafarers with international qualifications to check the validity of their STCW certificates. This has been prompted by the fact that many qualifications will expire on the last day of December 2016, even those previously ‘perpetual’ certificates. The new continued competence requirements are not required for near coastal certificates and near coastal perpetual certificates will not be affected for domestic qualification holders under the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety.
All seafarers holding STCW certificates (excluding GMDSS Radio Operator Certificates) must have completed sea survival and firefighting training every five years to renew their certificates under the changes. Previously perpetual certificates that need to be renewed include Certificate of Safety Training, Integrated Rating, Chief Integrated Rating, Able Seaman, Deck Rating and Engine Room Rating.
Continued competence requirements for holders of Certificate of Proficiency in Fast Rescue Boats are also required under the changes and all seafarers must complete security awareness training once in their career. More information is available here and despite revalidating qualifications before December 31 holders will still receive full five year certificates from that date.
NORTH AMERICA – Volvo Trucks is offering a new factory fill engine oil, VDS-4.5, for the Volvo D11, D13 and D16 engines, meeting new Volvo engine specifications and also exceeding the new API specification CK-4. The new oil has the same viscosity as the current oil, 10W30, and is compatible with and can be used in older, previous emissions-level engines. The effect means increased mileage between oil changes on all three duty cycles, 55,000 miles for long haul, 40,000 miles for regional and 30,000 miles for heavy.
UK – Virgin Atlantic Cargo says that its recent $4 billion order for 12 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft marks the arrival of the most capable cargo aircraft in its fleet. Virgin, which announced the deal at the Farnborough International Airshow, has a fleet modernisation programme which will see 50% of its aircraft replaced in a six year period.
The A350-100’s are designed to be up to 30% more fuel and carbon efficient than the Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-600 aircraft they will replace in the airline’s fleet and is expected to reduce the airline’s noise footprint at airports by more than half, and additionally, will also deliver a significant improvement in lower deck cargo capacity of between 10% and 22% depending on configuration. John Lloyd, Senior Vice President, Cargo at Virgin Atlantic, said:
“We are confident the A350 will be the best cargo aircraft we’ve ever had in our fleet when we start to take delivery in early 2019. It is another demonstration of the airline’s focus on investing in the future for our customers.”
US – K Line and MOL were two of the container shipping lines which received accolades from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles for their performance in adhering to environmental protection programmes operated by the pair during the past year. The schemes are designed to cut air pollution and warming by asking vessels to keep speeds below 12 knots when sailing within 40 miles of that part of the California coast. This is the eleventh and eighth consecutive years that K Line has received these performance awards from Los Angeles and Long Beach respectively.
UK – Global chart distributor Nautisk has moved to new office premises in Aberdeen as the UK based hub continues to expand following its establishment 18 months ago. In addition, Nautisk’s Aberdeen team has also grown with the addition of three new members of staff in Customer Services and Technical Support.
PANAMA – Just two months after opening the new expanded Panama Canal the waterway has celebrated the passing of the 100th vessel with the Neopanamax Hanjin Xiamen transiting the new locks on Sunday August 14. The 294 metre, Panama-flagged containership passed through just one day before the canal celebrated its 102nd birthday.
DENMARK – Asset management group Schroders plc has reduced its shareholding in Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S, owned through Schroder Investment Management Limited and Schroder Investment Management Switzerland AG. Schroders plc therefore no longer owns 5% of the share capital and voting rights in Dampskibsselskabet Norden A/S which was apparently the investment group’s total holding. It is unknown who has purchased the stock at this time.
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