IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has asked the United Nations system agencies to support IMO in its request to governments to declare seafarers, port personnel and other crucial maritime workers as key personnel. Mr. Lim made the plea during a virtual meeting (1 April) with other UN chiefs and the UN Secretary-General. The meeting addressed the impact of COVID-19 on, among other things, disruption and restrictions to travel, trade flows, global logistics, supply of food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. During the meeting, Mr Lim highlighted the importance of welfare and well-being of maritime personnel and particularly seafarers and the significance of crew changes
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes a new Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Notice to revoke and modify rulings relating to offshore vessels under the Jones Act. These revocations and modifications will bring much needed clarity to the U.S. offshore sector, better delineating the difference between “transportation of merchandise,” which is subject to the Jones Act, and offshore construction, which generally is not. The public, including Members of IMCA together with their clients, should comment on the notice by November 22, 2019. Since the issuance and revocation of the CBP previous action in 2017, U.S. regulators have been meeting
Maritime lawyer joins the IMCA Secretariat The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has appointed Margaret Fitzgerald as its Head of Policy & Regulatory Affairs. She will represent the Association on all regulatory matters and lead its involvement with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where IMCA holds non-governmental observer status. Margaret has over 20 years’ experience in shipping. She previously worked for the IMO Secretariat, leading on the development of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code and related regulations on the carriage of hazardous chemicals and noxious and polluting substances, including the HNS Convention. She subsequently worked for a member of
Maritime lawyer joins the IMCA Secretariat The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has appointed Margaret Fitzgerald as its Head of Policy & Regulatory Affairs. She will represent the Association on all regulatory matters and lead its involvement with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where IMCA holds non-governmental observer status. Margaret has over 20 years’ experience in shipping. She previously worked for the IMO Secretariat, leading on the development of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code and related regulations on the carriage of hazardous chemicals and noxious and polluting substances, including the HNS Convention. She subsequently worked for a member of
IMCA has updated the US Gulf of Mexico vessel data associated with its authoritative study ‘Marine Construction Vessel Impacts of Proposed Modifications and Revocations of Jones Act Letters Related to Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Activities” submitted to the US Customs and Border Protection agency in early April of last year. This supplement is part of a tracking exercise and focuses on the US GoM vessels of interest to IMCA’s members, and can be found at www.imca-int.com/jonesact and below. At the lighter end of the market, several new Coastwise Qualified light construction vessels (LCVs) have entered the market and largely
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the extension by the Home Office until 21 October 2018 of the concession to UK immigration rules concerning workers joining vessels engaged in the construction and maintenance of offshore wind projects. As noted by IMCA in June, IMCA welcomes and applauds the Home Office’s pragmatic response to the voice and needs of industry in addressing this issue. This decision has provided clarity and certainty in planning and executing existing projects, which are critical to delivering renewable energy capacity in the UK, and allows time for industry to adjust to the new regime.
It was in March 2015 that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) agreed to use the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) proposals as the basis for the review of the IMO Guidelines for vessels with dynamic positioning (DP) systems (MSC/Circ.645). Now that IMO has published the update (MSC/Circ.1580), IMCA has consolidated the guidance into document 245 IMO which is quickly and easily accessible on the IMCA website at https://www.imca-int.com/publications/425/guidelines-vessels-units-dynamic-positioning-dp-systems-msc-1circ-1580/, together with the original guidance contained in 113 IMO which is at https://www.imca-int.com/publications/76/guidelines-for-vessels-with-dynamic-positioning-systems-msc-circular-645/. The Guidelines for vessels with dynamic positioning systems (MSC/Circ.645) were approved by MSC 63 in May 1994 to provide the
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes the short term concession by the Home Office to immigration rules concerning seafarers joining vessels engaged in the construction and maintenance of offshore wind projects. However, IMCA notes that the recent change by the Home Office of immigration control over such seafarers (to resume after 21 October 2017) is a deviation from decades of common practice and is causing real operational difficulties. Consequently, IMCA would encourage the Home Office to reach out to industry in order that its new application of the legal framework relating to seafarers can be introduced in a way
On May 10, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Customs Bulletin & Decisions, Vol. 51, No. 19, ‘Withdrawal of Proposed Modification and Revocation of Ruling Letters Relating to Customs Application of the Jones Act to the Transportation of Certain Merchandise and Equipment Between Coastwise Points‘. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) immediately welcomed this Decision and noted that it would protect the economy of the United States and protect against significant American job losses in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). This Decision represents a pivotal step in protecting the U.S. National economy by promoting the offshore oil and
On May 10, 2017, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) issued Customs Bulletin & Decisions, Vol. 51, No. 19, “Withdrawal of Proposed Modification and Revocation of Ruling Letters Relating to Customs Application of the Jones Act to the Transportation of Certain Merchandise and Equipment Between Coastwise Points.” The International Marine Contractors Association (“IMCA”) immediately welcomed this Decision and noted that it would protect the economy of the United States and protect against significant American job losses in the Gulf of Mexico (“GOM”). This Decision represents a pivotal step in protecting the U.S. National economy by promoting the offshore oil and
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) welcomes withdrawal of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) notice to revoke and modify rulings relating to offshore vessels under the Jones Act. Allen Leatt, Chief Executive of IMCA, explains: “Members of the International Marine Contractors Association with vessels active in U.S. waters, together with their clients, welcome the decision by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency to withdraw its proposed revocation of longstanding decisions made over the last 40 years concerning the Jones Act. The proposals, which would have represented a major change in maritime policy if enacted, had been forecast
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) actively participated, on behalf of the Maritime Employers’ Group, in the International Labour Organization (ILO) Working Group of the Special Tripartite Committee (STC), established under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) – the international treaty covering minimum working and living standards for seafarers. The Working Group’s meeting took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3 to 5 April 2017. It brought together over 150 representatives from Governments, employers’ organisations and seafarers’ associations, officials from ILO, IMO and civil society organisations to examine issues related to the protection of seafarers’ wages when the seafarer is held captive on
Myth – U.S. coastwise marine service companies will fill the gap in the market with U.S. coastwise qualified vessels The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017
Myth – Only the inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) market is affected The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and
Myth – Jones Act waivers The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the U.S.
Myth – Vessel equipment is merchandise The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the
Myth – Improved US jobs market The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the
Myth – Economic investment The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the U.S. coastwise
Myth – Coastwise Fleet Capability The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is selecting a key fact-a-day on the 7-day countdown to the April 18, 2017 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) comment submission deadline, to highlight the potential risks if CBP revokes 40 years of precedent as reflected in its own rulings. Rulings that have brought decades of stability and billions of dollars in investment to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. IMCA issued its vessel impact report on April 4, 2017 and it is crammed with information and facts and figures showing that the U.S.
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) issued its report on 4 April into the potential impact of the Jones Act proposals published by the US Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) on 18 January. The report is available on IMCA’s website *. IMCA has conducted a detailed analysis of the technical requirements of conducting various operations in deepwater (>1,000m or 3,280 ft) cross-matched to the vessels active in the Gulf of Mexico in late 2016. The results confirm the practical reality that the US coastwise fleet is unable, on its own, to support activities in the deepwater market. For instance:
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