Jim Wilson

Injuries of various kinds account for about one-third of all claims, marine insurer Gard has stated in its “Crew Claims Report 2024”. “The average claim amount for an injury is usually higher than for illness claims. This may be due to the urgency of the treatment required in connection with injuries, which could sometimes require...

Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, has been awarded the prestigious Man of the Year Award by the Women’s International Shipping &  Trading Association, UK (WISTA, UK). The award ceremony was the flagship event of WISTA’s 50 Years Summer Celebration, which took place at the International Maritime Organization headquarters in London....

World trade volumes have ticked-up by about 1% in the first quarter of 2024 following a flat 2023, according to trade data from the World Trade Organization. Merchandise trade (average of exports and imports) was up in Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023; trade was also up in by 1.4% in Q1 this year compared to...

New research by marine insurer Gard demonstrates that 74% of all seafarer deaths are caused by some kind of illness. “Of course, this category of claims should ideally be zero. However, as an industry we are unfortunately far from where we would like to be, and over the past 5 years, Gard has recorded over...

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has declared it will invest in UK-headquartered Carnot, which says it has developed advanced technical materials and an innovative engine design that radically boosts engine efficiency. Modern engines typically operate at about 35% thermal efficiency, Carnot says, adding that is new technology and design can achieve 70% thermal...

Shipping Australia was pleased to read an editorial in the AFR yesterday, “Shipping shock glimpse of world without rules“. In it, the AFR basically reviews the ongoing Red Sea crisis (caused by the ongoing conflict disaster in the Middle East) and reflects on the wonders of just-in-time logistics and world trade – which has largely...

Shippers will have breathed at least a little sigh of relief this last week as the increases in box freight spot rates have stalled. First up: the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI), which is the freight rates out of, er, Shanghai (China) to about 12 regions around the world with data supplied by 23 carriers...

The 2024 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is to go to two sets of nominees: the Captain and crew of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, for containing a fire after the ship was struck by an anti-ship missile; and the Captain and crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya, for their rescue of six...

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has confirmed that its digitalised Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE 2.0) is scheduled to ‘go-live’ on Monday 2 September 2024 and become the standard tanker inspection tool for the marine industry. The final transition to SIRE 2.0 and the withdrawal of the option to request a SIRE Vessel...

Freight rates are spiking, with Drewry’s World Container Index recording large weekly gains. The Asia to US East Coast rate jumped more than US$1,300 dollars for a forty-footer and now above US$9,100 for a forty footer; Asia-US West Coast also jumped and is now at about USD$7,500 for a forty footer. Asia-North Europe has hit...