Jim Wilson

All lines of insurance business hit a top of US$35.8 billion in the last calendar year, the International Union of Marine Insurance has revealed int its latest analysis. Global income by region was Europe 47.7%, Asia/Pacific 28.4%, Latin America 10.3%, North America 8.5%, and Other 5.1%. The biggest share of business was transport / cargo...

Svitzer , has selected Kongsberg Digital to deliver state-of-the-art simulators in support of crew training at its Port of Newcastle base in Australia. The contract with Kongsberg will help create a training centre of excellence for the deployment of Svitzer’s innovative, new TRAnsverse tug vessels; entering service in Newcastle in early 2025. The new simulator...

It is “imperative” to adopt modern rostering, container terminal operator DP World has said in relation to its ongoing industrial relations dispute with the Maritime Union of Australia. “DP World must re-evaluate and update its rostering structure in line with this strategy to offer employees greater flexibility and to attain a more even distribution of...

Members of Shipping Australia’s Policy Council met in Brisbane recently and they were presented with an update of the Federal Government’s biofouling management requirements. Biofouling, according to ocean data products company Sofar, is: “the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on wet surfaces that have a mechanical function, causing structural or other functional...

Slots available for ships to transit the Panama Canal have been slashed by the operator, the Panama Canal Authority, and will soon be reduced even further. With immediate effect (as of 03 November 2023) booking slot numbers will be cut to 25 slots, and a series of progressive cuts will be made so that slots...

Seafarers are becoming less happy in some areas of their working lives but are largely neither more happy nor less happy, according to data in the the latest Q3 data from the Seafarers Happiness Index. The Index is compiled by the Mission to Seafarers. Happiness levels fell most from Q2 2023 to Q3 2023 in...

Port of Townsville has appointed local contractor CivilPlus Constructions to complete a critical piece of work as part of the port’s $251 million Channel Upgrade project. CivilPlus Constructions will carry out a $1.5 million works package to shorten the Eastern Breakwater, making way for channel widening at the inshore end of the Port’s 14.9km shipping...

Shipping Australia notes the announcement, in or about Monday 16 October 2023, by Victoria’s Minister for Port and Freight, Melissa Horne, of the existence of the “Voluntary Code of Practice for managing disruptions in the Port of Melbourne container supply chain”. Shipping Australia neither endorses nor rejects this Voluntary Code; we have a neutral stance...

By the International Maritime Organization Addressing fires on container ships requires a holistic risk-based approach and prioritization of risk prevention and mitigation enhancement when developing amendments. To support ongoing work on developing revisions to SOLAS or new regulations concerning detection and control of fires in cargo holds and on the cargo deck of containerships, experts...

Members of Shipping Australia’s NSW State Committee from across New South Wales met online and in person recently at the headquarters of the Port of Newcastle on the Hunter River to discuss industry issues. After beginning our meeting with the Acknowledgement of Country and after reminding all present that Shipping Australia is committed to complying...