Refers to: Owners and Operators of Panamanian flagged vessels, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors         

Action Date: Immediate

With regards to PHRS NL192/17 (which can be found here) regarding the instructions and procedures on the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS) from Panama Maritime Authority, recently PMA has updated the pertinent instructions and procedures on the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)

According to MMC-133,

• Company Security Officers (CSOs) of vessels under Panama flag, must apply to PMA for the revalidation of their information through the online application (http://certificates.amp.gob.pa/certificates). Once this is done, the CSOs will receive an email from info@panama-ssas.com with their credentials and the instructions for Annual SSAS testing. 

• All the Companies must include the following e-mail addresses as recipient’s address of the SSAS alerts / tests, on board the Panamanian Flagged vessels: 

1. threat@amp.gob.pa  , and / or
2. authorizations@segumar.com

• In those cases that the SSAS terminal has not been configured with the main email address threat@amp.gob.pa, PMA has granted a period until August 31th, 2019 to make all the necessary arrangement to configure the SSAS terminal. 

• All applicant ships under Panama flag, they must schedule an annual SSAS test with PMA through the use of the SSAS platform https://polestarglobal.force.com/SSAS/login.  In order to comply with this requirement, the SSAS terminal has been configured with the main email address threat@amp.gob.pa, ​the company operator shall request access to the PMA’ SSAS platform by email to the e-mail address: info@panama-ssas.com, and should submit copy of the last Declaration of Company Security Officer (CSO) endorsed by this Administration in order to receive an email from info@panama-ssas.com, with their access credentials and instructions for using the platform and be able to schedule the FIRST annual SSAS TEST. 

• Only one annual SSAS TEST is mandatory and must be scheduled through the SSAS platform in the following link: https://polestarglobal.force.com/SSAS/login , in a period no longer than twelve (12) calendar months and can be scheduled 24 hours in advance.  

After the SSAS TEST is made, a confirmation message shall be sent from PMA through the SSAS platform. This confirmation message must be retained on board the ship as evidence during the ISPS verification, which must be verified by their RSO during the INITIAL ISSC verification. 

PHRS Security Auditors are instructed to verify the compliance with the Flag requirement at the Initial ISSC Audits. 

With respect to vessels passing in High Risk Areas (HRS):
 

• PMA recommends that all Panamanian Flagged vessels with or without armed or unarmed security personnel, and that prior to the entry into the High Risk Area (HRA), the crew should be fully briefed on the preparations and a piracy drill shall be conducted as well.

• The security drill should be reviewed and all personnel briefed on their duties, including familiarization with the alarm using to identify a piracy attack.

• These drills must to schedule through the SSAS platform in following link: https://polestarglobal.force.com/SSAS/login, indicating that it is a “Piracy Drill” or “SSAS Test”, at the same time the Panamanian Flagged vessels are requested to verify that the SSAS equipment have been correctly set-up and is working properly.

• These measures should be taken to ensure that the security procedures are working properly along with the recommendations stated in the Best Management Practices BMP (last version) and the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) established in the Merchant Marine Circulars No. 208 and No.238.  

Please click here for the revised Merchant Marine Circular (MMC -133) regarding the updated regulation for the use of the Ship Security Alert System (SSAS).

 
For any further information please feel free to contact PHRS Head Office or any other PHRS office near you.
  
May 27th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office

Refers to: Owners and Operators of vessels greater than 5.000 GT, engaged in commercial voyages in/out or between EU ports           

Action Date: 01/01/2018

According to the European Regulation (EU) 2015/757 for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Carbon Dioxide emissions for Shipping (EU-MRV), from 01/01/2018 on wards,  every ship equal to or larger than 5000 GT which has a commercial operation and calls to a European port, is obliged to monitor and report a series of relevant data on to its CO2 emissions.

The submission of the first emissions reports corresponding to the first reporting period (set to be from January 1 up to 31 December 2018) for ships subject to the EU MRV regulation has now come and their managing companies need to submitted them verification.

PHRS clients/ship-owners/managers of affected ships are urged to undertake the necessary actions as soon as possible and submit the emissions report for each ship for verification by accredited verifier (*) which will be subsequently submitted to the EC and to the ship's flag by the company before 30 April 2019. The regulation requires reports to be submitted directly to the THETIS-MRV system (https://mrv.emsa.europa.eu/#public/eumrv  ) operated by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

Further guidance on the EU MRV can be obtained from:

• PHRS NL 178/2017 | Further guidance regarding EU MRV compliance (which can be found here)

• PHRS NL 167/2017 | Monitoring, Reporting & Verification (MRV) of the CO2 emissions from Maritime Transport (which can be found here)

• DG-CLIMA’s official webpage (https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/transport/shipping_en#tab)   

*refer to PHRS NL 167/2017 - Phoenix Register of Shipping has entered into a framework agreement for cooperation with a leading verifier, namely EMICERT, which is fully accredited to the ISO 14065 standard with multinational experience, specialized in the Verification of GHG Emissions.

  For any further information you are free to contact PHRS Head Office or any other PHRS office near you. 

March 7th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office

Refers to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors             

Action Date: N/A

PHRS would like to recall ship-owners, managers and operators of the importance of availability of effective procedures and measures for Crew Familiarization for Enclosed Space Entry to safeguard seafarers on board ships when entering and working in enclosed spaces.

These procedures have to be incorporated into the company's SMS procedures according to the ISM Code.

Since 2016, SOLAS Regulation III / 19.3 as amended requires enclosed space entry and rescue drills to be carried out at least once every two months on board all Cargo & Passenger ships of 500 GT and above.

Enclosed space entry and rescue drills should be planned and conducted in accordance with the recommendations developed by IMO as per Resolution A.1050(27) which can be found here .

Crew members with enclosed space entry or rescue responsibilities shall participate in an enclosed space entry and rescue drill at least once every two months.

Each drill shall address the following important crew' familiarization functions:

• Checking and use of personal protective equipment required by entry

• Checking and use of communication equipment and procedures

• Checking and use of instruments for measuring the atmosphere in enclosed spaces

• Checking and use of rescue equipment and procedures

• Instructions in first aid and resuscitation techniques.

Persons responsible for the implementation of Safety Management Systems, have to ensure that they contain a comprehensive program of familiarization training of the crew with the Procedure for Entry into Enclosed Space on board ships, and also that the procedures are implemented on board each ship for the scope of ensuring crew members are aware of their duties. Especially those on board with enclosed space duties, must be familiar with relevant equipment and trained accordingly in order to carry out their duties and identify and understand the hazards associated with entry into enclosed spaces.


In addition, Phoenix Register of Shipping requires the relevant procedures for entry into enclosed space to be thoroughly implemented  on surveys of enclosed spaces to be carried out by PHRS Surveyors.


For any further information you are free to contact PHRS Head Office or any other PHRS office near you.

February 15th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office

Refers to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors             

Action Date: N/A

The American Waterways Operators (AWO) is working with the US Coast Guard to prevent and manage fatigue risks in the US tugboat, towboat and barge industry since the ‘90s. Towing vessel’ crew members are regularly exposed to the risk of fatigue, among other risks. Managing and mitigating these risks is important to reduce the likelihood of fatigue-related accidents.

With the goal of taking a proactive approach to fatigue prevention and management and reducing this risk of fatigue-related accidents, AWO’s Fatigue Risk Management Working Group developed and recently published the guide, 'Developing a Fatigue Risk Management Plan: A Guide for Towing Vessel Operators', to help member companies develop a fatigue risk management plan to incorporate into their existing safety management systems (SMS).

Fatigue risk management plans take a comprehensive, customized approach to addressing fatigue within a company, including policies and practices to address a wide range of fatigue risk factors and mitigation measures. This guide is tailored to the unique operational and environmental challenges of the towing industry. However, because towing vessel operations and design vary widely across the industry, the guide is not intended as a “one-size-fits-all” approach.

That means the companies have to carefully study the guide, assess their policies and procedures that are already in place to mitigate the fatigue-related risks of their crew members and identify how it is possible to link and possible improve their existing fatigue mitigation measures into a comprehensive fatigue risk management plan.

Companies can also use the guide to identify and implement additional practices, controls and other tools to close gaps or expand their current efforts.

The Fatigue Risk Management Working Group intends the guide to be a toolbox in which every AWO member company can find useful tools to address their specific fatigue challenges, enhancing safety of our shared waterways.

The Fatigue Risk Management Working Group has identified four core elements that it considers to be most important in a fatigue risk management plan:

• Education: Towing vessel crew members must understand the effects of poor sleep on their alertness, performance and safety, as well as know how fatigue mitigation strategies can improve sleep quality and duration. 

• Environment: Various environmental factors may inhibit the ability of towing vessel crew members for quality sleep. Simple engineering solutions and behavior modifications to improve the sleep and vessel environments can improve crew members’ sleep quality. 

• Work Readiness and Fatigue Reporting: Towing vessel crew members have a shared responsibility to report ready for duty, and of a company to allow adequate opportunity for crew members to rest and provide a process for reporting when they have not been able to obtain sufficient rest and/or feel fatigued.

• Performance Measurement: Companies should implement a process to regularly monitor and evaluate their fatigue management practices. This will allow them to assess whether and how these practices are being implemented, evaluate whether they are working and determine whether modifications are needed. 

The Fatigue Risk Management Working Group has also identified some other elements that may affect the effectiveness of a fatigue risk management plan, such as:

• Wellness Program: companies should use wellness initiatives to educate crew members about the importance of having good sleep and it’s positive impact on health. In addition, companies must encourage healthy behaviors and provide access to physical and mental health care, as practicable.

• Commuting: Daily commuting can both impact sleep and be impacted by sleep. A fatigue risk management plan of Companies operating live-aboard vessels should evaluate the commute times and practices of crew-members, identify risks and implement feasible risk mitigation measures.

• Sustainability: Sustainability involves the integration of fatigue risk management into the safety culture of the company, and buy-in for fatigue mitigation measures from shore-side management, captains and crew members. 

The guide 'Developing a Fatigue Risk Management Plan: A Guide for Towing Vessel Operators' can be found here.

Do not hesitate to contact us for any clarifications you may need on the above.

February 14th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office
 

Refers to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors             

Action Date: January 1st, 2019

The Chinese Ministry of Transport and China's Maritime Safety authority (MSA) have recently  (30/11/2018) took action on emissions regulations.

Specifically, an implementation plan was established by which three major
Domestic Emission Control Areas for Atmospheric Pollution from Vessels ( “DECAs”) have been designated to control and reduce emissions of atmospheric
pollutants including SOx, NOx, particulate matters (PMs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vessels and to improve the air quality of coastal areas and inland river port cities.

Among other provisions of the new requirements, from 01-01-2019, all vessels entering or operating within the DECAs should use at all times fuel with 0.5% m/m sulfur content.


The designated Domestic Emission Control Areas for Atmospheric Pollution from vessels ( DECAs) are as follows:
 

• Coastal control areas: all sea areas and ports within 12 nautical miles of the baseline extension of the territorial waters excluding waters under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, the Hainan waters and ports.
• Inland control areas: The navigable waters of the main stream of the Yangtze River (from Shuifu, Yunnan to the mouth of the Liuhe River, Jiangsu) and the main stream of the Xijiang River (from Nanning, Guangxi to Zhaoqing, Guangdong).

More details on the exact geographic coverage of the designated DECAs and the control requirements on the SOx, NOx and PMs are shown in the  implementation plan, which can be found here, published by the Chinese Ministry of Transport and China's Maritime Safety authority (MSA).

 
In addition, the Chinese Authorities are promoting the use of shore power for vessels at berth.

February 14th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office
 

Refers to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators, PHRS Representatives/ Surveyors             

Action Date: January 1st, 2020

The Maritime Authorities of Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU on Port State Control announced that their officers will start issuing a Letter of Warning from 1st January 2019 on the sulfur content of marine fuels during inspections on ships in order to increase awareness of and to encourage timely compliance with the new requirements of MARPOL Annex VI (Regulations 14 and 18), known as the global 2020 Sulfur cap, which will enter to force from 1 January 2020.


The requirement of maximum sulfur content of 0,50% m/m for marine fuel oil will enter into force on 1 January 2020, and will have considerable implications on ship operators, the fuel oil supply chain and the industry as a whole.

For the purpose of facilitating smooth and consistent implementation of the global 2020 sulfur cap, the Paris and the Tokyo Memorandum will carry out a joint information campaign by issuing a letter of warning to ships during inspections from 1 January to 31 December 2019.

A similar approach has been already implemented by PHRS towards it's clients, ship-owners and managers by placing a relevant entry into the memoranda section of the surveys status of the applicable vessels.

Click here in order to view the relevant Press Release.

The letter of warning which may be issued by the PSCOs of Paris MoU can be found here.

February 13th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office

Refers to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators of Panamanian flagged vessels, PHRS Representatives/Surveyors

Action Date: January 8th, 2019

Kindly note that Merchant Marine Circular 269 issued by the Panama Maritime Authority, regarding the certification process for Maritime Labor Convention has been revised.
 
This revision includes the modification of paragraph 22 stating that from January 8th 2019, the ROs listed in the Circular MMC 255 may extend the validity of the Maritime Labor Certificate for a period not exceeding five months after the expiry date of the existing certificate, provided that the renewal inspection has been carried out according to standard of the MLC (A5.1.3.4). The format to be followed by the RO´s will be the same as that found in the Appendix A5–II of the Convention and will be added to the maritime labor certificate and be available to the competent authorities.
 
Also, paragraph 25 has been added to the circular, stating that in case of change of ship-owner or operator address, an additional inspection is not required; the RO shall re-issue administratively the full or interim maritime labor certificate with same expiry date of the previous certificate, considering that this change does not affect the operation of the ship or the Company procedures. Therefore, an authorization shall be requested to mlc@segumar.com , copy of the valid maritime labor certificate and the certificate of registry (patent) updated if applicable.
 
Click here for the full MMC – 269 Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), Certification Process.

Do not hesitate to contact us for any clarifications you may need on the above.

February 6th, 2019 - PHRS Head Office