Loss Prevention Advice
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During the period 4-9 May 22, no incident of piracy or armed robbery against ship in Asia. However, the Centre advises ships to continue to exercise enhanced vigilance.
Abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters off Eastern Sabah
There is no incident of abduction of crew reported since January 2020 up to today, and no crew is currently being held in captivity by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
On 23 Apr 21, the Philippine Armed Forces conducted a military operation against members of the ASG during which one of the ASG leaders responsible for the abduction of crew in the area of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi had managed to escape. However, the threat of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah remains potentially high, particularly in the areas of Sulu and nearby waters off Tawi-Tawi as the ASG is still active and the leaders of the ASG who were responsible for the past incidents of abduction are at large.
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The certain ship’s tanks could be subjected to severe microbial attack, causing significant losses in plating thickness.
According to LR, this is a result of biological action where the fluid in the tank has been stagnant during an enforced period of reduced operational status. Tanks likely to be affected are those that may have higher biological loads, such as Grey Water and Treated Black water. Also vulnerable are Distillate (MGO) Tanks, which, if not used, could exhibit this phenomenon due to the presence of condensation.
- Onboard investigation
Ship operators should investigate any tanks that meet the above criteria and have had a prolonged period of non-use during a period of reduced operational status. It is recommended that class-related tank inspection due dates are advanced in their survey schedule. Associated piping systems should also be monitored as far as practicable for possible diminution or leakage.
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After the fuel contamination crisis in Singapore, MPA Singapore announced that the contaminated HSFO originally came from Khor Fakkan.
MPA Singapore was notified on 14 March 2022 that a number of ships had been supplied with High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO) containing high concentration levels of Chlorinated Organic Compounds (COC) in the Port of Singapore.
MPA conducted investigations and identified the source of the contamination. At first, the HSFO containing high concentrations of COC was traced back to fuel purchased by Glencore in January and February 2022. Namely, Glencore had purchased the fuel through Straits Pinnacle, which had contracted its supply from Unicious.
The contaminated HSFO was loaded at the Port of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) onto a tanker and shipped to floating storage facilities in Tanjong Pelepas, Malaysia to be further blended. The blended HSFO was then delivered to storage facilities in Singapore. Part of the blended HSFO was also sold by Glencore to PetroChina International.
HOW TO NAVIGATE SAFELY THROUGH THE SEASONAL FISHING BAN IN CHINESE WATERS (COURTESY OF SAFETY 4 SEA)
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The following recommendations are on how to navigate safely in the Chinese waters during the seasonal fishing ban which came into force on 1 May 2022.
Similar to the increase in fishing traffic seen in the period before the start of the ban, the number of fishing boats is expected to increase significantly once the ban comes to an end. As some illegal fishing activities may still continue in some areas during the ban, ship operators and masters are advised to take additional precautions when planning a voyage to and from Chinese ports during this period.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China regularly issues circulars to clarify the period of the fishing ban for the four sea areas along the coastal waters of China; the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The fishing ban lasts from three and a half months to four and a half months depending on the sea area. It is worth noting that in addition to stipulating the applicable area and time, the notice also sets out the types of fishing operations covered by the ban.