SWZ|Maritime’s December issue: EU maritime policy in focus
SWZ|Maritime’s December issue is traditionally a special with a focus on the shipbuilding industry in a specific country, last year Japan. This time we focused on Europe. Not a state, but a cooperating group of...Read more
Dutch government wants new regulations for container ships after MSC Zoe
New international requirements are needed for large container ships. This should prevent another disaster such as the one with MSC Zoe almost two years ago north of the Wadden Islands.Read more
Cautious support for IMO’s climate fund for shipping
The plan of global shipping to set up a USD 5 billion innovation fund through a fuel tax seems to have the support of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This became clear at last week’s...Read more
IMO agrees to energy label for shipping
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved the proposal to introduce an energy label for shipping. This system should lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.Read more
European Commission wants 25 times more wind turbines at sea
The European Commission wants to increase offshore wind energy generation 25-fold over the next thirty years. In ten years’ time, offshore wind turbines will have to supply five times more energy. To meet these targets,...Read more
Pulse fishing up for another review
Next spring, pulse fishing will be reviewed again after already being banned by the European Parliament. The European Commission promised this when discussing the ICES report during the European Parliament’s Committee on Fisheries on 16...Read more
Police drone catches inland tanker degassing while in transit
A 73-year-old inland skipper from Gorinchem, the Netherlands, was caught degassing his cargo tanks on the Waal river near Tiel. With an upcoming European ban, and strict measures already in place in the Netherlands in...Read more
Weather dependent lashing becomes available to all ships worldwide
The discussion about weather dependent lashing has continued both nationally and internationally, including within the IMO, for over 10 years. No consensus was ever reached about a so-called Unified Interpretation of the Code of Safe...Read moreMinister tightens advice on Wadden Sea shipping routes
The Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen is tightening advice for container shipping on the shipping routes north of the Wadden Islands. This follows from research into the MSC Zoe disaster.Read more
No consensus on IMO CO2 reduction plan for shipping
IMO’s plan to legislate a 40 per cent reduction in maritime CO2 emissions within ten years has resulted in a mixed response from shipping organisations. The environmental movement, on the other hand, has sharply criticised...Read more
How to get to standard crew competences for arctic operations
Sailing ice-covered waters is a risky business. The Polar Code covers many of the requirements for navigating these waters safely. However, with arctic shipping on the rise and many newcomers venturing out into these areas,...Read more
Inspectorate: Dutch naval ships moored illegally in Den Helder
The Dutch Ministry of Defence is struggling with the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) over naval vessels being moored in the naval port of Den Helder without an environmental permit. The watchdog has imposed...Read moreEU heading for rigorous CO2 reduction for shipping
European shipping is likely to be subjected to much stricter CO2 requirements than hitherto agreed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the sector worldwide. The Environment Committee of the European Parliament has agreed to...Read more
Video: The forces that caused the MSC Zoe to lose containers explained
Following the MSC Zoe disaster, the Dutch Safety Board asked research organisations Deltares and MARIN to cooperate in an investigation. The key research questions were: what could cause container losses above the Wadden Sea and...Read more
KVNR: Improvement of crew change rules is far too slow
Despite efforts being made to improve crew changeovers, not enough progress is being made, according to Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR) Managing Director Annet Koster. The corona crisis has forced thousands of seafarers to...Read moreMinister gets started on Safety Board advice following MSC Zoe disaster
Dutch Minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen is going to do her best to better protect the Wadden area against shipping accidents such as the one involving the container ship MSC Zoe. However, she cannot yet promise...Read more
Four in one go: Wagenborg ships get ballast water treatment systems
The Edenborg, Jade, Westborg and Merel V have arrived at shipyard Royal Niestern Sander in the Port of Delfzijl, the Netherlands. All four general cargo ships will have ballast water management systems installed. In 2017, the...Read moreITF: Enough is enough, seafarers should exercise right to leave ships
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has said it will now assist hundreds of thousands of seafarers to exercise their right to stop working, leave ships, and return home. After weeks of calling on governments...Read more