Despite sanctions

Ship loaded with Russian coal docks in Spanish port of Gijon

A Maltese-flagged ship carrying Russian coal and petroleum coke has docked in the northern Spanish port of Gijon, port authorities said on Monday. Another Maltese-flagged ship, loaded with Russian crude, docked in Cartagena, southern Spain, on Friday, authorities confirmed

The decisions

IACS revokes membership of Russian ship register

London - The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Council has agreed to exclude the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS) from the IACS membership, “following the recent (…) developments in Ukraine"

The conflct in Ukraine

How Western sanctions might target Russia / EXPLAINER

The United States and its allies are coordinating new financial and economic sanctions on Russia after Moscow recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, officials said

Karin Strohecker
When ISIS active

Ericsson shares drop after probe on graft in Iraq

The Swedish telecom gear maker disclosed results of an internal investigation that detailed suspect payments and misconduct in Iraq. The company's investigation had identified payments made to use alternate transport routes in connection with circumventing Iraqi Customs

Supantha Mukherjee
As part of the "Fit for 55" package.

The Commission proposal for the extension of the application of the ETS Directive to the maritime transport sector

Genova - The European Commission presented the so-called "Fit for 55" package in July of this year. The package includes a series of proposals and initiatives aimed at ensuring that EU policies are in line with the objective of reducing emissions into the atmosphere by at least 55% set by the EU for 2030, with the ultimate aim of pursuing climate neutrality by 2050

*Marco Manzione
The deal

Global tax criticized for "no teeth"

Paris - A group of 136 countries on Friday set a minimum global tax rate of 15% for big companies and sought to make it harder for them to avoid taxation in a landmark deal that U.S. President Joe Biden said levelled the playing field

Leigh Thomas
covid

EU Commission wants tougher rules for consumer credit deals

The proposal also includes caps on the total cost of creditand the annual percentage rate of charge, rules on tacitlyaccepted overdrafts and an obligation by the creditor or theprovider of crowdfunding credit services to assess thecreditworthiness of the consumer.

Under new NAFTA

U.S. unions lodge first Mexico labor grievance

Mexico City - U.S. unions on Monday filed the first labor rights petition against Mexico under a new regional trade pact, vying to bring a complaint against an auto parts company on the border that they say has denied workers the right to independent representation

Daina Beth Solomon
As relations curdle

China suspends economic dialogue mechanism with Australia

Beijing - China "indefinitely" suspended on Thursday all activity under a China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, its state economic planner said, the latest setback for their strained relations: "Some Australian Commonwealth Government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination," China's NDRC said

But concerns over vaccine hesitancy

EU eyes 'Vaxproof' document to revive travel

Brussels - The European Commission is working on a vaccine certificate, dubbed 'Vaxproof', that could help restore cross-border travel, EU officials said, but the plan is dividing EU nations. The issue has been discussed for months but has led to no compromise because of fears over vaccine hesitancy and privacy. The EU executive Commission is working on a system for mutual recognition in all 27 EU countries of a certificate proving the holder has been vaccinated

Francesco Guarascio
New rules

Royal Canadian Navy drops 'seaman' title for gender-neutral term 'sailor'

Ottawa - The Royal Canadian Navy is ditching the term “seaman” in favour of the gender-neutral “sailor,” the organization said Thursday: “By adopting gender neutral designation for junior members of the Royal Canadian Navy, we demonstrate to all Canadians that the Canadian Armed Forces will welcome anybody who wants to serve their country and uphold the values of inclusion and diversity"- Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said in a statement

Worth of 20 million dollars

380 kg of Cocaine found in container at London Gateway Port

London - British officials have seized about £15.2m ($19.4m) worth of cocaine hidden in the floor of a refrigerated container at the London Gateway port in Essex. Border Force officers found 380 kg of the drug in a container carrying bananas from Costa Rica to Germany, after an X-ray revealed an anomaly in the insulation cavity

Troubles in the Med

Libya releases 14 Ukrainian seafarers after three years in jail

Tripoli - 14 Ukrainian seafarers who were arrested off Libya in 2017 have finally returned home. None of them were ever formally charged with a crime, but officials in Tripoli held them for more than three years. The Ukrainian crew and their ship, the product tanker "Ruta", were intercepted by Libyan Navy forces in April 2017 and detained for allegedly smuggling a cargo of diesel

Dnv Gl

Autonomous drone inspections move step closer after successful test

Trondheim - A drone has successfully inspected a 19.4 meter high oil tank on board a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel. The video shot by the drone was interpreted in real-time by an algorithm to detect cracks in the structure. It is the latest step in a technology qualification process that could lead to tank inspections becoming safer and more efficient

He left the Company last August

Ex-chairman of CSIC under investigation for corruption

Shanghai - Hu Wenming, the former chairman and Party chief of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), is under investigation for "suspected serious violations of discipline and law," according to Chinese anti-corruption investigators

First client: Genting Cruise

DNV GL launches new certification in infection prevention for the maritime industry

Hamburg - DNV GL, the world’s leading classification society, has launched a new certification in infection prevention for the maritime industry. The release of this custom certification aims to help the maritime industry resume operations better prepared for COVID-19 or other emerging pathogens. Genting Cruise Lines is the first customer working towards the CIP-M certification for their vessel “Explorer Dream”

The initiative

Panama threatens sanctions for ships disabling positioning signals

Panama City - Panama’s maritime authorities issued a stern warning to all Panamanian flagged vessels seen as another crackdown on common tactics used by ships trying to avoid international restrictions or hide their activities. Panama’s directive follows the United States that recently highlighted the tactics used by illegal shippers and rogue nations

Introducing the world's largest containership

Moon says S. Korea’s shipping industry reviving, vows continued support

Seoul - President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that South Korea’s shipping sector has set sail toward a renaissance with the introduction of the world’s largest container ship. He was attending a ceremony to christen the 24,000-TEU vessel, the "Algeciras", for use by the South Korean shipper HMM

Markets and shipping

China won't hike grain import quotas for U.S. trade deal

China will not increase its annual low-tariff import quotas for corn, wheat and rice to accommodate stepped-up purchases of farm goods from the United States, senior agriculture official Han Jun said on Tuesday

regulation

Trump takes victory lap on China trade deal / FOCUS

Washington - Engulfed in an impeachment inquiry and other political turmoil, US President Donald Trump on Friday trumpeted the success of his hard-line stance with China, claiming to have scored a major win in the grinding trade war between the economic powers

regulation

Hong Kong protesters throng streets in heat and heavy rain

Hong Kong - Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters joined a mass rally in Hong Kong on Sunday, filling major thoroughfares in heavy rain in the eleventh week of what have been often violent demonstrations in the Asian financial hub.

regulation

UAE tanker with Iranian oil seized by Egypt

Ras Banas - 31 crew of Suezmax crude oil tanker “Sea Shark” called Russian News Agency TASS and asked for help, describing their dramatic situation. Owned by UAE-based company tanker loaded a shipment of crude oil at Kharg Island Oil Terminal, Iran, and sailed to Suez in late Oct 2018, where tanker stopped

regulation

EU lawmakers back preliminary deal on copyright reforms

Strasbourg - The European Commission kicked off the process two years ago in a bid to protect Europe’s cultural heritage and ensure publishers, broadcasters and artists receivet fair compensation from big online companies.

Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Philip Blenkinsop
regulation

Surprised in Brazil when loading cocaine

Sao Paulo - Two Brazilian stevedores, detained in a port of Sao Paulo with 17 kilos of drugs. Two Brazilian stevedores were recently caught in a port on the coast of Sao Paulo when they loaded 17 kilos of cocaine on a container ship whose next destination was the Puerto de la Luz

regulation

Brazil approves WTO action over Indian sugar subsidies

Sao Paulo - Brazil said it has decided to start a formal action at the WTO after failing to receive enough information from India following letters it sent to the Indian government seeking clarifications on sugar policies.

Marcelo Teixeira
regulation

“EU will extend Russia sanctions in December”

Buenos Aires - The European Union will extend its existing economic sanctions on Russia next month, a top official with the bloc said on Friday after Moscow’s action against Ukraine’s navy in the Sea of Azov. European Council President Donald Tusk will chair a summit of EU leaders on Dec. 13-14

regulation

Putin gives Russian army a political wing

Moscow - Vladimir Putin has created a new directorate inside the Russian army to promote patriotism, evoking memories of a Soviet practice that once saw soldiers taught the precepts of Marxism and Leninism by political commissars

Andrew Osborn
regulation

US tariffs “would jeopardize 4.3 million jobs”

Bruxelles - The EU made its comments in documents submitted to the US Department of Commerce as part of that country’s continuing Section 232 national security investigation into imports of cars, SUVs, vans, light trucks and automotive parts. EU-operated companies produced almost 2.9 million vehicles in the US in 2017

regulation

NAFTA talks enter critical week with U.S. pushing hard line

Washington - Talks to update the NAFTA trade deal enter a make-or-break week on Monday, as senior Canadian, U.S. and Mexican officials seek to resolve an impasse in key areas before elections in Mexico and the United States complicate the process.

By Anthony Esposito
regulation

Norwegian ferry tests autodocking system

Oslo - A ferry owned by Norwegian operator Norled is the first in the world to experiment with autodocking technology. Equipped with Wärtsilä’s innovative autodocking system, the 83-meter ferry Folgefonn concluded three months of testing with harbor docking trials in April

regulation

China tariffs on U.S. ethanol to cut off imports in short-term

Beijing - Chinese buyers of U.S. ethanol will have to cut imports because of higher tariffs, but eventually will have to return to the overseas market to meet government targets for using the fuel, industry participants and analysts said on Monday.

regulation

New BV guidelines on cyber-shipping

Paris - Bureau Veritas has developed a comprehensive approach to support shipowners in addressing maritime cyber risks. A new series of classification notations, guidelines and services enable owners to comply with regulatory requirements, safeguard their crews and protect their assets

regulation

All fairly traded steel, aluminum should be tariff-free

Mexico City - The top U.S. Republican lawmaker overseeing trade policy said on Sunday all fairly traded steel and aluminum should be excluded from President Donald Trump’s tariffs, especially those of NAFTA partners Canada and Mexico.

By Lesley Wroughton and David Ljunggren
regulation

IMO is ready for ban on non-compliant fuel

London - It should be prohibited to have non-compliant fuel on board as from 2020.This is the clear signal from the IMO Sub-Committee PPR, Pollution Prevention and Response, which this week has been discussing how to ensure that the global sulphur requirements are implemented and enforced effectively

regulation

Seaman nabbed for harassing female worker

Ulsan - A Russian crewman of a car carrier has been arrested on charges of forcibly hugging and kissing a South Korean female welfare center worker, the maritime police in Ulsan said Monday. The 44-year-old, identified only as “A,”is suspected of having molested the woman

regulation

New cyber attacks hit airport, metro in Ukraine

Kiev - Cyber attacks hit Ukraine’s Odessa airport and the metro system in Kiev on Tuesday, with the state-run Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) saying a new wave of hacks was hitting the country and asking transport networks to be on particular alert.

regulation

Moroccan police break up Islamic State cell planning attacks

Rabat - Security forces detained the alleged mastermind of the cell in a safe house in Fez, where they found guns and a large quantity of bullets, materials for making suicide belts, nails and electric wires, according to a statement from the interior ministry.

regulation

At Ericsson it is a party inside and a protest outside

Genoa - “We are not thinking of firing anyone in the Research and Development Department.” These words from Federico Rigoni, CEO of Ericsson’s Italy division, to employees who protested yesterday against new lay-offs, did not convince workers’ representatives.

Alessandro Palmesino e Licia Casali
regulation

EU, China fail to agree on steel: trade dumping at summit

Brussels - The European Union and China failed on Friday to reach agreement on the problem of steel overcapacity and the EU’s stance towards Chinese dumping, despite “narrowing differences”.

By Philip Blenkinsop and Robin Emmott
regulation

Ex-KDB chief gets 4-year jail term for corruption

Seoul - Former Finance Minister Kang Man-soo was sentenced to four years in prison Friday on multiple corruption charges. The Seoul Central District Court convicted Kang of pressuring the government to designate a biotech firm run by his friend as a business partner and provide billions of won in subsidies

regulation

Italy’s black economy: a 400,000-strong army / FOCUS

Rome - As Mafia infiltration of the agro-sector spreads throughout Italy,so the phenomenon of illicit agricultural labour contracting known as “caporalato” shows no sign of abating; just the opposite. The case of Paola Clemente, a 49-year old farm worker from San Giorgio Jonico whose life was cut short in 2015

Francesco Grignetti
regulation

Rina Services certifies Eni Group

Genova - The process conducted by Italy’s leading certification company Rina Servicesto evaluate the conformity of Eni’s Anti-Corruption Compliance Programme to the requirements of ISO 37001:2016 “Anti-bribery Management Systems” has concluded successfully

Vai all'archivio