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Friday 30 August 2013

Liberia storms ahead on MLC certification


Ninety-four per cent of qualifying Liberian-flag ships have achieved successful Maritime Labour Convention 2006 compliance, just one week after the convention entered force, putting Liberia far ahead of any other international ship registry.

MLC 2006 certification is a multi-step process. The first step involves the issuing of a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) Part 1 at the request of the owner. This is followed by the owner’s submission of DMLC Part 2 for approval. In the case of Liberia, which has opted not to delegate flag state inspection to classification societies, this means approval by the Liberian flag. Thereafter, the vessel is inspected and the certificate duly issued to compliant ships.

The Liberian-flag fleet is the second largest in the world and includes 3,215 ships to which MLC 2006 applies. To date, DMLC Part 2 has been accepted in respect of 3,016 Liberian-flag ships, equating to 94 per cent of the qualifying Liberian fleet. Liberia has issued 1,464 MLC 2006 certificates. It has also issued 3,084 DMLC Part I documents. The certification process meanwhile continues apace.

Liberia was the first flag state to ratify MLC 2006, and one of the first to adopt inhouse measures to anticipate implementation of the convention. David Pascoe, maritime operations and standards chief of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), says, “Other flag states have been relying on class societies to inspect vessels. While still recognising inspections conducted by class and by other Recognised Organisations where appropriate, Liberia has elected to deal with owners directly, using its dedicated global workforce of more than 180 MLC-trained inspectors to conduct inspections. The figures show that this was the right decision.

“There is still some way to go in terms of MLC certification, but Liberia is moving forward rapidly. In our experience, most responsible owners will have no problem complying with MLC, but they need to get their certification in place. Liberia is doing everything it can to help them achieve that goal.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. It has recently surpassed all-time tonnage records, with a registered fleet of approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating more than 133m gross tons. Liberia has launched an online Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form for seafarers, which can be accessed from the homepage of its website www.liscr.com

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Friday 23 August 2013

ITIC puts ship agents on alert over immigration crew scams


ITIC has warned its members about a recent spate of crew scams which threaten to involve unwary ship agents in significant financial loss and exposure to fines and penalties by immigration authorities.

ITIC has issued a number of warnings in the past about ship agents being used by unscrupulous migrant smugglers to move illegal immigrants around the world. The basic pattern is for owners and managers to ask the agent to attend a vessel’s call at a port, and to provide assistance with regard to crew changes. Although the approach is bogus, the agent provides cover for the arrival of the migrants in the country where the ship docks.

The migrants will subsequently disappear and the agent will be left with unpaid hotel bills, as well as the prospect of being asked to pay fines imposed by immigration authorities. In addition, agents may be liable for detention and repatriation costs if the migrants are apprehended.

In a circular to members, ITIC notes that it has recently seen a re-emergence of these immigration crew scams. It reminds all agents to be particularly vigilant when approached by owners or crew managers unknown to them who are requesting a crew change.

ITIC is managed by Thomas Miller. More details about the club and the services it offers can be found on ITIC’s website at www.itic-insure.com


For more information:
Charlotte Kirk
ITIC
Tel. +44 (0)20 7338 0150
Fax. +44 (0)20 7338 0151
charlotte.kirk@thomasmiller.com

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Thursday 22 August 2013

Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry appoints new vice-president


The Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), a member of the YCF Group of companies and exclusive administrator of the world’s largest quality ship register, has appointed Christian Mollitor to the position of vice-president.

This newly created role represents a return to LISCR for Mollitor. Having formerly held the position of Assistant Department Head of Seafarer Certification & Documentation, he left the registry in 2001 to further develop his career. This included practising law in Alaska and carrying out maritime and environmental regulatory compliance roles at Royal Caribbean International and Holland America Line.

During that time, he served as the NorthWest Cruiseship Association’s representative to Washington State’s ballast water policy work group and as co-director of the joint US Coast Guard/Holland America Line cruise ship mass rescue operation exercise held in Ketchikan, Alaska.

Mollitor, a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and Tulane University Law School, also recently earned his Master of Business Administration from Western Washington University. He is a member of the Alaska Bar and the Maritime Law Association of the United States.

In his new role, Christian Mollitor will augment the registry leadership team’s marketing and business development efforts, oversee head office support of the global network of regional offices, and manage special projects. He says, “I am pleased to have the opportunity to return to LISCR. The last twelve years of my career have given me a greater perspective of the needs of the shipping industry and a specific view of how the premier maritime administrator, LISCR, can best provide regulatory compliance services.”

Scott Bergeron, CEO, says, “We are delighted to have been able to recruit Christian back to the registry. His experience and academic achievements will serve us well as the registry continues its global expansion. It is always deeply satisfying to have great employees return to the company after further developing their credentials.”

The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. It has recently surpassed all-time tonnage records, with a registered fleet of approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating more than 133 million gross tons. www.liscr.com


For a photo of Christian Mollitor, please go to: http://picasaweb.google.com/Merlinclients/LiberianRegistry

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Monday 19 August 2013

YCF Group expands management team in Germany


The YCF Group has appointed Carsten Gierga as managing director responsible for its activities in Germany. Suwarie Topaz, general manager, has also been promoted to vice-president, global marketing and business development with worldwide responsibilities.

The YCF Group of companies includes the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the exclusive administrator of the world’s largest quality ship register, EuroFlag Services (EFS), a Luxembourg-resident company which performs ship registration and management services for shipowners seeking to register vessels under the Luxembourg flag, and EMA Manning Agency, a specialised provider of marine engineers and electricians.

Carsten Gierga was previously managing director of Hamburg-based shipmanagement specialist Interorient Marine Services (Germany). He has extensive executive experience of the shipping industry, having also served as fleet personnel manager for various shipmanagers, including Dobson Fleet Management, and E R Schiffahrt. In addition, he enjoyed a distinguished career in the German Navy.

In his newly created role, Carsten will oversee and direct YCF’s operations in Germany. He says, “I am excited at the prospect of working with the YCF Group, which has established itself as the leading name in both ship registry and engineering manning services.”

Suwarie Topaz, well-known in shipping circles, has been leading the ship registry operations in Germany for the past year as general manager of YCF’s dedicated office in Hamburg. She will now begin to focus her attention on overseeing the global marketing and business development activities of the group. Suwarie says, “I am pleased that the YCF Group was able to recruit someone with as much experience and passion for shipping as Carsten has demonstrated throughout his career. He is well-positioned to make our strong team even stronger. We provide a high level of service to the shipping industry and I am proud to take a leading role in spreading our message.”

Scott Bergeron, CEO says, “We are delighted to welcome Carsten into the YCF Group. His specific knowledge of the German maritime sector, and indeed of the international shipping industry, will strengthen still further YCF’s leading role as a provider of high-quality maritime services.”

Regarding Suwarie Topaz’s promotion, Bergeron says, “With Carsten’s appointment, Suwarie will be able to focus her unparalleled skills on her professional passion – developing synergetic relationships that lead to satisfied clients and growth in business.”

www.ycfgroupllc.com

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Tuesday 6 August 2013

Liberia launches online MLC complaints resolution form for seafarers


THE Liberian Registry has launched an online Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form for seafarers, ahead of the entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 on 20 August, 2013.

Liberia is committed to ensuring that seafarers who serve on Liberian-flag ships have decent working and living conditions, a safe and secure workplace and fair employment. Seafarers are encouraged to use the ship’s onboard complaint procedures to resolve complaints at the earliest possible opportunity in accordance with MLC 2006. However, in the event that a complaint is unable to be resolved on board, Liberia has provided the online Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form to help seafarers resolve all genuine and valid complaints.

Seafarers can utilise the online form to lodge a general complaint affecting specific working or living conditions on board the ship, or a complaint relating to a single seafarer. The Liberian Administration will take all necessary steps to investigate complaints and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to rectify any deficiencies. All information provided to the Administration will be treated as strictly confidential.

Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, “Liberia was the first country to ratify MLC 2006, and intends to do everything in its power to ensure that it is properly enforced. This is not just a tick-box exercise. If effectively implemented, MLC 2006 will improve and standardize working conditions for seafarers and shipowners alike.

“Liberia’s online Maritime Labour Complaints Resolution Form is a way of ensuring that seafarers on Liberian-flag ships have all possible resources available to them for reporting any genuine grievances to those who have the authority to resolve such matters in accordance with the letter and spirit of MLC 2006.”

The Liberian Registry’s Maritime Labour Complaint Resolution Form can be accessed from the homepage of its website, www.liscr.com


The Liberian Registry is one of the world’s largest and most active shipping registers, with a long-established track record of combining the highest standards of safety for vessels and crews with the highest levels of responsive service to owners. It has recently surpassed all-time tonnage records, with a registered fleet of approximately 4,000 ships, aggregating more than 133m gross tons. www.liscr.com


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