FONASBA is one of a number of major maritime industry bodies to support a call from the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) to harness the pressure for change generated by the current COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate the pace of digitalisation within the international port and logistics sectors.

In a statement issued today (Tuesday 2nd June) IAPH, endorsed by FONASBA and a range of port, cargo handling, ship owning and ship operating organisations, have called on regulators, port operators and the wider supply chain to recognise the advantages and resilience provided by an increased use of digital technologies in ports. At present, less than 40% of the Member States represented in IMO have functioning port community systems and the statement calls on IMO to press forward with implementation of the mandatory requirements enshrined in the FAL Convention for Member States to introduce single windows and to press ahead with harmonisation of data sets for ship reporting, just in time arrival and streamlining of port services. Introducing the long-awaited electronic bill of lading is another objective.

The statement also calls on all stakeholders to cooperate on the development of platforms for the exchange of data and “smart working” along the entire supply chain, backed up by capacity building initiatives including workforce training and the introduction of enhanced cyber security provisions.

A copy of the statement can be found here.

As a result of only three synopses being received for initial consideration by the YABA Review Committee, the Committee has reluctantly decided that the 2020 Award will be postponed. Unfortunately it is not feasible to hold a valid competition with five or less entries. It is however the intention to re-run the Award in 2021 and if the three prospective 2020 entrants decide to do so, their entries will be carried over until next year.

Further information on the conditions of entry for the 2021 YABA, along with the applicable deadlines and other guidance, will be circulated to members in October or November.

A high-level maritime industry group representing ship owners, ports, classification societies, P&I clubs and marine equipment manufacturers, as well as ship agents and brokers, has come together under the coordination of the International Chamber of Shipping to  draft recommendations for the facilitation of maritime trade during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three papers have been endorsed by the International Maritime Organisation to date.

The first, general guidance to national governments and authorities on maintaining maritime trade and recognising seafarers and shore-side workers as essential personnel, has been issued as IMO Circular Letter No. 4204/Add.6, and can be found here.

The second, providing a set of protocols for the management of crew changes  whilst in the midst of a blanket ban on the movement of persons and international passenger flights, has been issued as Circular Letter No. 4204/Add. 14 and can be found here.

The third paper, Circular letter No. 4204/Add. 16 is intended to assist in  managing the ship/port interface to ensure the safety of both seafarers and shore-side personnel and prevent the spread of COVID-19. A copy of that paper can be found here.

FONASBA is pleased and proud to have been able to contribute to the drafting of these documents, and by so doing to assist in ensuring that the maritime sector can continue to operate in the most efficient means possible whilst giving due regard to the need for robust and effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Due to the restrictions on travel put in place by the UK Government on Monday, 16^th March to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and in common with many other organisations, the FONASBA Secretariat office will be closed until further notice. With immediate effect therefore, General Manager Jonathan C. Williams FICS and Assistant General Manager Victoria Marsh FICS, will be working from home.

Both our Secretariat email addresses, generalmanager@fonasba.com and admin@fonasba.com continue to be monitored at all times and telephone calls should be directed to Jonathan Williams’ mobile number +44 7778 497707.

We will of course notify the reopening of the Secretariat office as soon as we are able to do so.

Following the High-level Ministerial Conference held in Opatija, Croatia on 10^th March, the country’s Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure issued a statement calling for the European Union to work towards the implementation of a 5 point plan for the future of Europe’s Waterborne Transport Sector.

The statement, issued on 11^th March in the presence of European Transport Commissioner Adina-Ioana Vălean, calls for action to:

• Ensure a carbon-neutral and zero pollution waterborne transport sector,
• Maximise the use of digital solutions to enhance connectivity and ensure seamless multimodal transport operations,
• Ensure the competence of future European seafarers and inland navigation workers,
• Achieve zero accidents in the maritime sector and
• Ensure the EU maintains an effective and competitive maritime transport sector

Whilst recognising the actions already underway in Europe following the launch of the Green Deal, and through the NAIADES programme, TEN-T Network, European Maritime Single Window environment and similar actions, the statement makes it clear that where possible, agreement on these measures should be achieved at international level, through action in the International Maritime Organisation and the World Trade Organisation.

Welcoming the Ministerial Statement, ECASBA Chair Marco Tak said “ECASBA supports the actions set out in the statement and is committed to working with our parent organisation FONASBA and our European partners to achieve the ambitious but nonetheless achievable outcomes, for the good of both our ship agent and ship broker members and the wider maritime community. ECASBA and FONASBA are already active within the European and international maritime sectors on these matters and we will continue to strive to secure their implementation at the earliest opportunity”.

A copy of the Ministerial Statement can be found here.

The Secretaries General of the World Health Organisation and the International Maritime Organisation issued a joint statement on 21st February calling on Member States to ensure that precautions against the spread of COVID-19 do not result in “unnecessary interference in international trade”.

A copy of the joint letter can be found here.

ECASBA has joined 14 other European Union maritime organisations in welcoming the von der Leyden Commission’s “Green Deal” initiative (https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en) but has warned that implementation of same should not prejudice the ability of the European transport sector to compete globally.

The paper also called for the establishment of a comprehensive strategy for sustainable and smart mobility and for the elimination of administrative and regulatory burdens, including streamlining customs and other reporting formalities.

A copy of the paper can be found here.

FONASBA VICE PRESIDENT SUPPORTS PORTUGAL SHIPPING WEEK
As Executive Director of the Portuguese ship agents’ association AGEPOR, our colleague Antonio Belmar da Costa, (who is also FONASBA’s Regional Vice President for Europe and Chairman of ECASBA), was recently invited to appear in a short video message supporting the first Portugal Shipping Week which will take place in September 2018. (https://portugalshippingweek.com).

Antonio’s video can be viewed below. FONASBA and ECASBA are supporting organisations for Portugal Shipping Week 2018.

FONASBA is honoured to have been recognised as the “Best Maritime Organisation” at the 2018 SHIPTEK International Maritime Awards event held in Dubai on 1st May 2018. FONASBA was represented at the awards ceremony by Nayana Nandkumar, our Deputy Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East and Manager of the Dubai Shipping Agents Association.

Thanking SHIPTEK for the Award, FONASBA President John A. Foord FICS said that it was very welcome, and much appreciated, acknowledgement of FONASBA’s standing as a high-profile and effective international maritime organisation.

Please find below photographs of Nayana receiving the award from Dr. Rashid Alleem, Chairman of the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) and joining with the other prize-winners on the night.

FONASBA and BIMCO are once again joining forces the present a webinar on the new General Agency Agreement form launched earlier this year.  It will take place at 10.00 a.m. Central European Summer Time (08.00 GMT) on Thursday 5^th April. As with the joint webinar on the Agency Appointment Agreement last year, FONASBA President John A. Foord FICS and BIMCO Documentary Committee Member Han van Blanken will discuss the details of the new document and then answer questions from Luis Bernat FICS of the Danish Shipbrokers’ Association.

Anyone wishing to view the webinar is invited to register using the online form that can be found at: https://ukbimco.doodle.com/poll/yczr6wzf6mwb5bxx

Further information on the webinar can be found on the flyer here.

For those unable to view the webinar live, a recording of it will be available via this website shortly after the transmission. Further information will follow.