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The Facilitation Committee meets this week at IMO, with a busy agenda which includes new guidance to address corruption and illicit wildlife trade, as well as other important topics.

In his opening remarks, IMO Secretary General, Kitack Lim, said that “there have now been more than two years of extraordinary sacrifices and challenges for the entire world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The maritime sector and Seafarers in particular, continue to be affected. The Secretariat continues to work with all relevant parties to address the associated challenges including new high-level initiatives within the UN to review the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world’s transport workers and the global supply chain.

The Committee is expected to adopt a revised version of the FAL Convention, following the approval of the amendments at the previous session. This is expected to be a significant step towards highlighting the importance of facilitation and to accelerate digitalization in the maritime sector.

Another important topic at this session will be the finalization of the new version of the IMO Compendium, including five new data sets. The Compendium is a critical instrument to accelerate digitalization in shipping business and in the ship/port interface, and a matter of great importance which has gained enormously in significance during the pandemic.

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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.

  1. 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.