22 December 2020
Providing the latest information on contact points relating to designated national competent authorities that are responsible for the safe carriage of grain and solid bulk cargoes.
07 April 2020
BIMCO has over recent weeks published a lot of information about COVID-19 and which measures different countries have implemented in an effort to curtail the spread of the virus.
19 June 2019
BIMCO recognises that there is a growing number of newer maritime arbitration venues offering their services to the industry. To assist users who wish to resolve their disputes using arbitration services outside the main London, New York and Singapore venues, BIMCO has prepared a list of links to alternative arbitration centres where users can find out more information about these venues.
23 May 2019
These Q&As have been produced jointly by INTERTANKO and BIMCO with the assistance of the North of England P&I Club. They focus on the potential contractual issues that parties should be aware of when chartering scrubber-fitted ships. The objective is to highlight and address the relevant clauses and concepts charterers and owners should take into consideration during their negotiations.
Much has been written about the introduction of the ‘Global Sulphur Cap’ of 0.50% m/m (mass for mass) for fuel oil under MARPOL Annex VI which comes into force on 1 January 2020; also the 0.10% m/m sulphur limit within emission control areas. Many owners have also already chosen their route to MARPOL Annex VI Regulations 14.1, 14.3 and 18 compliance which can be achieved in one of two ways:
By using fuel oil with a sulphur content that does not exceed 0.50% m/m, or 0.10% m/m while the ship is operating (‘low sulphur fuel oil’).
By using ‘equivalents’ which are alternative methods that are at least as effective in terms of emission reductions as using low sulphur fuel oil. ‘Equivalents’ includes the installation of exhaust gas cleaning systems, or ‘scrubber(s)’. See MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 4 and the 2015 Guidelines for exhaust gas cleaning systems, adopted by resolution MEPC.259(68) (currently under review). Fuel oil cleaned by scrubbers will have a sulphur content above 0.50% m/m (‘high sulphur fuel oil’).
Both BIMCO and INTERTANKO are neutral as to which option should be chosen. It is up to each individual owner to decide which option is best for their ship’s operation after conducting a proper assessment of the pros and cons of each option including safety and operational issues, price differentials between low and high sulphur fuel oil, fuel availability, capital investment, payback time, trading patterns and charter rates. International, regional and national regulatory requirements may also play a part in this decision.
However, both Associations have been faced with a series of questions from Members who have fitted or are contemplating fitting scrubbers concerning how the use of a scrubber may impact on their contractual arrangements. These questions on both time and voyage chartering issues form the basis of the Q&A section below. They do not address questions relating to the technical and operational impact of installing a scrubber. Such information is available from numerous online sources.
Both Associations have decided, for the time being at least, not to develop a “standard” scrubber clause for time or voyage charter parties. The decision to install and operate a scrubber is seen primarily as a matter of commercial negotiation between owners and charterers relating to the division of costs and benefits. The need for a clause will, however, be kept under regular review.
We suggest that you consider the recommendations in this document to assess the need for a bespoke scrubber clause and/or any amendments to existing charter party terms. You may need to seek independent legal advice on a case-by-case basis to suit your particular chartering arrangements and trading patterns.
This document will be updated to include any new Q&As which will affect the contractual issues for scrubber-fitted ships.
BIMCO and INTERTANKO - 23rd May 2019
18 January 2021
Providing members with the latest information on extensions to crew certificates by various states in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The page might be updated several times per day, so please check back for the most recent information.
08 January 2021
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 8 January 2021
15 January 2021
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 15 January 2021
04 December 2020
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 4 December 2020
23 December 2020
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 23 December 2020
27 November 2020
The BIMCO Maritime Information department informs members on a weekly basis, updates about the COVID-19 in relation to implementation measures imposed by governments for sea transport including for crew change as well as from the United Nation bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO).
BIMCO provides the following update for this week ending Friday, 27 November 2020