News Items

Representatives from several of the world's flag states spoke with the OGSR team at CMA Shipping 2012 regarding their clients' rights to hire armed personnel to protect their vessels and crews.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority today has joined the Panama, Liberia and Marshall Islands as the newest registry to sign the Washington Declaration Condemning Acts of Violence Against Seafarers.

The OGSR team gets ready for another exciting year at Shipping 2012.

[caption]Members of the Bahamas Maritime Authority team at the Shipping 2010 event. (C) Stamford Advocate.[/caption]

Sarnia Yachts predicts that Italy will develop regulations regarding VAT on charter fees.

The Isle of Man Department of Economic Development has opened a satellite office in Singapore to further develop its burgeoning Asian presence.

The U.S. law firm Holland and Knight explains that in today's world of sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Syria shipping companies need to be extra cautious in conducting trade.

The Portuguese Maritime Administration is host to an experimental offshore wind project that “may be the start of an offshore energy revolution.”

The Belize registry celebrated its 20th anniversary this past year. In its press release acknowledging this milestone, the registry team reflected on its accomplishments over the past two decades and looked ahead to a promising future.

Maritime lawyer Hans-Heinrich Nöll is uncertain of the effectiveness of the German shipowners' association VDR's current plan to increase registrations with the national and EU flags.

VDR's idea is to charge shipowners a fee around €15,000 to obtain a permit to flag out a ship, and use this revenue to help fund training programs on German and EU-flagged vessels.

India's National Shipping Board Chairman Captain Mohan is calling for reforms to develop the national maritime industry.