News Items

Scott Bergeron was recently appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR, LLC), the U.S.-based administrator of the Liberian Registry.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is one of three women awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

Following publishing our article about IMO member Sarosh Zaiwalla's suggestion for a UN Naval Task Force, the ISRR reached out to Mr. Zaiwalla to express our support for his proposal. Mr. Zaiwalla was kind enough to share some further thoughts with us.

The ISRR staff has learned of a letter written by the United States’ Government Accountability Office (GAO) stating its intentions to review the Jones Act “in terms of its effect on both the Puerto Rican economy and the broader U.S. economy.”

In the latest development to United States maritime policy, Congressman Steve Cohen has re-proposed the American Coastal Waters and Shorelines Protection Act – a bill that would require offshore vessels drilling in U.S. waters to be nationally flagged.

The Australian Government has announced major reforms to its maritime sector with the goal of strengthening the industry to the level of a global shipping power.

The reform package entails four key components:

The maritime community has been discussing the use of armed guards aboard vessels in response to the continued issue of piracy within the Gulf of Aden and other high risk areas.

Bulk carriers can save fuel costs by incorporating relatively inexpensive alterations to their ships, Lloyd’s List reports.

The EU has now made it illegal for European operated ships to conduct business transactions at six ports in Libya. Lloyd’s List reports today that while the ports remain unnamed, they include Tripoli, Zuara, Zawiyah, al Khoms, Ras Lanuf and Brega. The EU will release the names of the ports tomorrow.

The U.S. Coast Guard's latest Port State Control Assessment shows improvements in both ship and flag state performance.

The report states that "ships detained last year for deficiencies related to safety and environmental protection decreased from 161 to 156 and ships detained for security-related deficiencies decreased from 18 to 17."