Regulation

New York and California are challenging the International Maritime Organization's standards for ballast water regulations.

The United Kingdom's Maritime Accident Investigation Branch's Chief Inspector Stephen Meyer has recently spoken out regarding shortcomings in the shipping industry's enforcement of basic safety procedures.

Tanzania and Kenya are currently reviewing their laws regarding piracy in order to prosecute pirates captured off of their coastline.

The International Maritime Employer's Committee (IMEC) has expressed concerns that many flag states are not fully prepared for the implementation of the International Labor Organization Maritime Labor Convention (MLC).

The Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW) has approved amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (The STCW Convention) and its associated Code for submission at a Diplomatic Conference meeting in Manila, Philippines, June 21-25, 2010.

The United Kingdom's flag may lose several hundred ships if the government passes a law requiring ship owners to pay all crew members working on UK-registered ships serving UK ports, including foreign sailors, the required national wage rate.

President Obama has nominated U.S. Coast Guard vice-admiral Robert Papp as the next Commandant, to replace Commandant Thad Allen upon his retirement this May.

If the Senate confirms the nomination, Papp will relieve Allen this May, 2010.

WASHINGTON: A number of small shipyards in the U.S. have been granted a total of US$98 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds. The 70 grants, awarded through the Maritime Administration's Assistance to Small Shipyards program, will be used to improve shipyards and pay for training programs.

The IMO issued a circular containing the updated list of parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention) who have demonstrated "full and complete effect is given to the relevant provisions of the Convention."

For those who can't deal with Washington bureaucratic babble, here's a chart of the proposed limits: