WORLDWIDE MARITIME NEWS (XVIII)

1.- ISM CODE: CHANGE

Last June 2013 the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee adopted several amendments to the International Safety Management Code (ISM). These changes, which are due to come into force next January 2015, concern, inter alia, the manning levels. According to them, the company should ensure that each ship is manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers.

 

2.-MSC CRUISES: NEW FLEET EXPANSION PROJECT

MSC is already implementing a new fleet expansion project. This project, which includes the acquisition of up to seven new ships, involves an investment of 5.000 million euros over the next six years. The cost of each ship goes up to 700 million euros.

 

3.- MAERSK: IMPROVED RESULTS

Maersk has significantly improved the results of the last quarter, according to what it had planned halfway through the exercise. Thus its profits have increased 23,5% up to 685 million dollars, thanks to lowering costs (-0,9%), the rise in freights (+0,9%) and the transport volume increased ( +3,7%).

 

4.- CSCL: MEGACARRIER

China Shipping Corporation Ltd. (CSCL) is about to put into service the largest container ship built up to date, the CSCL Globe, also known as Grandmother, a megacarrier of 400 meters in length, 58,6 meters in beam and 30 meters draught full load, capable of carrying 19.000 teus.