Scarf in silk satin chiffon

The Muse Gallery is delighted to present ‘Silhouettes’, a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Nariman Fadakar, brought to you by Wearable Art London.

The collection will include paintings on canvas, digital prints, silk scarves and accessories. The event on Saturday 6^th July will host a private auction on all paintings and present the launch of the Wearable Art London online showroom where all products will be available for purchase.

The collection is exclusive, unique and unprecedented; the style is daring, vibrant and elegant.

Based in Notting Hill, emerging contemporary artist Nariman Fadakar presents graphic art and uses paintbrush and acrylic oil on canvas as he mixes architectural lines with nature’s sublime and gives his artwork movement and form in an art deco and art nouveau style.

Nariman’s latest work consists of human silhouettes, hollowed out and filled with the objects that surround us. From nature to technology, the bodies are filled with the things that we are made of and the things that we create. By placing the flesh on the outside of the silhouette, the human form is inverted, demonstrating the balance and contradiction between the internal mind and external body. “Really, the fundamental, ultimate mystery — the only thing you need to know to understand the deepest metaphysical secrets — is this: that for every outside there is an inside and for every inside there is an outside, and although they are different, they go together.” -Alan Watts

The concept of the Wearable Art London online showroom started in a studio in Notting Hill by a collaboration of two people, Nariman and Demetra, who were using their own roof to utilize their skills. In 2012, the manifestation of one of Nariman’s signature art pieces into a silk scarf was the start of an innovative concept of art evolution. The philosophy behind it is simple; Wearable Art London is a creative venture where art meets and inspires functionality. We introduce uniquely designed artwork that was initially hand drawn on paper and was later translated onto canvas. We then evolve and re-utilise our art into wearable products, to offer art and fashion lovers the experience of wearing the art in their own chosen form, by giving it a different functionality.

Although from a completely different background, Nariman Fadakar and Demetra Papachristou share the same love for art in all forms and shapes. ‘Living in one of the most exciting cities in the world, art is all around us. We are inspired by culture, colour, nature and architecture and implement these elements into our products’.

                                                                    The Muse Gallery,

                                                    269 Portobello Road, London W11 1LR.

                                                               info@themuseat269.com

Ekaterina Kondourova. Photo credit N Razina

Ballet big business: Swan Lake sails into a new dimension, initiating 3D broadcasts across the globe, By James Brewer

We say in Russia that talking about ballet is like dancing architecture, states Natalia Vodianova, supermodel, actress, philanthropist – and enthusiast for this enduringly expressive and graceful discipline. From now on, that ‘architecture’ has a new dimension, leaping into 3D as part of the launch of simultaneous broadcasts of stage works in cinemas around the world.

When the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg on June 6 2013 projected its performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake live to 3D to hundreds of film theatres in 60 countries, classical ballet entered the techno-era.

In the transmission, Natalia was the ‘storyteller’ introducing each of the three acts; and in between she was a confident anchorwoman interviewing the celebrities of the evening. Her own life story is a Cinderella-like tale (and who knows might one day be set to ballet) and we shall return to that later in this article.

Ekaterina Kondourova

Filmed in Cameron Pace 3D – the technology used by James Cameron and Vince Pace to reap big box office takings for productions of Titanic, Avatar and Life of Pi – the Mariinsky production was beamed far and wide, variously in 2D and 3D, in the first of a planned series of such cinematographic coups.

Supplementing the standard ballet experience, the production began with a brief televised tour of the majestic buildings and waterways of the Baltic city. Conductor and Mariinsky Theatre director Valery Gergiev says on camera: “Welcome to St Petersburg, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Peter the Great and Catherine the Great made it into one of the most respected cultural capitals.”

In contrast, mundane notes are struck pre-curtain as members of the Mariinsky audience chatter, refresh their lipstick and fiddle with their mobile phones.  What lingers most in the mind is the pomp and poetry of perhaps the best-loved ballet in the world, and Gergiev claims that its interpretation in 3D makes it more spectacular than ever. This is as it should be, for this performance was part of the celebration of 275 years of Russian ballet. The first night of Swan Lake was in St Petersburg in 1895. The Mariinsky is “only one month old” in terms of its thorough, $700m renovation to play up its historic 1860 glory.

Before long, the baton-less hands of Gergiev are aflutter, and more importantly for the viewer, so are the limbs of principal ballerina Ekaterina Kondourova, from scene two onwards Kondourova’s long, long arms oscillate as though she were a feather in the wind. Taking the role of the white swan Odette and black swan Odile, Kondaurova delivers a magnetic display, intently responding to the ministrations of Prince Siegfried (Timur Askerov) who with much of the cast has in his castle just merrily celebrated his coming of age.

Ekaterina Kondourova as Odile, the black swan

Ekaterina had admitted earlier to some anxiety: “I am a bit nervous. It is not every day that you get the chance to perform before such a big auditorium [as in the international screenings].” There was no doubt, though, that “it is a great day for all of us.”

Playing innocent and vulnerable, Kondourova makes for a highly sympathetic swan-princess, complaisant in the big lifts yet effortlessly in control on terra firma. There was huge applause for her, her leading man, for Andrei Yernakov as the evil Count Rothbart, Vasily Tkachenko’s bounding and athletic jester, for the swan chorus and for the others.

Wednesday 19 June 2013 - Ian Williams (GBR) holds onto World #1 in the Open Match Race Rankings whilst ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship silver medallist Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) moves to the World #1 position on the women’s rankings.

Open Rankings
Ian Williams (GBR) makes it 19 months at the top of the ISAF Match Race Rankings, the World Champion picked up his first Tour win of 2013 at Match Race Germany and consolidates his position at the top with almost 400 points separating him from the #2 ranked skipper.

Returning to the fray is Mathieu Richard (FRA) who climbs 14 places back up to World #4. Richard, World #1 in 2008 and 2009, finished third at Match Race Germany and went on to claim the spoils from the Alpari World Match Tour Korea Match Cup earlier this month, despatching Taylor Canfield (ISV) in the final. He may have been runner up to Richard in Korea but this ranking sees a lifetime best for the 24 year old from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, as he moves three places up the rankings to World #2.

The final podium place in Korea belonged to Adam Minoprio (NZL) and his ranking rise continues since he took time out to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race. At World #31 and only counting results from four events it seems just a matter of time before the 2009 Tour champion Minoprio returns to the top ten.

Japan’s Wataru Sakamoto breezed past Maximillian Soh (SIN) at the ISAF Nations Cup Asian Regional Final in Vladivostok, Russia to qualify for August’s Grand Final in Denmark. Sakamato is further rewarded by a 30 point climb up the rankings to World #48. Soh also moves up, to World #68.

One other ISAF Grade 2 took place since the last ranking, the Sails of White Nights EUROSAF Match Race Open Championship. Andrew Arbuzov (RUS) defeated Simone Ferrarese (ITA) in the final and moves up 19 places to #67.

Staffan Lindberg (FIN) won the ISAF Grade 3 GKSS Spring Cup and Stena Match Cup qualifier to move up to World #18 with Joachim Ashenbrenner (DEN) using his second place to to move from 17 to World #15.

Michele Ivaldi (ITA) returns to the ISAF World Match Race Rankings after competing at his first graded event since the ISAF Match Racing World Championnship in 2005, where he won a gold medal crewing for James Spithill (AUS). Second place at the GRADO3 in Ravenna Italy sees Ivaldi re-enter at World #385. The win in Ravenna went to Jacopo Pasini which is his ninth consecutive graded event win and he climbs 20 places up to World #51.

The final word goes to Ryan Davidson (USA) who picked up his first graded event win at the CMRC Spring Invitational to climb 188 places up to World #194.

Women’s Rankings
There is a change at the top of the women’s world rankings following the 2013 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in Busan, Korea. Silver medallist Camilla Ulrikkeholm (DEN) climbs four places to the World #1 position for the first time in her career. The 2013 ISAF World Champion is the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, Tamara Echegoyen (ESP) who led the Championship from start to finish. The points she gains sees her climb four places to match her career best at World #5.

The ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championships in Busan, Korea also saw a return to the helm by Katie Spithill (AUS). The World #2 back in 2009 put on a solid performance in Busan, beating Russian Olympic skipper Ekaterina Skudina in the petit-final to take the bronze medal. Counting just the one event result Spithill is ranked at #39.

The home team in Busan, skippered by Sungeun Choi (KOR) may have finished in ninth place but were delighted with their experience and race win. Choi’s ranking improves by 46 to sit inside the top 100 for the first time at World #84.

The ISAF Grade 3 US women’s National Championship took place in Chicago with Jennifer Wilson winning her first ISAF graded event. Since a brief spell on the women’s rankings back in 2009, Wilson has been a regular at Open events in Chicago but her 2013 US title sees her re-enter the women’s list at World #55. With double world champion Sally Barkow calling tactics, Wilson despatched Stephanie Roble (USA) in the final. Roble, who also finished third at the recent St Quay Women’s Match Racing regatta climbs 19 places to World #15.

Lucy MacGregor (GBR) claimed gold at the St Quay Women’s Match Racing, the only ISAF Grade 1 regatta in this ranking release and the first event of the 2013 WIMRS. MacGregor moves up to World #2, knocking Ekaterina Skudina (RUS) down to #3. Julie Bossard (FRA) uses her points from St Quay to move up four places to World #4.

ISAF World Match Race Rankings

Match racing – Open – Wednesday 19 June 2013
Pos   Name                      Country       Crew  Events  Previous  Best Points
1       Williams Ian           GBR                  8             1               1              12354
2       Canfield Taylor    ISV                    8              5              2             10949
3       Morvan Pierre-antoine FRA 8 3 3 10812
4 Richard Mathieu FRA 8 18 1 10777
5 Hansen Bjorn SWE 8 2 2 10438
6 Tiller William NZL 8 7 5 10182
7 Swinton Keith AUS 8 6 3 10165
8 Berntsson Johnie SWE 8 9 6 10127
9 Jury Laurie NZL 8 8 5 9970
10 Robertson Philip NZL 8 4 4 9489
11 Ferrarese Simone ITA 8 11 11 8963
12 Gilmour Peter AUS 8 10 1 8558
13 Monnin Eric SUI 8 13 11 8300
14 Sehested Nicolai DEN 8 14 14 8244
15 Aschenbrenner Joachim DEN 8 17 15 8189
16 Reece Jordan AUS 8 16 16 7938
17 Stanczyk Marek POL 8 19 17 7840
18 Lindberg Staffan FIN 8 21 5 7753
19 Rosinski Krzysztof POL 8 20 19 7582
20 Sepp Mati EST 8 23 20 7567

Match racing – Women – Wednesday 19 June 2013
Pos                   Name               Country      Crew                                          Events  Previous Best Points
1 Ulrikkeholm Camilla            DEN         Louise Ulrikkeholm               8              4               1       8521
Josefine Boel Rasmussen
Joan Hansen
Trine Palludan
2 Macgregor Lucy GBR Annie Lush
Kate Macgregor 8 5 1 7955
3 Skudina Ekaterina RUS Ekaterina Chashchina
Tatiana Lartseva
Silke Hahlbrock
Elena Syuzeva
Vera Dubina
Elena Vorobeva 8 2 2 7746
4 Bossard Julie FRA 8 8 4 7431
5 Echegoyen Tamara ESP Mariana Lobato
Eva Gonzalez
Lara Cacabelos
Sofia Toro
Angela Pumariega 8 9 5 7363
6 Leroy Claire FRA Marie Riou
Elodie Bertrand 7 1 1 7095
7 Tunnicliffe Anna USA Deborah Capozzi
Molly O’bryan Vandemoer 6 3 1 5911
8 Bezel Alexa SUI Corinne Meyer
Manon Kivell
Romy Hasler
Laurane Mettraux 8 12 8 5804
9 Kjellberg Anna SWE Malin Källström
Karin Almquist
Johanna Larsson
Linnéa Wennergren
Annie Wennergren
Linda Härsjö
Lotta Harrysson 8 21 8 5707
10 Barkow Sally USA Elizabeth Kratzig Burnham
Alana O’reilly 7 10 3 5520
11 Price Olivia AUS Nina Curtis
Katie Abbott
Lucinda Whitty 6 6 4 5160
12 Lehtinen Silja FIN Silja Kanerva
Mikaela Wulff 6 7 3 5153
13 Roca Mata Silvia ESP Eva Gonzalez
Lara Cacabelos 6 13 9 5023
14 Decnop Renata BRA 8 11 11 4869
15 Roble Stephanie USA 6 35 15 4744
16 Senfft Juliana BRA 8 14 14 4635
17 Sylvan Caroline SWE 8 20 17 4530
18 Mulder Mandy NED Merel Witteveen
Annemieke Bes
Annemiek Bekkering 6 15 11 4382
19 Tulloch Genevieve USA Alice Leonard
Jennifer Chamberlin 5 17 8 3889
20 Tams Noora FIN 8 18 18 3873

Tom Boardley

MOL Comfort an “Incident of Great Concern” – IACS Chairman, By Rob Almeida  - on June 19, 2013

“We can’t prejudge, and we’re not directly involved,”commented Tom Boardley, Marine Director at Lloyd’s Register and Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) today on the catastrophic break up of the containership MOL Comfort.

“This incident of great concern and we want to know the cause of this structural failure. Fortunately, no crew were lost. The causation will lie either in design, construction or operational factors – or a combination of these. If, as now looks possible, the hull sections can be recovered safely, it will help those investigating to rapidly understand the reasons behind this failure.”

Since news of this disaster broke, seagoing professionals in the maritime industry have been largely debating the procedures in place when loading containers on board vessels.

One of the most critically important factors that a ship captain must know before his ship leaves the harbor is the vessel’s stability characteristics. Whether the vessel is a containership, tanker, bulk carrier, project cargo vessel, it’s absolutely paramount that the cargo is stored in a such a way that the ship has adequate righting moment.

Not only that, but the cargo must be stored in a way that extreme shear stresses aren’t put on the vessel.

Although it’s very difficult to notice on board (if not impossible), a 1000-foot long ship made of steel flexes significantly from bow to stern depending on the sea conditions and the the cargo loading of the vessel. Even sitting at the dock it will bend and flex as cargo is loaded on board. Ships have literally cracked in half at the dock while loading cargo unevenly.

Loading tankers is relatively quite easy as the product densities and volumes are known, however container weights are obviously non-standard. Loading them properly takes a bit more calculation and attention to detail and could be a very important factor in the break up of the MOL Comfort.

Based on comments from the gCaptain audience however, a significant amount of doubt appears to hang over the checks and balances in place to ensure boxes are loaded correctly, and their associated weights are measured accurately.

Palle Laursen, Maersk Line’s Vice President of Operations notes in a phone conversation this morning that they have used the “Loadstar” container loading program for many years and that it’s “a good system, but one that is only as good as the data that is feeding it.”

Operationally, Mr. Laursen notes that Maersk Line has not changed any of their procedures at this point, however they are putting as much emphasis as possible on attention to detail with hull inspections. ”It’s important that we don’t jump to conclusions,” notes Laursen, “however the industry must learn from this and take the right measures to prevent similar events from happening in the future.”

The IACS Council will be meeting next week to discuss this and other important matters facing the maritime industry

Your daily news service from ports around the world.

In this HOT PORT NEWS, read about:
* South Africa, all ports – Transitional arrangements for competence certificates
* Oman, Port of Sohar – Revised port tariffs to come into effect
* Hong Kong, Hong Kong – Sea Parade to mark Hong Kong SAR anniversary
* Australia, Portland – Revised berth depth – K.S. Anderson No.1
* Bunker Update – MARKET PRICE UPDATE 19/06/13

DATE: June 19, 2013
COUNTRY: South Africa
PORT: all ports
Transitional arrangements for competence certificates

The rules governing the competence of “Able Seamen” have been transferred
from the ILO to the IMO and STCW 2010 includes new Competence Tables for
“Able Seafarer Deck” and the newly introduced grade “Able Seafarer Engine”.

In terms of Regulation II/4, II/5, III/4 and III/5 of the STCW Convention
1978 as amended, Ratings forming part of a Watch and Able Seafarers shall
be duly certificated.

SAMSA [South African Maritime Safety Authority]has opted to name Ratings
forming part of a Watch “Ordinary Seafarer Deck” and “Ordinary Seafarer
Engine”.

All existing STCW ’95 Certificates of Qualification as Ordinary Seaman,
Wiper, Able Seaman or Oiler, shall be replaced with a Certificate of
Proficiency as
- Ordinary Seafarer Deck
- Ordinary Seafarer Engine
- Able Seafarer Deck
or
- Able Seafarer Engine,
respectively before 1 January 2017.

After 1 July 2013, existing holders of Certificates of Qualification as AB
or Oiler shall apply for the equivalent Certificate of Proficiency which
shall be issued under the following conditions:

- Applicants shall be not less than 18 years of age.

- Applicants shall provide proof of having served a minimum of 12 months in
the past 36 months in the capacity being applied for.

- Applicants shall provide documentary evidence of having received the
required training and being found competent in
* Personal safety and social responsibility
Fire prevention and fire fighting
* Medical first aid
* Survival craft and rescue boats
* Security for persons with designated security duties (Applies after 1 Jan
2014)

- Documentary evidence of a SAMSA Eye test (applies also to Able/Ordinary
Seafarer Engine applicants) and a Medical fitness examination by a SAMSA
approved medical practitioner.

- If the sea service requirement stipulated above is not fulfilled,
applicants for Able Seafarer Deck/Engine may in lieu, make application for
a level 3 assessment. If found competent the CoP is issued and if found Not
Yet Competent, the candidate may complete an up-grading course covering the
competences not covered in the original Able Seaman (Modules 1, 4, 5 & 6 of
Cargo Handling and Stores.) or Oiler course and re-apply.

- All new applications for Able Seafarer Deck/Engine, shall complete the
up-grade course unless it can be shown that the training course followed
meets the STCW 2010 amended provisions.

After 1 July 2013, all courses offered by Maritime Education and Training
Institutions toward the qualification Able Seafarer (Deck or Engine), shall
meet fully the amended provisions in accordance with the South African
Maritime Qualifications Code as amended.

Ordinary Seaman and Wiper qualifications shall be exchanged for “Ordinary
seafarer deck or engine” before 1 January 2017 when revalidating
Certificates of Proficiency for ancillary courses.

PROCEDURE AFTER 1 JANUUARY 2017
The first issue of a Certificate of Proficiency to a seafarer will contain
separate documents detailing issue and expiry dates of each of the
emergency, occupational safety, security, medical first aid and survival
function courses.

The next issue of the CoP must be harmonized with ancillaries and only a
single CoP will be issued, implying that ALL the requirements for the issue
of the CoP have been met. This CoP will have an expiry date and from then
on, a revalidation process will be required every five years. It is to be
noted that the CoP Able seafarer is not required to be revalidated, only
the associated CoPs for ancillary courses and other documentary evidence.

(For information about operations in South Africa contact GAC South Africa
at shipping.capetown@gac.com)

Source: South African Maritime Safety Authority Marine Notice No.17 of 2013
dated 18 June 2013

DATE: June 19, 2013
COUNTRY: Oman
PORT: Port of Sohar
Revised port tariffs to come into effect

New tariffs for port and marine services will come into effect at the port
of Sohar from 1 July 2013.

For details of the new tariffs, or information about operations, contact
GAC Oman at sohar@gac.com

DATE: June 19, 2013
COUNTRY: Hong Kong
PORT: Hong Kong
Sea Parade to mark Hong Kong SAR anniversary

A flag raising ceremony will be held at 0800 hours on 1 July 2013 at the
Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition
Centre (HKCEC) to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the establishment of
the HKSAR. During the ceremony, a sea parade made up of launches of the
disciplinary services will proceed from Causeway Bay to HKCEC between 0745
hours and 0805 hours, and display water jets off HKCEC at 0800 hours.

Masters, coxswains and persons-in-charge of all vessels navigating in the
vicinity should proceed with caution and give a wide berth to the parade
fleet.

(For information about operations in Hong Kong contact GAC Hong Kong at
shipping.hongkong@gac.com)

Source: Government of Hong Kong SAR Marine Department Notice No,75 of 2013

DATE: June 19, 2013
COUNTRY: Australia
PORT: Portland
Revised berth depth – K.S. Anderson No.1

Following recent dredging and subsequent survey the depth alongside K.S.
Anderson [at the Port of Portland] has been returned to the declared depth
of 12.5 metres.

The maximum arrival draught remains at 11.5 metres and the maximum
departure draught (tide permitting) is 12.85 metres.

For further information contact the Harbour Master on 0466 888 601.

(For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at
shipping.australia@gac.com)

Source: Port of Portland Harbour Master’s Notice 04-2013

DATE: June 19, 2013
Bunker Update:
MARKET PRICE UPDATE 19/06/13
—————
GAC Bunker Fuels Ltd Pricing Alert
 MARKET PRICE UPDATE 19/06/13

180 CST   380 CST   MGO  MDO

Aberdeen                                         0         0         931.00  0
Aden                                             745.00    0   1,110.00  0
Alexandria                                       710.00    670.00    1,190.00  0
Amsterdam                                        616.00    587.00    881.00  0
Antwerp                                          624.00    595.00    889.00   0
Aqaba                                            0         720.00  1,040.00  0
Bahrain                                          0         0 1,047.00  0
Bergen                                           695.00    672.00    920.00     0
Busan                                            654.00    628.00    920.00    910.00
Cape Town                                        702.00    0         981.00  0
Colombo                                          675.00    670.00   1,070.00  0
Dubai                                            660.00    650.00    830.00    0
Durban                                           670.00    0  1,083.00  0
Falmouth                                         0         605.00    970.00     0
Fujairah                                         685.00    628.50   1,010.00  0
Gibraltar                                        698.50    666.50    948.50    0
Hong Kong                                        649.00    635.50    935.00  0
Houston                                          682.00    595.00    970.00   0
Istanbul                                         677.50    649.50    968.50   0
Jeddah                                           690.00    660.00 1,080.00  0
Kaohsiung                                        667.50    640.00    991.00  976.00
Kuwait                                           657.50    628.00 1,009.00  0
Leith                                            0         0         963.00    0
Lerwick                                          0         0         950.00    0
Malta                                            716.50    691.50    923.50    0
Mumbai                                           667.00    634.50 1,085.50  0
New York & New Jersey                            635.00    600.00    960.00   0
Panama                                           668.00    603.00 1,010.00  0
Piraeus                                          713.50    688.50    935.50    0
Port Louis                                       735.00    0  1,020.00  0
Port Said                                        710.00    655.00   1,060.00  0
Qatar                                            0         0         905.00   0
Richards Bay                                     682.00    0  1,098.00  0
Rio de Janeiro                                   651.50    628.00    940.00    0
Rotterdam                                        624.00    595.00    889.00    0
Salalah                                          720.00    675.00  1,125.00  0
Shanghai                                         673.50    641.50  1,076.50  0
Sharjah                                          660.00    650.00    830.00    0
Singapore                                        628.00    620.00    895.00   0
St Petersburg                                    610.50    588.50    0   0
Stavanger                                        0         0         917.00   0
Suez                                             665.00    639.00 1,060.00  0
Walvis Bay                                       700.00    0         940.00   0
West Africa OFFSHORE – FROM ABIDJAN TO LUANDA  0         700.00    985.00   0

Present in seven locations worldwide, GAC Bunker Fuels, part of the GAC
group, is a global broker and trader of marine fuels and lubricants.

The prices listed are for indication purposes only, and local offices should be
approached directly for firm prices.

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Egypt & Mediterranean: bunker.eg@gac.com
Americas: bunker.us@gac.com
Asia Pacific:          bunker.sg@gac.com
Indian Subcontinent:   bunker.sl@gac.com

Contact Martyn McMahon on +971 566032534 or Martyn.mcmahon@gac.com quoting HPN for more information or
with your bunker enquiry.

The ex “Swanland”

19 June 2013 – ITF seafarers’section chair Dave Heindel has echoed the Global Unions’ call to the G8 meeting to put fairness at the heart of their economies and added a plea for the same principles to be applied to the maritime world.

He stated: “The Global Unions’ statement to the G8 Lough Erne Summit makes a number of important points and valuable suggestions, particularly on the subjects of taxation and transparency.

“Unfortunately, we in the maritime industry are very familiar with the pitfalls of tax avoidance, offshore tax havens and meticulously planned lack of accountability on the parts of some companies. Specifically, the so-called flag of convenience (FOC) system which for decades has facilitated abuse of maritime workers through those avenues.

“For those who don’t know the system, it is one in which a vessel flies a flag different from that of its owner’s country. Quite often, FOC ships also carry multinational crews supplied by agents from yet another foreign country. It’s a tricky system that has been in place for decades, and it often allows owners and operators to turn a short-term profit while crew members suffer all sorts of mistreatment. That abuse ranges from being underpaid or not paid at all, to being blackmailed into paying for jobs, to sailing on vessels that are so unsafe, they literally may cost the seafarers their lives. And lest anyone think that this isn’t all about avoidance, know that FOC ships routinely change names and registries, sometimes while in mid-voyage.

“The lack of transparency and accountability in the FOC system is nothing short of appalling. A litany of incidents has repeatedly proven that when it’s time for negligent shipowners and operators to pay for their liabilities, nothing is simple. If a ship flies the flag of Panama, is crewed by a Greek manning agent, has ownership in Cyprus, and carries a crew of Russians, Filipinos and Indians, who’s responsible for an accident? Who can enforce basic minimum standards for shipboard safety, rest, sanitation, etc.?

“To cite just one example, Britain’s Maritime Investigation Branch recently completed a comprehensive study of the sinking of the FOC vessel Swanland. It proved that the ship hadn’t been properly maintained and was severely weakened by corrosion. Six mariners lost their lives because people behind desks shirked their responsibilities while pursuing greater profits.”

He concluded: “Collectively, we can and must do better. The observations and recommendations raised by the Global Unions organization are excellent starting points, and the ITF is ready, willing and able to help.

The global unions statement to G8 can be seen at www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/13-tuacdoc-g8en-11juin.pdf.

Wednesday

No other event in the racing calendar is as big a draw for the rich and famous, or makes as many headlines for what happens off the track as on it. With its procession of elaborate hats on Ladies’ Day, the glimpses of royalty and famous faces make it the big event in the racing calendar.

And while bloodstock values took a knock during the financial crisis, the value of race horses is now going back up.

“The values are going back in the right direction as, since the crisis, stallions have bred significantly less mares meaning fewer foals have been produced,” says Markel bloodstock underwriter Juliet Redfern.

“In 2007 there were 18,000 foals born in Ireland and Great Britain and by 2011 that had dropped to just over 12,000 foals. Ultimately when those horses go to the sales there are less of them so it’s a simple case of less supply and more demand and the prices go back up again.”

Insurance challenges

Despite the increasing value of race horses, operating conditions in the bloodstock insurance market remain challenging.

“Four or five years ago bloodstock values fell very significantly, between 30% and 50%, and obviously that has an impact on the premium volume created because rates are charged on the value of the horse,” explains Redfern. “At the same time we had an overcapacity situation and that created a very soft market.”

Horses are typically insured against mortality, with other hazards including illness, infertility and theft. As far as infertility is concerned, the stud potential of a successful racehorse can make a significant difference to its value. For example, the favourite to win the Queen Anne Stakes at this year’s Royal Ascot is Animal Kingdom, the US-trained horse who won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and this year’s Dubai World Cup. A win at Ascot will be the jewel in the crown for the stallion, which is retiring to stud after the season is over.

“A horse that would be expected to win at Ascot would be worth in excess of around half a million pounds,” says David Ashby, bloodstock underwriter at Amlin. “A lot of those horses are valued on their potential earnings during their potential stud career so a stallion retiring to stud could easily be a £10m horse.”

“Performance is obviously important but a lot of its value is to do with the value of its parents,” he continues. “A horse from a very successful sire line such as Galileo would be very popular when it goes to stud and could command a stud fee of £50,000 to £70,000 if it was very successful on the racecourse.

“Very few of the colts that run and win at Ascot will end up with a stud career – only a very few at the top of the pyramid will be able to do it – but the very real elite performers will have that opportunity.”

For example, Superhorse Frankel, a mare whose parents are Galileo and Kind, won five consecutive races in 2004, is thought to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds and boasts a £125,000 stud fee.

Because there is so much riding on future stud fees for elite racehorses, infertility is a big issue. While infertility claims into the market are few and far between, they are often high-profile and fairly sizable losses, as only the high-value stallions tend to be insured against infertility.

Infertility and steroid use

For a long time there has been a strong association between the use of anabolic steroids and infertility. Many underwriters refuse to insure horses that have been given steroids for infertility or will only do so if strict terms and conditions apply.

The Sungate doping case has sent shockwaves through the industry. The BHA has issued seven charges against trainer Gerard Butler in connection with the case. Butler was charged after nine of his horses returned positive results when tested for steroids. The BHA is conducting a wider investigation into the use of the product Sungate in Newmarket.

None of the horses at Butler’s yard have run since the tests were conducted. In a separate case involving Mahmood al-Zarooni at the Moulton Paddocks stable in Newmarket the horses were banned from racing for six months.

Despite these cases, steroids are widely used throughout the industry. The product Sungate is designed to assist in the treatment and management of joint disease in horse. However, it contains stanozolol, an anabolic steroid that is prohibited under the Rules of Racing.

Ashby remembers some of the market’s big infertility claims, although the kidnap of Irish racehorse Shergar by the IRA 30 years ago is the one that stands out.

“The very first thing I did when I joined Lloyd’s was to be involved in the theft of Shergar,” he explains. “The general feeling is that the horse became very difficult to handle whilst in the care of the IRA and they simply machine gunned it.”

“Over the years we’ve done lots of Derby and Group 1 winners, some of which were infertile – we were heavily involved when there was an outbreak of equine influenza in Australia and they closed all the state borders – we had to liaise directly with the state government to keep the industry alive,” he remembers.

“There were outbreaks of disease in Kentucky where I sat in meetings and people thought the bloodstock industry was going to end, because it was going to be a financial crisis. It was all fine in the end of course.”

Aggregation of risk

For Ashby, it is the potential aggregation of risks that keeps him awake at night. “On a typical group one race like the Derby or one of the big races at Ascot we might have more than $20m worth of exposure if all those horses were to collide in some horrible catastrophe,” he explains.

Long-haul flights can also present various issues. “There are about 15 flights that carry the stallions out to Australia and New Zealand for the breeding season and we would have to monitor our aggregations on those flights,” he says. “We will buy specific crash reinsurance because we could easily have £30m to £40m of exposure on one flight.”

19 Jun 13: Lerwick, Scotland – GAC UK has relocated its Shetland

The move places the company’s specialist offshore and tanker agency teams together, halfway between GAC’s key energy sector locations in Aberdeen, Scotland, and Bergen, Norway. It focuses the company’s coverage of the islands and enhances ship agency operations to better serve oil and gas
clients and vessels supporting the energy sector in the area. The base’s relocation also underlines GAC’s continuing commitment to supporting ongoing tanker operations at Sullom Voe, where it has a wealth of experience in import and export tanker operations.

Greenhead Base is fully equipped with cranes, forklifts, storage space and
more, serving as a hub for high level offshore and energy projects in East
and West Shetland oil fields for a number of industry leaders.

GAC Shetland’s new office facility is situated quayside at Lerwick’s
Greenhead Base, complementing the Port Authority’s other facilities with
683 sqm of quay space. A further 100 sqm of quayside is in development and
is expected to be ready early next year.

Adrian Henry, General Manager – Shetland, says: “Lerwick is the ideal
location from which to serve a multitude of clients and vessel types at
all ports throughout Shetland. By moving to Greenhead Base, we sharpen our
focus on meeting the demands of our key clients operating in the North Sea
as well as strengthening and solidifying our agency operations on the
Island which uniquely combine GAC’s shipping, logistics and marine
services.”

Ian Moncrieff

12,000 digital charts on a single disc

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) has unveiled plans to supply the ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) on one DVD from summer 2013, providing customers with a range of benefits, including faster loading speeds, reduced data handling and fewer warning messages.

Combined with the existing online ENC updating service and custom exchange set option delivered through e-Navigator Planning Station, AVCS on one DVD marks a significant step forward in making open, S-63 based ENC services much easier for the mariner. This move also ensures compatibility with S-63 1.1, the latest standard for data protection from the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), which comes into force in January 2014.

Ian Moncrieff CBE, Chief Executive of the UK Hydrographic Office, commented: “We are committed to continuous improvement in the quality of the navigational products and services that much of the world’s fleet relies upon. With the launch of AVCS on one DVD, our customers are assured of their compliance with the latest IHO standard on data authentication. They will also benefit from a faster, more efficient and convenient way of managing and updating the AVCS library of over 12,000 charts; with weekly data updates also supplied on a single DVD.”

All AVCS customers will receive an AVCS DVD upgrade pack for every vessel from their UKHO chart distributor, along with written instructions, technical support videos and installation guides. A 1.1 CD service will also be available later in the year for those who are unable to support DVD and UKHO’s renowned 24/7/365 Customer Service team are available to ensure a smooth transition to the new media.

AVCS is the most chosen ENC service onboard ships trading internationally, containing over 12,000 ENCs from around the world, including unique coverage of some of the world’s busiest ports and shipping routes as well as the unique Admiralty Information Overlay. To find out more about AVCS, please visit http://www.admiralty.co.uk/Pages/AVCS-2013.aspx.

About the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO)

1. UKHO produces a worldwide series of some 3,300 paper nautical charts, 160 publications under the ADMIRALTY brand and Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs). The ADMIRALTY portfolio is sold globally and used by nearly 70% of international shipping.
2. UKHO, an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Defence, has been charting the world’s oceans for more than 200 years with the primary aim of providing navigational products and services for the Royal Navy and merchant mariners to save and protect lives at sea. In addition it serves small craft and leisure mariners and provides a range of consultancy services.
3. UKHO also plays a central role, in support of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in discharging the navigation element of the UK’s Safety of Life at Sea Treaty obligations for waters of UK national responsibility.

New Conference and Exhibition event catches tailwind  

The third Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum will be held in May 2015 in Athens, the event’s organisers confirmed today, adding that the biennial event has managed to quickly establish itself as a leading business platform for global cruising and yachting industry decision makers and governments, tourism bodies, regulators and ports & destinations from the entire Mediterranean and Black Sea region.

“We are excited with the success of this addition to our event portfolio,” said Theodore Vokos, Project Director at Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., who is also the organizer of Posidonia Shipping Exhibition, the world’s most prestigious trade shipping event.

Over 650 delegates and 32 exhibitors from 25 countries attended this year’s Forum which was held over a two-day period at the Athens Megaron last month and organisers believe that this is just the beginning, for 2015 the bar has been set even higher.

“The quality of the Forum’s keynote speakers and panelists was tremendous as they represented the world’s biggest cruise and yachting operators and associations. The issues they raised and discussed were extremely topical to many direct or indirect stakeholders of the sea tourism industry in this region and this alone made for one great event that challenged, provoked and inspired,” said Vokos.

All participants from both cruise and yachting sectors agreed that Greece has significant competitive advantages with regard to sea tourism, but needs to do more to overcome certain ill conceived policies and regulatory anachronisms that impede development. According to senior speakers at the Posidonia Forum, Greece has the potential of greatly increasing its current share of a European sea tourism pie that amounts to a combined output of over 40 billion euro annually. Although Greece’s recent efforts to improve transparency and simplify bureaucratic procedures are commendable, effective change can only happen through longer-term strategies and better coordination. Infrastructure development and legislative reform aimed at increasing competitiveness in both cruise homeporting and yacht berthing would accelerate sea tourism development in Greece and thus helping boost the country’s economic revival and fight against high unemployment.

“We believe that all who attended realized the enormous potential that Sea Tourism presents for the region and what a positive impact it can have on the region’s economies. We are committed to making our next event even more thought-provoking and we are asking all stakeholders to look into the issues raised at the Forum and introduce strategies and measures to help our region reap more benefits from this lucrative sector.” Vokos concluded.

The event was lauded by delegates and exhibitors as a resounding success. Significant partnerships were forged during the two days as delegates and exhibitors engaged industry executives and participated at a series of workshops and targeted meetings with the goal of finding mutual synergies.  As Eleftherios Kechagioglou, President at the Hellenic Network Small Islands Network, said: “Thanks to our participation, we are about to close a deal with Seabourn Cruises for two exploratory calls at Hydra this summer. In addition, this coming September and in collaboration with Donomis Cruise Services we will organise a B2B conference for local entrepreneurs focusing on their responsibilities to these sectors and ways they can improve their services in order to experience growth.”

Cahya Summaningish of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, said: “This is our 2^nd participation at the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum. When we first visited the Forum in 2011 we immediately realised the importance of the nature of this institution and hence we decided to participate this year as exhibitors. In addition, the fact that a number of top stakeholders of the cruise and yachting industry would attend the event was also a very important factor that urged us to visit Greece for yet another year.”

Jamal Humaid Al Falasi Director Cruise Tourism Dubai added: “We are looking really to tap into the region and open new markets by meeting representatives of companies like cruise lines and convince them to reposition some of their assets and use Dubai as a hub. We are very happy with our participation at the 2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum as we met the right people and we achieved our objectives. We also had a very constructive meeting with the Minister of Tourism and talked about future cooperation. We discussed strategies of encouraging passengers from Dubai coming to Greece for a cruise as well as the other way round.”

An important feature of the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum was the dedicated session for Black Sea destinations, organised by the United Nations Development Programme, which gave the cities of Sochi, Batumi and Trapzone the opportunity to present their potential and recent infrastructure improvements to senior executives of the cruise industry. Dita Daniela Drone, Business Broker at UNDP BSTIP, commented: “The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum’s programme was full with a good range of thought-provoking content. And in this setting the event was a really great opportunity for the UNDP BSTIP invitees –the port authorities and tour operators from the Black Sea region – to learn about of the new trends, legislation and the activities of the key players in the industry as well as network and have specifically pre-scheduled and focused meetings with the cruise line representatives. We look forward to working again with Posidonia at the next Forum”.  Mr Alexander Kikava of Batumi Sea Port concluded: “The Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum was one of the most interesting and valuable events for Batumi Sea Port this year. During the event there was a great focus on the Eastern Black Sea region as a growing destination. With support of UNDP Black Sea Trade and Investment Promotion Programme, our Port’s representatives were able to present our destination and to participate in B2B meetings with top-managers of region’s major cruise operator companies.  This forum was a great opportunity to meet the colleagues from another ports and cruise market players face-to-face to improve understanding and find a ways of collaboration.”

The 2nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum thanks the following sponsors for their support: Gold Sponsors Greek National Tourism Organisation & Samsung Electronics Hellas, Silver Sponsor Piraeus Port Authority and Sponsors RINA, Louis Cruises, Dubai Maritime City Authority and MVS Associates.

The 2^nd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum was organised under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, the Greek Ministry of Shipping, Maritime Affairs and the Aegean, CLIA – Europe, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MEDCRUISE), the Hellenic Ports’ Association (ELIME), the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners’ Association, the Greek Marinas’ Association, the Union of Greek Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members, the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA) and the Hellenic Yacht Brokers’ Association.