VMSL Update issue 1-06, for the January to March 2006 quarter.

This Update is intended to keep our friends informed about what's new at VMSL and in Vanuatu.

EMAIL ADDRESS REMINDER
Our email address has been changed to . The old address has been discontinued.

RAISED SECURITY LEVELS
Recent pirate attacks off Somalia, and the abduction of seafarers from a Vanuatu vessel in Nigeria, forced us to raise Security Levels to Level 2 for Somalia and Nigeria for all Vanuatu vessels. If masters deem the risk to be even higher, they may voluntarily set the levels at Level 3. As this UPDATE goes to press, the abductees are in their 15th day of captivity with no word released as to their health or whereabouts. Please pray for them!

VMSL TEAM MEMBERS ATTEND ROUNDTABLE ON ILO 185 – SEAFARER IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS
On January 24, 2006, the Center for Seafarers’ Rights of the Seaman’s Church Institute sponsored a round table discussion on the need for full acceptance and ratification of ILO Convention 185 on Seafarer Identification Documents, particularly by the United States. The discussion was chaired by Admiral James M. Loy, USCG (Ret.) with participants representing, inter alia, BIMCO, Intertanko, shipowners, the legal community, various agencies of the US government including the USCG, Norway, Russia, The Ukraine, Liberia, Marshall Islands, and Vanuatu. Once the minutes have been prepared, we would be pleased to send them to anyone interested.  

PARIS MOU ON PSC -- CRACKDOWN
The Paris MOU on Port State Control has launched a concerted campaign to stamp out illegal bypassing of oil filtering systems on ships. Over the next three months the constituent members plan to identify how and if regulatory requirements for preventing marine pollution are being implemented. The campaign will focus on compliance with MARPOL, in general, and every inspection will specifically focus on oil filtering equipment & record keeping. A parallel campaign will be run by the Tokyo MOU.  Significant fines and jail terms have been handed out by the US in recent months for such violations.

FLEET / SAFETY LETTER 06084
The annual FLEET / SAFETY LETTER was recently published. Check it out here.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION – WATCH THIS SPOT
VMSL’s website www.vanuatuships.com is undergoing re-construction. Within the next 2 months we hope to be able to announce its grand re-opening.

THINGS TO CONSIDER
Vanuatu will exhibit at: Connecticut Maritime Association’s “Shipping 2006” in March (booth 91); Offshore Technology Conference in May, and International Workboat show in December. Come visit us.

Annual tonnage taxes are due no later than March 31, 2006.
Reports of Ship’s Officers (Form A-7) must be submitted during January 2006.
Vessels are subject to safety inspections at any time by a flag state or port state authority.
Interim scheme vessels must fully comply with ISPS requirements by July 1, 2008.
SSAS: carriage requirements’ deadline to comply for all vessels is the first radio survey after July 1, 2006.
The Vanuatu flagged MODU Pride Alaska will appear in a Discovery Channel TV program. Look for it.
 

DANISH VTS RECOMMENDATION (Ref. SN/Circ.224 6 January 2003)
Danish authorities have established an amended recommendation on navigation through the entrances to the Baltic Sea. Ships with a draught of 11 meters or more should use the pilot services locally established by the coastal states for the passage.  Vanuatu agrees and has made this a mandatory requirement for its vessels.

Ambae Island Volcanic Eruption
The recent volcanic eruption on Ambae, 275 kilometres north of Vila, received world-wide coverage as the volcano has erupted through its large crater lake. Worries about the water contacting the molten lava, causing a “pressure cooker” explosion, resulted in the evacuation of 5,000 inhabitants. A new island emerged in the lake isolating the eruption from the water. Vulcanologists deem this less dangerous and the inhabitants are returning to their villages.

Biodiesel Gains Acceptance
Biodiesel, in this case coconut oil, has caught the imagination of the world press and Vanuatu.  The local electricity provider has commenced substituting 5% coconut oil for diesel and more buses are making the change as well.

Loss of Port Vila Icons
The first icon to go was the popular Waterfront Restaurant when a fire burnt it to the ground; but it is rising again from its ashes. Next was the Sound Centre, a duty free shop and tourist shopping mecca. It was totally gutted by fire just as Christmas stocks were arriving. It has reopened in the banking chamber in the old Bank of Hawaii building.
Rossi Restaurant, a landmark in the South Pacific for 75 years, closed in mid-December. As the only centre-town location with a waterfront, it had become too valuable not to be offered to property developers.  Who knows what will happen, but for now the restaurant has moved to Trader Vic’s further along the street in the direction of the airport.

Parliament Passes New Insurance Act
Parliament has passed a new Insurance Act, applying to both domestic and offshore insurers, that brings in extensive new compliance requirements. Industry spokesmen have indicated this lead to the demise of the offshore insurance industry in Vanuatu. Representations have been made to government to reconsider the Act before it is gazetted.

Government Reshuffle
Prime Minister Ham Lini has reshuffled his coalition government, pushing out the Green Party, led by the able Finance Minister, Moana Carcasses. The Green Party over recent months had grown rapidly to the size of the other major parties and was demanding more ministerial posts. Its rivals convinced the Prime Minister they could rule without the Greens who were then ousted -- for now -- to the Opposition.

Two New Cargo Vessels
Chinese Government largess continues, with the delivery of two inter-island cargo vessels: Northern Star and Southern Star. Due to the volcanic eruption, they were pressed into service in the evacuation of people from Ambae. On Christmas day the Northern Star was used illegally to carry a politically connected family on a picnic – with almost twice the number of people onboard as allowed and no qualified captain or engineer. This does not bode well.

Millennium Challenge
Vanuatu has signed a compact with the USA Millennium Challenge Corporation for a five year US$65.69 million dollar grant for the improvement of infrastructure in the country. This is, by far, the largest individual grant Vanuatu has ever received for such a purpose and should have a lasting impact on the development of the country. The funds will be used to up-grade transportation facilities, roads, wharfs, airstrips and warehouses. It is expected to increase the average per capita income by 15% over the five year period. Vanuatu was one of 19 countries to be approved for a grant: Vanuatu and Mongolia were the only two successful countries in the Asian-Pacific region.

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