GABON
Some shipowners have complained, and rightly so, about the local port state officials in Gabon who continue to “harass” vessels for the smallest deficiencies, including failure to have copies of seafarer documentation applications stamped with the flag state stamp confirming receipt. This results in large fines being imposed by Gabon. We find this to be a ludicrous requirement that does nothing to promote safety. If you have ships calling in Gabon, be very careful that all your paperwork is in order. If you have problems, we would be interested in hearing about them. Contact us with details.

ALL ABOUT CRAs
Due to the increased demand for Confirmation of Receipt of Applications (CRA), all Deputy Commissioners and Special Agents have been authorized to issue CRAs. Hopefully this will reduce or eliminate the problem with Port State Control agents demanding to see that CRAs have been issued for each officer who has not yet received his Vanuatu endorsement, and reduce the risk of detentions as a result of failure to verify that the applications have been sent and received. For more details check Fleet/Safety Letter 08094.
 
CONTINUOUS SYNOPSIS RECORD (CSR)
SOLAS, Chapter XI-1, Regulation 5, paragraph 6, states that whenever a CSR previously issued to a vessel is amended to reflect changes in flag, ownership, management company, bareboat charterer, etc., the old CSR is to be kept on board the vessel. Many times CSRs are returned to the issuing organization or discarded. A file of all original CSRs must be kept on board the vessel and made available for inspection at any time. Failure to have all original CSRs on board may subject the vessel to port state control detention. (See Gabon above!) Go to http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?topic_id=257&doc_id=647#14 to read Regulation 5 in its entirety.

CO2 EMISSION CERTIFICATE TRADING SCHEME
The CO2 Emission Certificate Trading Scheme is one option being discussed by the IMO and UNFCCC, offering the shipping industry an incentive to reduce CO2 emissions. Another option would be to raise fuel taxes or increase harbor fees. These two options are not popular, but the bottom line is the shipping industry has to face the CO2 emission crisis like any other industry.

MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, AND EXHIBITIONS
*  Captain Art Bjorkner attended Ship & Port Security Conference in D.C on Jan 29-30.
*  VMSL once again exhibited at CMA Shipping 2008 in Stamford, CT March 17-19.
*  Captain Clive Grainger, Mr. Atsumi, & Don Sheetz exhibited at SeaJapan April 9 -11.
*  Don Sheetz introduced Vanuatu to Chinese shipowners in Shanghai on April 2.
*  Don Sheetz spoke about confined space entry issues at the ICHCA International Safety Panel meeting  in Charleston, April 28.
*  Several individual meetings with Chinese and Japanese shipowners were held in their respective  during the first 2 weeks of April.

TELEPHONE MONOPOLY ENDED
Telecom Vanuatu’s monopoly of the domestic telephone service has ended. TVL had been owned one third by Cable and Wireless, one third by Cable France, and one third by the Vanuatu government. It is understood that the government transferred its one third equally to the other two companies in consideration of the monopoly agreement being terminated.

EU AWARDS VANUATU WITH ENERGY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Vanuatu is the only applicant country in the Pacific to be awarded four EU renewable energy projects worth three million Euros. The initiative will include four new copra mills, power plants, low voltage distribution networks, billing equipment and training.

DIGICEL COMES TO VANUATU
Irish based Digicel has been granted a telecommunications license upon the termination of the long standing monopoly position of Telecom Vanuatu Ltd. Digicel is obliged to service 75% of population within 6 months of launch. This will be accomplished using a wireless mobile network which will integrate with the Telecom network to allow calls to be made between the two systems.

NEW AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT BANK TO PROCEED
The government has approved the injection of capital to commence the new Agriculture Development  Bank. 40% in year one and 20% in each of the next three years.  The aim is to assist local farmers to develop the agriculture sector, which is the backbone of the country’s economy and employment. This is not the first time a development bank has been attempted in Vanuatu.

JAPANESE INCREASE AID
The Japanese government committed over 176 million Vatu to upgrade the Port Vila international wharf, and to promote structural reform efforts. The wharf’s last major upgrade was 35 years ago, before the conversion to mainly containerized cargo. The port area now suffers from lack of container storage space and both the many cruise ships and cargo ships must share the same wharf unloading area. The Japanese government is one of Vanuatu’s long standing aid donors.

NEW AIRCRAFT FOR AIR VANUATU
Air Vanuatu’s new Boeing 737-800 aircraft was brought into service during the quarter. It is painted in island colors with one of our active volcano’s depicted on the tail of the plane. The plane is configured to carry 170 passengers and has extensive backup facilities as all the routes of Air Vanuatu are almost entirely over water. The next aircraft acquisition is slated to be a new  ATR-72, due next year.

BRED BANK OPENS IN PORT VILA
Bred (Vanuatu) Limited, part of the Banque Populaire Group in France, has opened a full service commercial banking operation in Vanuatu. This is the first EU based banking group to open in the country and we wish them success.

COCOA EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE
A Vanuatu farmers’ cooperative has made its first successful export of cocoa beans to Singapore. Previously such exports were handled by intermediaries in Vanuatu. With this access some 1300 small farmers may be able to realize higher prices for their cocoa beans. Vanuatu exported 742 tons of cocoa in the September quarter, an increase of 29% over the same quarter last year.

AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS
The Chinese Government is proposing a massive oil palm plantation project in Vanuatu, in spite of agricultural expert reports that the oil palm trees are not resistant to cyclone winds which Vanuatu experiences regularly.  The lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment concerning the loss of forests (the Chinese undertake to export all the economic timber which is cleared) and thus the way of life for hundreds of years, has the custom land owners concerned.

TELEPHONE MONOPOLY ENDED
Telecom Vanuatu’s monopoly of the domestic telephone service has ended. TVL had been owned one third by Cable and Wireless, one third by Cable France, and one third by the Vanuatu government. It is understood that the government transferred its one third equally to the other two companies in consideration of the monopoly agreement being terminated.