BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
No news this month

CAYMAN ISLANDS
‘Fenner’ hydrostatic release units
A recommendation by the CISR that hydrostatic release units manufactured by Fenerci Denizcilik Egetim Dis Ticaret Ltd Sti are replaced with approved HRUs of another manufacturer, as many Fenner units have been found faulty. Please contact Angus McLean for more information.

Argentine Presidential Decree on Maritime Transport (No. 256/2010)
A request by the CISR for the managers of any CI ships or vessels that are likely to be affected by the above decree (i.e. are supposed to apply for authorisation from the Argentine Coast Guard when operating in the waters of Argentina, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands) to contact Angus McLean. (Also see Gibraltar SIN 027 below for more information.)

COOK ISLANDS ^NEW!
Circular 17/2010: ISM Code amendments
Details of the amendments to the ISM Code that will have immediate effect on 01 July 2010. These changes will affect all internationally-operating passenger ships, and commercial vessels and charter yachts over 500GT.

Circular 18/2010: Lifeboats – connections of release mechanisms
Guidance on the checking of fixed structural connections of lifeboat release mechanisms, as part of the maintenance, testing and inspection requirements of SOLAS Chapter III, Regulation 20.3. This information should be noted by the operators and crew of vessels of all flags that carry lifeboats on which the release hook mechanisms are fixed to the lifeboats.

Circular 19/2010: Revised MARPOL Annex VI
A reminder of the aspects of the revised MARPOL Annex VI which will have immediate effect on 01 July 2010. Annex VI applies to all vessels, including pleasure yachts.

Circular 20/2010: Hydrostatic release units for liferafts
A recommendation that all ‘Fenner’ liferaft hydrostatic release units are replaced, as a result of the Swedish Maritime Authority demonstrating that 8 out of 10 units fail.

GIBRALTAR
Shipping Information Notice 026: Gibraltar Ship Registry task priorities
The Gibraltar Ship Registry (GSR) has identified its Core Task Areas for commercial ship based services in terms of the time it takes to turn around a request, and the notice period it requires. This will be of interest to the managers, operators and crew of Gibraltar-registered yachts.

Shipping Information Notice 027: Argentine Presidential Decree On Maritime Transport (No. 256/2010)
Information on the UK Government’s rejection of the Argentine decree which requires vessels to apply for authorisation from the Argentine Coast Guard when operating in the waters of Argentina, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Notice provides information on what the operators or Masters should do if the decree affect their vessels, and applies to all British-registered ships and yachts (i.e. Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man and UK).

Shipping Information Notice: Index 05/10
The Index List of all Shipping Information Notices current in May 2010.

ISLE OF MAN
No news this month

MALTA
No news this month

MARSHALL ISLANDS
Marine Guidance 2-11-10: Time-sensitive extension for compliance with New York State ballast water treatment system standards
Recommendations that MI-registered vessels which operate in New York waters, and are subject to the US EPA Vessel General Permit (VGP) for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of a Vessel, apply for an extension of the implementation date for compliance with the State of New York’s ballast water treatment system requirements. Broadly, this will apply to all commercial vessels (including charter yachts) over 300GT and those that carry more than 8 cubic metres of ballast water. As the VGP requirements apply to vessels of all flags, it would be prudent for operators and Masters of all ships and yachts in excess of 300GT which visit NY waters to read the document.

Marine Safety Advisory 42-10
ONI Special Advisory – Indian Ocean

Marine Safety Advisory 43-10
Gulf of Aden Russian May convoy information

Marine Safety Advisory 44-10
ONI Special Advisory – Indian Ocean

Marine Safety Advisory 45-10
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units – emergency operations

Marine Safety Advisory 47-10
Recognized Security Organizations (RSOs) acting on behalf of the MI Maritime Administration

Marine Safety Advisory 48-10
ONI Special Advisory – Indian Ocean

Marine Safety Advisory 49-10
Safety of Navigation – recognized companies providing electronic corrections to nautical charts, publications and Notices To Mariners

Marine Safety Advisory 50-10
ONI Special Advisory – Indian Ocean

Marine Safety Advisory 51-10
Voluntary speed restrictions in effect

Marine Safety Advisory 52-10
ONI Special Advisory – Indian Ocean

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
No news this month