24 maritime news articles about Gard
From 1 January 2026, the shipping industry will be required to report all containers lost at sea. The new regulations come into effect following IMO amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Gard has seen a worrying increase in fatalities and serious injuries from container ship fires this year. This article looks at what is driving the fires and the continuing efforts to address them.
Enclosed spaces on ships - such as cargo tanks, holds, and chain lockers - are among the most dangerous environments onboard. While much attention is paid to the initial victims of asphyxiation or toxic exposure, a significant and tragic share of fatalities are would-be rescuers: crew members who rush in to save a col
The revision of the International Grain Code was adopted at the IMO Maritime Safety Committee in 2024 and will come into effect on 1 January 2026. The main purpose of the amendment is to formally incorporate into the code the cargo handling method of “specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch o
Ship operators continue to face customs fines for alleged inaccuracies in declarations filed at Argentine ports. Correct reporting is essential, as overages or duplications can be just as costly as shortages.
As LNG carriers evolve, boil-off is becoming a growing source of legal and commercial disputes. Understanding the risks, and addressing them early in the charterparty, has never been more important.
Rising cocaine production and evolving trafficking routes are creating serious risks for commercial vessels, highlighting the need for vigilance, preventive measures, and fair treatment of crews.
With port state control authorities stepping up inspections related to ballast water management, ship operators need to ensure everything is in order: documents updated, systems working, and crews trained.
From container-packed tuna loins to bulk shipments of corn cobs, high-profile court rulings are influencing how liability limitations under the Hague and Hague-Visby Rules are applied. As disputes continue to arise, carriers and cargo interests are navigating a legal landscape marked by jurisdictional divergence and e
International requirements on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are currently high in focus of Port State Control (PSC). The EIAPP certification of engines and the maintenance of records have resulted in several PSC detentions.
After a seemingly ‘benign’ period, we have seen several serious container ship fires lately, including a large one leading to tragic loss of life. Congested ports in Asia and increasing traffic of large container ships around Africa are also a cause for concern.
With possibly less than 15 minutes to rescue somebody immersed in cold water before they become unresponsive, time is of the essence to save life. Understanding how the body reacts when you enter cold water and what you can do to delay its damaging effects can increase your chance of survival until help arrives.
In the past few months, Gard has received several queries on the safe carriage of battery energy storage systems (BESS) on ships. In this insight, we highlight some of the key risks, regulatory requirements, and recommendations for shipping such cargo.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative that allowed grain products to be shipped from Ukrainian Black Sea ports has now ended. Our article focuses on what that means for owners’ and charterers’ contractual obligations.
Bunker sales are generally offered on terms prepared by the sellers and should there be a problem with the quality or quantity of the bunkers supplied, the rights of the buyers may well be restricted by the sale contract terms. Our guest authors point out ways buyers can protect themselves.
On March 17, 2022, the Shanghai Maritime Court (following approval from the Supreme People’s Court) issued a ruling confirming that English High Court judgments can be recognised and enforced in the People’s Republic of China. This is the first time that a PRC Court has, on the basis of acknowledging judicial reciproc
Despite ongoing peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, the security situation in the Black Sea remains unstable. All port calls in the region should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, consulting best management practices for guidance on threats and mitigating measures.
The retroactive MARPOL Annex VI requirement to fit or designate sampling points for taking representative samples of the fuel oil in use onboard ships entered into force on 1 April 2022, and the deadline for compliance depends on each ship’s schedule for renewing its APP…
It has been nearly two years since the Trans Carrier spill of plastic pellets, Gard’s first experience with a major “nurdle” spill. In this three-part series of podcasts, we spoke with those involved in the casualty and clean-up as well as an independent scientist and policy expert to learn from the experience and exp
Although important steps are being taken to address the problem of containership fires, Gard estimates that so far in 2020, there have been one fire involving containerized cargo every two weeks.
The UK Supreme Court has granted leave to appeal the recent decision in Alize 1954 v Allianz Elementar Versicherungs AG (The “CMA CGM LIBRA”). While the decision involved General Average, we discuss the ramifications of the finding of unseaworthiness as it applies to the allocation of risk and liabilities in the wider
It was mid-May and the member’s vessel was enroute from Port Kelang, Malaysia to Xiamen, China when the crew noticed a monkey scampering on a container stack.
A new research study urges ship operators to provide greater support to seafarers to help prevent anxiety and depression. The recommendations include the provision of on-board amenities such as internet access, improved accommodation and recreational activities.
There are concerns associated with both of the two most popular options to comply with IMO 2020; use of compliant fuels and SOx Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS), often referred to as scrubbers. However, what is important is that after an incident has occurred, the maritime industry learns and prevents similar cases