Unmanned vessels: Not just insurers concerned
Risk analysis has always been at the heart of the marine insurer’s decision process.
Shipping safety has a genuine link to the efficiency and professionalism of sailors and master mariners, and anyone in the industry would consider that a good crew is a prerequisite to a well maintained vessel fully able to face any perils at sea. This means that the most important pillar for a marine insurer regarding ship security is the quality of crew on board.
Nevertheless, the present situation reflects the fact that modern shipping is regularly challenging this traditional approach and developments in the industry are less driven with having people on board. Since the end of World War II marine technology has extensively developed, which in turn has reduced the need and number of crew on board.
Indeed, despite the ever increasing size of ships, or the innovative use of a vessel, for example an oil storage facility such as a FPSO, or the development of a huge floating dredging factory, we are witnessing a decreasing number of crew on board due to the development and advancement of smart technology. This is linked to cost reduction. Unmanned ships are no longer just a fantasy.
We have already seen a number of experiments with unmanned vessels being controlled ashore with remote control equipment, or from a sister ship sailing alongside or in close proximity to the vessel, using the same type of electronic control devices navigating as a convoy.
Has the time arrived for crewless ships as we have seen recently with cars and trains? If the answer is yes then is it only a matter for marine insurers to decide?
Undoubtedly marine insurers, be it from the property or liability side, will be key decision makers, but we must see the results from the first prototype tests before any verdict can be taken (please see presentation from the President’s Workshop on Unmanned Vessels – DNV GL Re-Volt from the IUMI 2015 Berlin Conference.)
Moreover, the marine insurer’s decisions on unmanned vessels will follow the position adopted by the shipping community’s main stakeholders, such as the shippers and/or charterers. The concept of an unmanned vessel does not fit with the traditional known approach of the shipowner’s legal commitment, which is to safely man its vessel and identify the master as the central authority on board.
All charter-parties and bills of lading currently used specify that the important duties on board must be fulfilled by the master and/or other crew members. Will the stakeholders be prepared to change this?
Apart from these commercial partners to shipping, what about flag state and classification societies? Will they be ready to issue new rules, regulations and laws which will recognise the pre-eminence of remote control technology over the immediate know-how of a crew on board?
We can’t ignore or resist new technology and unmanned ships look likely to play a limited – or perhaps broader role – in the future.
Once the key issues have been addressed and an international convention has been developed and ratified, then it is likely that these ships will become a reality. But there is a lot of work to be done first and IUMI will be on the forefront during these discussions.
Source: IUMI (By Frédéric Denèfle, Insurance Director at CESAM & GAREX, and IUMI Legal & Liability Committee Chairman)
Egyptian Navy to Receive 46 Ka-52K Naval Helicopters From Russia
By Oscar Nkala
JSC Russian Helicopters says it will supply the Egyptian Navy with 46 Ka-52K (Kamov-52 “Katran”) naval attack helicopters to equip the two Mistral-class helicopter carrier amphibious assaults ships acquired from France last year.
In a statement marking the end of the 2015 trading year, JSC Russian Helicopters Director-General Alexander Mikheyev said that despite the difficult business circumstances created by sanctions against Russian since March, the company managed to clinch multi-million dollar deals: “In this knotty [global business] situation, we have managed to keep up the financial parameters reached previously and to broaden the presence of Russian helicopter technologies in the world market.”
In the outgoing year, new contracts were signed between Russia and foreign helicopter users. “For instance, a large agreement for delivery of 46 Ka-52 Alligator helicopters has been signed with Egypt through state-owned weapons trading company Rosoboronexport,” Mikheyev said in a statement published on the company’s corporate magazine. Deliveries are expected to be completed before the end of 2017.
The Ka-52K (NATO reporting name Hokum-B) is a naval attack variant of the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter. Its distinguishing features include a folding rotor head, folding stub-wings and reinforced landing gear intended to support ship-borne attacks. Its weapons pods are capable of holding and launching Kh-38 and Kh-35 cruise missiles.
Egypt acquired the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers last October after France cancelled the initial sale agreement with the Russian Navy in line with European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow following its annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine.
The sanctions also relate to Russia’s alleged support for separatist armies, which have successfully established two pro-Russian breakaway republics in Eastern Ukraine.
The removal of Russian radio-electronic systems installed in the two vessels was completed in November. The ships, each designed to carry up to 16 Ka-27/29 Helix anti-submarine/assault or Ka-52 (Hokum B) strike helicopters, are due for delivery to Egypt by mid-year.
Source: defensenews
Cyber security guidelines for ships launched
BIMCO, together with other leading shipping organisations, has launched a set of guidelines to help the global shipping industry prevent major safety, environmental and commercial issues that could result from a cyber incident onboard a ship.
The cyber guidelines launched today are a first for the shipping industry, developed by international shipping associations, comprising BIMCO, CLIA, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO – and with support from a wide range of stakeholders.
The Guidelines on Cyber Security Onboard Ships are free to download from the BIMCO website. Angus Frew, Secretary General of BIMCO, said: “BIMCO has led the way to identify potential cyber vulnerabilities for ships – and their implications – based on the latest expert research. “
The aim is to provide the shipping industry with clear and comprehensive information on cyber security risks to ships enabling shipowners to take measures to protect against attacks and to deal with the eventuality of cyber incidents.
Cyber threats are changing all the time – and BIMCO and the other industry associations will regularly update the cyber guidelines to ensure shipping companies have the latest information available.
Angus Frew added :“The guidelines launched should help companies take a risk-based approach to cyber security that is specific to their business and the ships they operate.”
Source: https://www.bimco.org/News/2016/01/04_Cyber_security_guidelines.aspx which also provides link to download the guidelines
Reprinted from issue 005 of DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS 2016 published by http://www.maasmondmaritime.com/en/ on 2016-01-05
