22
Dec 22

The Weekly Bulletin: Thursday 22 December 2022

Welcome to this week’s Bulletin.

This week the Chamber has been busy working on the second reading of the Seafarers’ Wages Bill, which was debated in the House of Commons. We have also welcomed a new Silver Sponsor for our Annual Dinner. Meanwhile, the MNTB has been busy preparing new guidelines for workplace experience that will help students further their knowledge of the maritime industry.  

We at the Chamber would like to take this opportunity to extend our very best wishes to each of you and your families for a peaceful and happy festive season. We are looking forward to working together in 2023 for a safe, successful and bright New Year.

This is our last bulletin of the year and we will resume it on Friday 6 January 2023. 


What's new

Seafarers’ Wages Bill

This week the Seafarers’ Wages Bill was debated for the first time in the House of Commons, having already been debated in the House of Lords. You can read the debate orwatch it online (skip to 17:59). 

The Bill passed with cross-party support and will return for further scrutiny by a committee of MPs in the New Year. As was the case in the House of Lords several MPs from the opposition raised the argument that the 120 calls threshold should be lowered to 52. The Chamber is working to ensure that MPs are fully aware that the 120 calls threshold is appropriate and should not be reduced.

We will provide a further update on the Bill once it completes its next stage, which is due to happen by 17 January 2023.

Members Survey 2022

Our annual member survey is now live and we very much welcome your feedback to help us improve what we do and provide you with the appropriate services and benefits that you value the most. 

Questions asked include what communication channels you prefer, what business issues you’d like us to prioritise, the areas we should improve and much more.

We’d really appreciate your contribution and therefore ask you to complete our Members Survey, which we promise will take no more than 5 minutes.

New Annual Dinner Silver Sponsor

We are delighted to welcome Seapeak as the new Silver Sponsor of our Annual Dinner, which is set to take place in London, on Monday 6 February 2023. All tickets can be purchased through our event page.

Seapeak is one of the world’s largest independent owners and operators of LNG carriers, providing liquefied gas services primarily under long-term, fee-based charters through its interests in 51 LNG carriers.  In addition, Seapeak owns a 30% interest in an LNG regasification terminal.

Vice President and Operations, Chris McDade about their sponsorship said:

“Seapeak are delighted to support the UK Chamber of Shipping’s Annual Dinner once again. 

“As a world-leading owner, with our operations hub in Glasgow, we value the opportunity to come together with our contemporaries. The event is an inspiring celebration and promotion of the UK’s continued commitment to the maritime industry.”

If interested in joining the Chamber as a member, please contact our Head of Membership and Business Development, Tony Jerome.

MNTB Guidelines for Workplace Experience

The MNTB encourages all shipping companies to equip school students with the opportunity to undertake a workplace experience.  Many schools require their students to arrange and undertake such placements that usually last 1 or 2 weeks. The MNTB considers this to be an excellent means of raising awareness of, and generating interest in, seagoing careers.

These guidelines were prepared by the UK Chamber of Shipping in consultation with the maritime trade unions and the MCA. They were adopted by the MNTB on 30 November 2022.  It is hoped that they will be of value to shipping companies.

For more information please visit the MNTB website. 

Houlder Whitepaper on Technology and Decarbonisation Challenges

While there are a lot of operational and technological solutions available for meeting the

more immediate decarbonisation goals, such as the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator regulations, getting new technologies onboard and commissioned can be challenging. A ship is a system and applying an additional component to that system can result in unintended consequences.

The Chamber’s member Houlder has prepared a whitepaper that includes shipowners’ perspectives on decarbonisation goals and challenges. You can download your free whitepaper copy from their website.

Latest member updates

Chamber members are reminded that they have exclusive access to a range of updates from the Chamber’s policy experts on a wide spectrum of issues. The latest updates this week include the minutes from the Safety and Environment Committee meeting held on 14 November: 

Upcoming events

Annual Dinner 2023

Our Annual Dinner will take place on Monday 6 February. The event will be held at the iconic 5-star JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel on Park Lane, in the heart of Mayfair. This is a wonderful opportunity to network with colleagues and celebrate recent milestones. 

Last year, this event attracted around 800 influential guests from across the maritime industry. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased through the Chamber website.

The dinner is kindly sponsored by Northern Marine (Gold Sponsor), V. Group (President's Reception), Denholm, UK Ship Register, Lloyd’s Register, ABS  and Seapeak (Silver Sponsors).

Harbour Towage Panel

The Panel will take place on 6 February 2023, at the International Chamber of Shipping and its purpose is to identify issues and develop policies relating to harbour towage operations.

All members with an interest in harbour towage and related matters, including tug operators, class societies, law firms, P&I clubs, port authorities, marine consultants and others are encouraged to attend.

Members are invited to raise any areas for inclusion with the Panel Secretary, Robert Merrylees.

Summer Lunch

Our summer lunch is set to take place on Tuesday 13 June 2023, in a brand new venue, the Signet Library, in Edinburgh.

More information will be available on our event page. In the meantime, please save the date.

Have a wonderful Christmas,

Sarah