News

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has received an order for 25 forklift trucks from the Algerian port procurement company, Groupement d’Intérêt Commun des Entreprises Portuaires (GICEP). The forklifts will perform stevedoring operations at the ports of Algiers, Annabas, Mostaganem, Oran and Tenes.

Budd’s Abidjan office (Ivory Coast) reports that following discussions with the various port operators, the CFA Francs 2,000,000.00 (Euros 3,049.00) stowaway fines first introduced on 1 May 2016 will be reduced to CFA Frances 1,000,000.00 (Euros 1,524.50) per stowaway as of 15 June 2016.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) updated its stance on booster vaccinations for yellow fever, stating that a single vaccination should be considered effective for life instead of ten years as previously.

Pending the update of WHO International Health Regulations announced for 10 July 2016, vaccination practices and requirements are in a state of flux with some countries considering that yellow fever vaccinations require ten year boosters and asking seafarers to provide vaccination certificates with ten year validity, some still vaccinating local populations every ten years but recognising life-time validity for seafarers, and others recognising lifetime validity for both their own vaccinations and for those of visitors to their country.

Budd Algiers provides guidance on cargo shortage claims in Algeria.

Budd Ghana advises that Takoradi Port Authority has now decided to follow the example of Tema and ban the disembarkation of non-Ghanaian stowaways in its port, rather than inflicting the US$ 1,000.00 fine for each stowaway disembarked that was announced to local ship agents on 30 April 2016.

Budd’s Ivory Coast and Ghana offices have obtained further clarifications regarding the implementation of the anti-stowaway measures announced on our website on 2 May.

Following a Court of Cassation cargo claim victory, Budd Tunisia proffers advise to vessels delivering bulk grains to the Office des Ceréales.

In a circular signed by the Managing Director of the Port of Abidjan, local ship agents were advised that as of 1 May 2016, two new anti-stowaway measures apply:

On 1 January 2016, as announced in the Bulletin Officiel des Finances Publiques-impôts of 12/05/15, French tax law made it mandatory for all companies wishing to exonerate services to a vessel from VAT in accordance with article 262, II-2, 3, 6 and 7 of the French General Tax Code, to obtain signed affidavits from the said vessel stating that it is

Budd Gambia reports that at the 6 January berthing meeting in the port of Banjul, it was announced that in the interest of safety of both stowaways and the Government officials involved in their in disembarkation, the following measures would apply with immediate effect:-