Shipping organization BIMCO stated it has actually developed a brand-new conventional agreement for giving a well balanced legal structure for safety and security companion vessels (SEV) that come with seller ships in high hazard locations such as the Gulf of Guinea, which has actually lately seen a surge in piracy task as the completely dry period has actually started.
The brand-new agreement is referred to as SEV-GUARDCON due to the fact that it is based upon BIMCO’s GUARDCON agreement for the work of security personnel aboard ships.
“The escort vessel’s capabilities, and what should happen if the vessel does not arrive at the rendezvous point as agreed, are key issues for shipowners and operators trading in high threat areas. SEV-GUARDCON addresses these and other aspects to consider when transiting areas such as the Gulf of Guinea,” stated Dan Carr, Deputy General Counsel, Stolt-Nielsen, that chaired the job of the job group.
SEV-GUARDCON has actually been prepared particularly for cross-border transportations where an SEV is required to come with the proprietor’s vessel via the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or territorial waters of greater than one state. The framework mirrors GUARDCON anywhere feasible to guarantee experience, and also the insurance coverage arrangements have actually been maintained as close as feasible to the initial GUARDCON phrasing. The responsibilities and also indemnities arrangements show that SEV-GUARDCON covers solutions of a separately run SEV in contrast to a protection group continued board the seller ship.
“Security escorts are used when merchant ships transit dangerous areas and call ports where the use of on board maritime security personnel is not desirable due to local practices or regulations. With SEV-GUARDCON we aim to add value to, and fairly represent the interests of, both the maritime security companies providing escort services and the shipowners and operators who use them,” claims BW Group’s Nick Fell, Chairman of BIMCO’s Documentary Committee.
The job group contained depictive shipowners and also drivers, exclusive maritime safety and security firms and also maritime danger specialists, P&I Clubs, and also aquatic insurance coverage and also lawful specialists, numerous of whom additionally joined the growth of the initial GUARDCON agreement. It will certainly quickly be offered on BIMCO’s protected agreement editing and enhancing system, SmartCon, in addition to in an example variation on the BIMCO site gone along with by informative notes.
