News has been received from Brussels-based PIANC, the World Association for Waterborne Transport and Infrastructure of the two events listed above.

Abstracts and registration have been invited for the fifth in a series of the PIANC Mediterranean Days, which will take place on 25-26 October 2023 at Port de Sète, France. 

Boskalis announced from Papendrecht on 30 January 2023 that it had acquired a contract from the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure of the Republic of the Maldives relating to the further development including climate adaptive measures of Gulhifalhu.

It is understood that the contract carries a value of approximately €120 million.

IMO’s Facilitation Committee has adopted amendments to the Facilitation (FAL) Convention which will make the single window for data exchange mandatory in ports around the world, marking a significant step in the acceleration of digitalization in shipping. The amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2024.

It was reported on 16 January that Rolls-Royce has reached another milestone towards CO2-neutral energy supply. The further developed 12-cylinder gas engine of the mtu Series 4000 has successfully passed the first test runs with 100% hydrogen and showed very good results in terms of efficiency, power, emissions and combustion.

The range of short sea container services available from Hutchison Ports London Thamesport is to be increased following the announcement by Viasea Shipping of a new service from the South East UK port to Norway and the Baltic.

In mid -January the US Coast Guard announced from Pensacola, Florida, that the crew of the USCGC Decisive returned to their homeport of Pensacola on 13 January following a 33-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, concluding 55 years of service to the Nation.

Canada has become the latest country to accept amendments to the Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which will expand the size of the Council, extend the term of its Members, and recognize three additional language texts as authentic versions of the Convention. 

The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) calls for efforts to be sustained worldwide as maritime piracy and armed robbery attacks reached their lowest recorded level in almost three decades.