Piracy and vessel hijackings are a growing international safety and financial concern. The International Chamber of Commerce’s Commercial Crime Services report there were 12 worldwide incidents of piracy within the first 21 days of 2014 alone.Federal and international governments and safety experts routinely issue safety guidelines and updates on pirate activity. These warnings should be heeded in the interest of avoiding a hijacking, kidnapping or hostage situation. However, even with careful...

All those who wish to possess a valid Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) must hold a current Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) as issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).Further, the United States Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center works in partnership with the TSA to conduct background investigations as part of its credentialing and licensing operations. As such, it is highly recommended maritime workers and crewmembers maintain current and valid...

Shipping vessels that travel in polar-like conditions or Antarctic or Arctic waters should be ice-strengthened against damage. This structural quality enables a shipping or other vessel to safely travel in waters with visible or non-visible hazards, such as submerged or surface ice. A non-ice-strengthened ship that travels in polar waters risks holing or incurring other catastrophic damage.Routine Features of an Ice-Strengthened ShipThere is no international standard to define the term “ice...

MARPOL is an acronym for “marine pollution.” The term MARPOL 73/78 is used to refer to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 (as later modified by the Protocol of 1978). MARPOL is under governance by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).MARPOL is a significant international marine convention intended to protect and preserve marine environment and water quality. Any person or company that operates a vessel in federal or international waters should...