More Headlines VLCC supply tight in the Arabian Gulf – conversion replaces demolition to counterbalance deliveries INTERTANKO hosts successful Vetting Seminar in Hong Kong, China this week BUNKERS Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) trades – billion cubic feet Recent lifeboat incident report recommends early compliance with MSC Circ 1093 Tanker News September will also start on a depressed note - Braemar Seascope OECD oil product demand contracted 7.4% - IEA The amount of clean petroleum products stored at sea has jumped 50% – EA Gibson Tankers used for storage decline - Lorentzen & Stemoco OPEC’s Oil Market Highlights Availability of VLCCs increasing in AG - Braemar Seascope Chinese oil import up 9.3%, Japanese up 1.6% and Korean down 1.1% in 2008 Declining oil consumption and increasing US production - EIA Russian crude exports in sharp fall - Fairplay Daily News South Korean crude imports declines - Energy Intelligence The first export from the new Jamnagar refinery in January Freight rate to fall further - Braemar Seascope Floating oil storage capacity on the rise - OGJ US decline in motor gasoline consumption - EIA Declining oil consumption - EIA Read more...

INTERTANKO’s Council will be invited at its October meeting in Singapore to appoint Joseph (“Joe”) Angelo, Deputy MD, to succeed Peter Swift as Managing Director on his retirement on 31 December, 2010. In addition, Katharina (“Kathi”) Stanzel has been appointed Deputy MD.

INTERTANKO had an overwhelming level of interest in the position and some highly qualified and capable individuals were shortlisted.  “We are grateful and flattered by some of the names who threw their hat into the ring,” says Graham Westgarth, INTERTANKO’s Chairman. “Ultimately however, we felt that Joe and Kathi working together to lead INTERTANKO through its change of MD was an optimal solution.”

Joe Angelo has worked for INTERTANKO for six years, first as Director of Regulatory Affairs and the Americas. Prior to joining INTERTANKO he held various senior roles in the United States Coast Guard, lastly as Director of Standards for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, where he led U.S. delegations at the International Maritime Organization. As the existing Deputy MD, he ensures continuity and stability to INTERTANKO’s membership upon Peter’s departure. “Joe is a well respected figure not only within INTERTANKO but also in the corridors of the IMO and the international shipping community. Having initially not been available for selection we are delighted this subsequently changed and are pleased that he agreed to take up the challenge,” says Westgarth.

Kathi Stanzel joins INTERTANKO from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPC). A marine biologist by profession, she has worked in senior technical advisory and claims management roles within the marine pollution sector. “In her twelve years with ITOPF and IOPC, Kathi has attended and been responsible for handling many major ship source pollution incidents including the Erika and Prestige,” says Westgarth. “Acting as a signatory on behalf of the 1971 and 1992 Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, she advises governments on oil pollution response measures and potential impacts. She has been extensively involved in the work of the OPRC-HNS Technical Group and the development of IMO guidance documents for the Marine Environment Protection Committee, focusing both on oil and other hazardous and noxious substances.”

 “Peter is a hard act to follow,” says Westgarth.  “He has been a committed and passionate spokesman and a driving force for better standards in the tanker industry for many years. His energy and inspiration will be sorely missed.  INTERTANKO’s membership is indebted to him.”

INTERTANKO slams release of Bow Saga pirates 

(INTERTANKO press briefing 04.08.2010 late afternoon)

INTERTANKO calls for prosecution of Bow Saga pirates

INTERTANKO calls for the prosecution of the Somali pirates whose attack yesterday on the Norwegian 40,085 dwt chemical tanker Bow Saga in the Gulf of Aden Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor was frustrated by the Spanish frigate Victoria, where the pirates are now being detained.

We hope that these men will not be released due to the absence of any country willing to detain them and try them in court. We appeal to the Seizing State (Spain) or the Flag State (Norway) to 'co-operate to the fullest possible extent in repression of piracy' as per Art 100 of UNCLOS, and therefore to prosecute or extradite – either to prosecute the pirates on the basis of customary international law, or to transfer the prosecution to another state.

This summer has seen the successful prosecution of pirates in Rotterdam and in the Seychelles, resulting in prison sentences of five years for five pirates for the attack on the Sananyolu and ten years for 11 pirates for the attack on the Topaz. We hope that this pressure to obtain proper justice will be sustained in the case of the Bow Saga, particularly since we understand that naval personnel who boarded and searched the skiff found weapons onboard.

We understand that the Master of the Bow Saga, which is en route to Europe, has given a statement to a representative from EUNAVFOR. One of the keys to a successful prosecution is availability of  officers and crew of the naval vessel as well as of the attacked vessel to provide witness statements in court or at least to provide written testimony.

We stand ready to assist in any way we can with helping the process of obtaining evidence from seafarers to facilitate prosecution, both with this incident and with any future pirate attack.

“Bringing these pirates to trial for their blatant flaunting of the international rules of free trade and unhindered passage should be given first priority as the states involved in this incident recognise their obligations under international law to deliver justice,” says Michele White, INTERTANKO’s General Counsel.