Loss Prevention Advice
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A warning to shipowners, operators, and charterers over the risks linked to loading dry chemicals in Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs), or ‘jumbo bags’ with the launch of a new video that provides loss prevention advice.
The alert follows several incidents involving cargo fires and damage—particularly on bulk carriers and general cargo ships, with many cases reported at Chinese ports. The Club warns that failure to strictly comply with all relevant International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and guidance governing the storage and handling of jumbo bags could even prejudice P&I cover.
To help industry to understand the risks associated with incorrect handling and stowage of jumbo bags, the Club has developed a detailed video case study of a fictional bulk carrier MV Calm Sea, which can be used by vessel owners, operators and charterers, crew and port agents as a training resource for identifying risks, liabilities and best practices.
Given prevailing market conditions, assureds operating bulk carriers and general cargo vessels are receiving frequent requests to load jumbo bags in the same holds as breakbulk and steel cargoes or to store different bagged chemicals in the same hold.
Ian Barr, Chief Claims Officer at The London P&I Club highlighted that in cases of different bagged chemicals being stowed together, chemical contamination and reactions can lead to on-board vessel fires, which can result in the total loss of the entire contents of the hold and large claims.
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The Paris MoU Committee approved at its 58th meeting the 2024 inspection results and adopted new performance lists for flag States and Recognized Organizations.
These lists will be used from 1 July 2025.
The “White, Grey and Black (WGB) List” presents the full spectrum, from quality flags to flags with a poor performance that are considered high or very high risk. It is based on the total number of inspections and detentions during a 3-year rolling period for flags with at least 30 inspections in that period.
Regarding the “White, Grey and Black List” for 2024, a total number of 69 Flag Administrations are listed:
- 40 on the “White List”
- 17 on the “Grey List”
- 12 on the “Black List”.
Top performers
- France: 297 Inspections / 1 Detention
- Denmark: 1246 Inspections / 14 Detentions
- Norway: 1824 Inspections / 23 Detentions
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The IMO Sub-committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) met in London from 21 – 25 July 2025 for its 11th session where various issues were discussed.
The sub-committee on the Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) plays a key role in port State control data and updates HSSC survey guidelines biennially, as well as addresses implementation issues by coordinating with flag, port and coastal States.
Key outcomes of the 11th session:
Development of Guidance on Assessments and Applications of Remote Surveys, ISM Code Audits and ISPS Code Verifications
III 11 agreed the following:
- The draft Guidance related to ISPS remote verifications. Given the highly sensitive nature of the information involved in ISPS verifications, the use of remote verifications in place of in-person attendance has been limited to extraordinary circumstances, and only for interim, intermediate and additional shipboard verifications.
- The technical objectives in the draft guidance for remote methods to achieve a level equivalent to in person attendance. These objectives cover communication, interviews, and safety and are outlined in the revised Section 7 of Part A, now titled “Required Technical Objectives”.
- The draft guidance on the use of remote survey or audit outside the scope of a scheduled periodical survey or audit. Such surveys/audits may stem from unscheduled examinations either by a port State or flag State or their Recognised Organisation (RO). The guidance is outlined in the revised Section 10 of Part A.
The draft Guidance and the associated draft MSC-MEPC circular is expected to be submitted to MEPC 84 in April 2026 and MSC 111 in May 2026 for approval.
Additionally, III 11 agreed to keep the finalised guidance under review, based on the experience gained in conducting remote surveys, audits and verifications.
Scope of verifications carried out to issue interim certification under the ISM Code
While discussing the scope of audits for issuing interim Safety Management Certificates (SMCs) and Documents of Compliance (DoCs) under the ISM Code, III 11 confirmed that interim audit should not be fully replaced by remote audits, as previously endorsed by III 10.
An ambiguity was identified between section 4.8 of the 2023 Guidelines on implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code by Administrations (resolution A.1188(33)) and the draft remote survey guidance. To resolve this, it has been recommended that the finalised guidance should be considered during the comprehensive revision of the guidelines on the implementation of the ISM Code by Administrations and companies, scheduled for 2026–2027, with completion targeted for 2028.
Method for developing and assigning a coding system to update the Survey Guidelines under the HSSC
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EU 18th Sanctions Package
On July 18, 2025, the EU adopted the 18th sanctions package against Russia. These measures can be found in amended Regulation (EU) 833/2014 and Regulation (EU) 269/2014.
The EU Commission has issued a press release regarding these new measures.
They can be summarized as follows: New Vessel and Asset Freeze Listings 105 vessels have been banned from accessing EU ports or receiving maritime or other services for being part of the Russian “shadow fleet” (Article 3s of EU Regulation 833/2014). The EU has removed three LNG (liquified natural gas) tankers operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines from this list after receiving assurances that they will not transport gas from the Russian Yamal and Arctic 2 projects. 14 individuals and 41 entities have been designated and added to the EU sanctions list (and therefore subject to an asset freeze), including those associated with Coral Energy/2Rivers Group (which is already subject to UK asset freeze restrictions), and Nayara Energy Limited (an Indian refinery in which Rosneft has a major shareholding).
Full advisory at the following link.