Page 7 - 2025 - Q1 - Minerva in Focus

MINERVA IN FOCUS

Interim The ΙΜΟ Sub-Committee on Carriage of based on prescriptive distances in parallel
with gas dispersion analysis to demon-
Cargoes and Containers (CCC 10) has
guidelines for approved interim guidelines for the safety strate the ammonia concentrations.
of ships using ammonia as fuel. The draft
the safe use interim guidance οn ammonia is the latest Safe haven
guidance οn low and near-zero fuels to be
The guidelines introduce the requirement
of ammonia developed by the sub-committee, follow- for safe haven as a space designed to
minimise the risk of exposure to ammo-
ing other guidance already approved by
as fuel the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), in- nia during the release of ammonia, with a
cumulative total capacity to accommodate
cluding the interim guidelines for the safety
of ships using 1) methyl/ethyl alcohol as all persons onboard.
#AlternativeFuels fuel (MSC.1 /Circ.1621); 2) fuel cells (MSC.
1Circ.1647); and 3) LPG fuels (MSC.1/ Ammonia Release Mitigation System
Circ.1666). (ARMS)
In normal operation, there should not be
Due to the toxicity of ammonia, the guide- any direct release of ammonia. However, in
lines present several key concepts as fol- situations where the release of ammonia is
lows: foreseeable and controllable but necessary,
there should be provisions for an ammonia
Toxic area and space classification treatment system to minimise the amount
There is a clear distinction between “tox- of released ammonia. The discharge cri-
ic areas” and “toxic spaces”. With “toxic teria for the ammonia release mitigation
areas” located on open decks and “toxic system should be below 110 ppm.
spaces” located within the ship's struc-
tural boundaries, these boundaries are set Source: ABS

Practical security measures tion. This method is referred to as a rip-on/
rip-off operation. Neither the shipper nor the
to prevent ships from being consignee is aware that their shipment is
being used to smuggle illicit cargo. For this
used by drug smugglers method to be successful, there will likely be
actors in the country of origin or the tran-
shipment port as well as in the destination
#SeafarerRights country.

Practical security measures
If drugs are found on a ship in certain ports, South and Central America are exploited for It is often incredibly difficult for the crew
the crew risks extreme prison sentences. smuggling purposes. Port perimeter securi- to completely prevent the ship from being
Limited understanding of merchant ship ty measures appear to offer little protection used by drug smugglers, but there are mea-
operations can lead judges to believe that for the ship; drugs can make their way onto sures that can be taken to reduce the risk:
hiding drugs onboard or attaching them the ship in several different ways: • Provide education and regular brief-
to the ship’s hull is impossible without the • Hidden on board by shore staff or, in ings to the crew on how smugglers
crew's knowledge. some cases, crew members. Such operate.
The international shipping industry needs perpetrators are often coerced as • Undertake systematic searches of
to be alerted to the substantial risk of un- opposed to cooperating with crim- the ship and cargo in connection
warranted arrests and severe prison sen- inals for financial gains with port calls, including using sniff-
tences associated with docking at certain • Attached to the hull by divers and er dogs if available.
ports around the world. Additionally, the removed again by divers when the • Increase vigilance during port stays,
slow pace of legal procedures in certain ship reaches its destination e.g., locking doors and compart-
countries can detain crew members and • Hidden in shipping containers be- ments of the ship during loading for
shipowners for many months. fore loading areas not in use, deploying extra
• Hidden directly in cargo holds watchmen or extending the use
Smugglers’ modus operandi during loading of electronic surveillance such as
With the increase in coca production, es- • Hidden in the cooling units of reefer CCTV.
pecially in Colombia, the maritime industry containers • Conduct an underwater search of
is increasingly targeted by drug smugglers • Hidden in chain lockers the hull immediately prior to depar-
looking for opportunities to get their product • Hidden in manholes ture.
to market, typically in the US or Europe. All Sometimes, drugs are hidden in containers
types of ships are at risk, and ports across during the ship’s journey to the end destina- Source: BIMCO

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