News in Year 2004

Capt. Lei Hai Professor, the former deputy G/M of COSCO and the former G/M of PENAVICO and Chinese president of CHIPOLBROK was invited to be an expert of CMS from the December 2004.

Mr. Lei, has a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from his seagoing career as a Captain during 1972-1985. Furthermore, he has rich experience to handle huge casualties such as Fire Fighting, Collision, Grounding, etc.

CMS assists to handle big spill off the shoreline of Guangdong

THE German-flagged 6,750 TEU MSC Ilona and the Panama-flagged 2,180 TEU Hyundai Advance collided at 2135hrs on 7 December 2004 off water out of Zhujiang Estuary and close to Shenzhen and Hong Kong. More than 1,200 tons of heavy fuel oil escapt from the broken fuel tank of MSC Ilona. As was found and reported by Guangdong MSA on the morning of 8 December 2004, the oil slick tailed after the ship and extended to south for 9 miles in length and 10 to 200 in width.

Fortunately enough, the rough sea and heavy weather really helps in this case, in particular of the south west wind which strongly blowed in the direction of the open sea after the accident and effectively prevented the oil from stranding on the shoreline of Gangdong, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, as well as those tourist islands scattered in the area. Notably, the site of the spill located within the water area of Wanshan Archipelagoes, the most important and sensitive fishery protection zone in South China Sea, where are the habitats of the precious Chinese sturgeon and white dolphin.

It was reported that up to 12 December 2004 the stock of clean-up resource in Guangdong Province were totally exhausted. Emergency supply of oil booms, absobent, dispersant and various clean-up facilities were provided from the neibouring local MSA (under the organization of MOC and China MSA), including Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Fujian and Shanghai and etc. Meanwhile,the assistance of technical and legal experts were also called upon from nation wide by China MSA and Guangdong MSA to facilitate handling of the matter as well as claims of pollution damage. At request of China MSA, CMS has dispatched our Mr Gu Mingxiang and Ms Kuang Shilin to attend and assist from 10 December 2004.

CMS joined the research team in respect of national oil pollution fund

A research project for setting up the administration rule and claim manual of national oil pollution fund was started recently. The project was undertaken by the China Academy of Transportation Science MOC, and Shanghai MSA, as well as cooperated by CMS. The project aims at rendering professional advises to those policy maker to decide how to handle the compensation of oil pollution damage and how to administrate the national fund.

On December 8&9, 2004, a project feasibility study meeting was held in Beijing. Experts from China Academy of Transportation Science, Dalian Maritime University, Environment Protection Center of MOC, China Classification Society, China Shipowner's Mutual Assurance Association, Supreme Court, etc and the officials from different divisions of MOC attended the meeting. Chen Keyu and Kuang Shilin from CMS took part in the meeting and did a short introduction with regard to the IOPC Fund.

Ningbo Spill Emergency Response Seminar held on Nov. 10

“Ningbo Spill Emergency Response Seminar” was held in Ningbo, on November 10,2004. The seminar was hosted by MSA Ningbo, and attended by MOC officers, Tanker owners, port officers, insurers and the specialists in oil spill emergency response area. Gu Mingxiang, Kuang Shilin and Han Xiaoyan from CMS attended the seminar.

The themes of this seminar were how to prevent vessels and ports from oil spilling, how to clean up the spill oil efficiently and other problems related to spill prevention, clean up measures and oil pollution damage claims. Most of the delegates were in the opinion that we should build up an efficient oil spill prevention system and establish a fund for the compensation of oil pollution damage as soon as possible.

China Guaranty Forum held in Shanghai Oct. 28-30, 2004

China Guaranty Forum 2004 was held on Oct.28—30,2004, Shanghai. The forum was organized by 'China Guarantee Alliance', Pan-American Surety Association (PASA), National Federation of Credit Guarantee Corporation (NFCGC), Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KCGF) and Korea Technology Credit Guarantee Fund(KOTEC), and the Forum’s Theme is: 'Self-discipline, Management, Cooperation and Development'.

China National Investment and Guaranty Co., Ltd. (CNIGC), the co-operator in the marine guaranty consultant field of CMS hosted the forum with her president, Mr. Liu Xin Lai to be as the chairman of the forum.

Mr. Hu Yanzhao, Vice Mayor of Shanghai Government, and Dr. Hugo. Giles, Executive Director of PASA, and Professor Wn Jinglian, elite economist, delivered speeches,.

For the purpose of developing the marine guaranty consultant business, persons in charge of marine business in PICC and Pacific insurance company were invited to attend.

2004 China Guaranty Forum The President of CNIGC, Mr. Liu Xinlai presided the forum

Mr. Hu Yanzhao, Vice Mayor of Shanghai on the Forum Dr. Hugo. Giles, Executive Director of PASA on the Forum

Prof. Wn Jinglian, elite economist, delivered speech on the forum; Ms. Xing yuangyang and Mr. Feng Jianhua ,the manager of

CMS accompanying MOC/MSA Delegation had a visit in UK

Chen Keyu and Kuang Shilin, accompanying the senior staffs of China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) paid a visit to London from 11th-15th October. The visit which is hosted by the UK Club aims at assisting China in developing plans for a China domestic oil pollution fund in addition to CLC, as well as introducing the scheduled 2nd Shanghai International Maritime Forum which will be held in July, 2005. The group, led by Xu Guo Li, Vice Director of China MSA, Zhi Guang Lu, Vice Director of Shanghai MSA and Xu Min, Senior Engineer and accompanied by CMS staff, visited Intertanko, ICS, IMO, IOPC Funds and ITOPF.

CMS Visits to MSA Shenzhen & Guangzhou on Sept. 16-17, 2004

On Sep. 16-17,2004, CMS oil pollution consultant team (Mr. Li Yuejin, Mr. Gu Mingxiang, Ms. Kuang Shilin, Mr. Chi Yi) paid a visit to Shenzhen/Guangzhou MSA's office.

CMS team introduced the service on oil pollution field, especially the service on claim settlement on behalf of MSA. Shenzhen/Guangzhou MSA’s PIC expressed interest to co-operate with CMS in nearly future.

CMS agreed to submit a detailed oil pollution consultant flow diagram to Shenzhen/Guangzhou MSA for their putting into file.

Miss Han Xiaoyan joined CMS Shanghai Office from the September

Miss Han Xiaoyan, a postgraduate majoring in maritime law, graduated from Shanghai Maritime University in this July and joined CMS Shanghai office in September.

COSCO Oil Pollution Seminar was held in Kuangou, Beijing

COSCO oil pollution seminar was held in Kuangou Hotel, Beijing on Aug. 11, 2004. The seminar was hosted by COSCO Commercial Dept., and attended by parties of COSCO Group Sub-companies, P&I Clubs, Judgers from Maritime court, Lawyers and consultants.

Christopher Brown presented the opening speech with the topic of Oil Pollution Legislations in EU countries. Speakers from P&I Clubs of WOE, Swedish, and NOE gave papers as regards Pollution Prevention and Case Study respectively. A paper focusing on the lastly development of China domestic nation fund was prepared by Kuang Shilin and delivered by Chen Keyu.

International Conference on Marine Pollution Prevention & Legal Remedies was held on the 5th~7th July 2004 at Nanjing International Conference Center, which was hosted by Jiangsu MSA, Shanghai Maritime University, Maastrichts University and Catholic University of Leuven, and attended by about 150 persons mainly of MSA officials, academics and shipowners.

Four key persons delivered the opening speeches, who are Mr. Xu Guoyi, Vice Director of China MSA, Mr. Zhang Tongbin, Executive Director of Jiangsu MSA, Prof. Cai Cunqiang, Vice President of Shanghai Maritime University and Dr. Michael Faure of Maastrichts University of Netherlands. Mr. Liu Gongcheng, Executive Director of China MSA, and Prof. Yu Shicheng, President of Shanghai Maritime University addressed the closing ceremony.

More than 30 speakers made presentations during the conference, primarily and extensively discussing legal remedies of pollution prevention and compensation from both academic and practical perspectives. Particular emphasis was paid to civil and criminal liability and compensation issues arising from ship pollution in riparian and coastal water areas. As one of the practical remedies, domestic national fund and local fund were frequently mentioned over issues of the suggested scope of application, the admissible items and the priority of compensation and etc. Two papers of Shanghai MSA and Shenzhen MSA, to which CMS has made considerable assistance, have been complied in the Collection of Seminar Papers.

The 3rd Board Meeting of CMS was held in Dalian on May 18, 2003. Mr. Gao Zhaojie, one of directors, was agreed to resign from the board, and Mr. Ding Haoyu was formally nominated as the director of CMS.

Mr. Chen Keyu was nominated as the deputy general manager to assist Mr. Li Yuejin G/M of CMS to deal with the company's routine operation. Ms. Kuang Shilin was nominated as the deputy manager of CMS Shanghai office.

From left to right: Chen Keyu (Deputy G/M), Ding Haoyu (Director), Li Kejun (Chairman), Herry Lawford (Director), Peter Donnellan (Vice Chairman), Li Yuejin (Director, General Manager)

Chi Yi visited COSCO Shipping and Wang Jing & Co.

Mr. Chi Yi paid a visit to COSCO SHIPPING CO., LTD. in Guangzhou on Apr. 16,2004. Messrs COSCO SHIPPING CO., LTD., the largest project fleet in Asia expressed interests to establish cooperation with CMS especially in the field of Ship CAP (Condition Assessment Program for Ship’s Repair Plan) Service.

Thomas Miller Representatives visited CMS Beijing and Shanghai

Mr. Stephen James, the Chairman of Thomas Miller P&I Ltd, and Mr. Herry Lawford, dropped in CMS Beijing Office on Feb. 24, 2004.

During the travel for attending Shipping China 2004, Mr. Herry Lawford dropped in CMS Shanghai Office on Feb. 26, 2004. The gentleman standing in the center of line is Capt. Leslie Hesketh who is staying in Shanghai for ship inspection.

OSRL & EARL visited CMS Beijing Office on Feb. 23, 2004

Mr. Archie Smith, the Chief Executive of Oil Spill Response Ltd, and Mr. Declan O'Driscoll, the Chief Executive of East Asian Response Ltd, had a visit to CMS Beijing Office on Feb. 23, 2004.

OSRL, the world's largest international oil spill response company in alliance with EARL is hammering at developing the China local market and wishing to have cooperation with CMS in the fields of oil pollution response training and consultancy.

Ms. Kuang attended the IMDG Code Workshop held in Hong Kong on Feb. 9, 2004

A half-day workshop was attended by TT members in number of about 40 persons, most of which were from Hong Kong based Container Lines, freight forwarders and logistic companies. Mike Compton, director of ICHCA, and Andrew Webster, the risk manager from TT Club delivered their presentations on the history of IMDG Code and the importance of enhancing awareness of the liabilities laid down by the Code since the mandatory enforcement of IMDG respectively.

Harry Lee, from Thomas Miller (Hong Kong), brought on stage the major part of the workshop, presenting his research paper on HK legislative requirement and standards relating to DGs transportation.

IMDG Code Training Course Held in Shanghai on January 10&11, 2004

CMS training course in connection with the IMDG Code was held in our Shanghai Office on January 10th &11th,2004.

Mr. Wang Haitao and Mr. Cheng Xiaohu, experts from CCS Marine Products Depart., as well as Mr. Fan Guigen, the deputy director of Safety Supervision Division to Shanghai Port Administration Bureau, gave speeches regarding the packing types for marine carried dangerous cargo.