FONAR Compliance: Getting it Right
Bunker suppliers, traders, and brokers must now be FONAR: Fully On Notice About Requirements.
With the prohibition on using non-IMO 2020 compliant fuels coming into force on 1 January 2020, Steve Simms of Simms Showers takes a forensic look at FONARS – and finds some of the wording open to interpretation
Read More
Bunker Blending Liability: Cut to the Chase
What, if any, liability is there for suppliers of blend stock or cutter stock – or for those who deliver faulty blends – to those damaged by non-compliant blends?
Read More
Chris Lyon recognized by MD Defense Counsel
Simms Showers Partner, Chris Lyon, was recently recognized by a non-profit legal organization for his fundraising efforts. With the firm’s support, Chris donates many hours of time raising funds for Maryland Defense Counsel, Inc.
Read More
Bunker Claims Deadlines: Timed Out?
Post-2020, there will be fuel blending to meet the global 0.50% Sulphur content requirements. That brings the issue of fuel quality claims sharply into focus.
Read More
BIMCO Bunker Terms 2018
The 2018 Terms successfully advance the industry-wide debate that BIMCO's 1995 Fuelcon began. It is essential now to continue the debate, particularly during the short time until 2020.
Read More
Bunker Delivery Notes (BDNs): Thinking Outside the Box
01 January 2019 is the date by which all bunker suppliers and their customers subject to MARPOL Annex VI must use new bunker delivery notes (BDN). The new BDN raises a number of issues that suppliers and traders would do well to address.
Read More
Holding pattern: How the US is detaining seafarers
Mariners who are Act for Prevention of Pollution from Ships (“APPS”) whistleblowers are being heId in the U.S., often against their wilI, while waiting to give evidence in poIIution triaIs.
Read More
Time Lapse: Today’s Lessons Continue from the OW and Hanjin Insolvencies
OW Bunkers’ and Hanjin Shipping’s bankruptcies continue to be wake-up calls for the bunker industry and wider maritime sector.
Read More
Digital Bunker Delivery Notes ( BDNs / BDRs): Trash the Paper!
Bunker delivery notes (BDNs, or BDRs – bunker delivery receipts) remain on the of the few parts of a bunkering transaction still done on paper. This is despite the widespread digitization of all other aspects of the bunkering industry.
Read More
Enforcement of 2020 Sulfur Limits: Bunker Traders and Suppliers in the Crosshairs – Game On
Bunker traders and suppliers must be aware that sooner than they expect, they will be targets of enforcement of the 2020 world wide bunker sulfur (sulphur) content requlations.
Read More
Don't Demur on Demurrage
In April-May 2017’s Bunkerspot Magazine, firm Principal Steve Simms addresses some of the details of demurrage situations that bunker buyers, sellers and brokers often face and understanding the operation of demurrage in bunker purchases and deliveries.
Read More
Effective Chapter 15 Strategies for Marine Equipment Lessors and Maritime Lien Creditors
Most of the significant maritime bankruptcies of the last five years, including Hanjin and OW Bunkers, have utilized Chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Read More
Post-truth: Make Bunkering Great Again
In the latest edition of Bunkerspot, firm Principal Steve Simms explained the latest post-truth challenges to the bunkering industry in the context of recent world events, including the election of President Donald J. Trump and the U.K. vote for “Brexit.”
Read More
The Future Now After OW: Assuring "Anni Mirabilis" With Lessons from "Anni Horribilis"
How can – and must – bunker brokers and suppliers learn now from the OW bunkers collapse, and change their operations to anticipate the next, certain insolvency in the bunkering industry?
Read More
Effective Economic Disincentive and 2020 .5% Sulphur Cap Enforcement
Firm Principal Steve Simms recently explained the enforcement challenges that lie ahead from the October 27, 2016 decision by the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee.
Read More
World Bunkering Interview with Steve Simms
Firm Principal and IBIA board member Steve Simms was recently interviewed by David Hughes for World Bunkering.
Read More
Hanjin, OW and Preparing for the Next Unthinkable Sinking
Firm Principal Steve Simms recently outlined the circumstances leading up the collapse of the world's seventh largest container line, which occurred just after the collapse of OW, one of the world's largest bunker traders and providers.
Read More
Hanjin and the “Titanic Effect”
Firm Principal Steve Simms recently explained the latest challenge facing the maritime industry – the insolvency of the world’s seventh largest container line, Hanjin.
Read More
Passing muster: Directive 1999/32/EC and Enforcement Directed Against Bunker Suppliers and Traders
The EC is preparing to shift its angle of attack in its ongoing campaign against those who fail to comply with sulphur regulations. As the latest battle lines are drawn up, bunker suppliers are clearly in the line of fire.
Read More
OW, Lions, and Last-ING Appetite
Firm Principal Steve Simms recently explained the latest challenge facing ship owners and charterers in the wake of the OW insolvency.
Read More