Beacon No. 1 2004 - Skuld

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LOSS PREVENTION By Chris Hall, <strong>Skuld</strong> (Far East) Ltd., Hong Kong Infectious diseases: Chicken Run – killer v 10 BEACON Return to sender – Asian poultry has been banned by many ports world-wide
iruses, now and forever First there was mad cow disease, then there was SARS, and now there is bird flu. Unfortunately, such viral threats are unlikely to disappear. What are shipowners and charterers to do? Avian influenza, or ‘bird flu’, is a contagious viral disease that normally infects only birds. The most deadly strain has a bird mortality rate of nearly 100%, often killing birds the same day that symptoms appear. One strain, ‘H5N1’, has jumped the species barrier causing at least 23 deaths in Thailand and Vietnam this year. Fortunately, human infection is rare and is often traceable to contact with diseased birds. Bird flu hits cargoes Last year, Asia dealt with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Although SARS caused great public concern, its ultimate impact on shipping was relatively modest, mostly in the form of increased vessel and port health monitoring, and consequential delays and costs. In contrast, bird flu has not caused as much public alarm, but has caused economic havoc, particularly in the shipping industry. The main reason for this difference is that bird flu affects bird cargoes directly. As a result of bird flu outbreaks, chicken exports from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States, among other places, have been banned at various times this year by nations around the world. Some countries, such as Australia, have even imposed restrictions on vessels from Asia carrying poultry and bird eggs in the vessels’ stores. Many vessels were forced to return their cargo of infected birds to the port of origin, such as Thailand, where authorities then had problems in storing and destroying the birds. Conversely, other bird-exporting nations, such as Brazil, have enjoyed a windfall, rushing in to fill the demand for exported birds. Warnings of further outbreaks World health and agricultural authorities have warned that further outbreaks are likely. Indeed, Canada and Cambodia are dealing with relatively new outbreaks. Experts believe that humans can only catch bird flu from infected birds. There is serious concern that the virus might mutate, however, allowing bird flu to pass from person-to-person. This would be a world-wide catastrophe, especially as the human mortality rate for bird flu is very high (between 60-80%). Unfortunately, such viral threats are unlikely to disappear. What are shipowners and charterers to do? Prevention is better than cure Be informed Experts. The best sources for monitoring viruses and diseases are the World Health Organisation (WHO) at http://www. who.int and the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) at http://www. cdc.gov. Both provide information and updates about infectious diseases and viral outbreaks, and normally include lists of affected countries. If the WHO lists a country, then owners and charterers should either avoid such a country, or, at least, take care when trading there. Port authorities. Members should also check with port authorities as to health issues in the relevant port. Many ports now maintain regularly updated websites, which often provide current shipping notices. For instance, the Hong Kong Marine Department site is http://www. info.gov.hk/mardep; and the Maritime and Port Authorities of Singapore is found at www.mpa.com.sg. Members may also find relevant ports by checking an Internet port directory, such as Sea-ex at http://www.seaex.com/ marine.services/worldports.htm or by a simple ‘Google’ search at http://www.google.com. BEACON 11
Page 1 and 2: Chicken Run - killer viruses, now a
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS PAGE 6 PAGE 10 PAGE 16 PAG
Page 5 and 6: a growing market She is familiar wi
Page 7 and 8: Marine bulk carrier and tanker vess
Page 9: LOSS PREVENTION Photo: Scanpix Cond
Page 13 and 14: Bird flu has jumped the species bar
Page 15 and 16: Photo: Courtesy of the U.S.Coast Gu
Page 17 and 18: Photo: Scanpix A stowaway from the
Page 19 and 20: The U.S. Coast Guard prepare to sea
Page 21 and 22: Around 60% of Smit Salvage’s work
Page 23 and 24: Don’t let the ISPS Code put your
Page 25 and 26: Suit For the purposes of English la
Page 27 and 28: LEGAL NOTES Ronny Larsen, Claims Ex
Page 29 and 30: Photo: Scanpix U.S. Courts adopt a
Page 31 and 32: Contact Skuld HONG KONG Christian R

Beacon No. 1 2004 - Skuld

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