In the most recent issue of World Bunkering Magazine, Steve Simms addresses patents and new fuels – and what bunker suppliers, traders and their customers must consider about them now.
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July 10, 2023, the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) affirmed use of electronic bunker delivery notes - “EBDN’s.” This article by principal Steve Simms addresses the legal considerations of using EBDNs and also as EBDNs become more widely used, the legal challenges to not using them.
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Simms Showers is pleased to announce that Gary Murphy has joined the Firm as Of Counsel following 20 years of experience as a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with four years of underway experience on Coast Guard cutters. As a Coast Guard attorney, Gary served as the Deputy Office Chief in the Coast Guard Office of Claims and Litigation and served as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice.
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The European Council and Parliament have at last hammered out the text for FuelEU Maritime. As Steve Simms of Simms Showers explains in this Bunkerspot article, its provisions will have a significant impact on marine fuel suppliers, not least in relation to the burden of responsibility when it comes to paying penalties.
Read MoreSanctions introduced following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have blocked the sale and purchase of Russian sourced bunker fuel. Steve Simms of Simms Showers takes a close look at how national regulations interpret the ‘transformation’ of Russian marine fuel into a non-sanctioned product – and uncovers more questions than clear answers.
Read MoreWith the largely blended VLSFOs now accounting for the majority of bunker deliveries – and with a raft of new fuels also on the horizon to comply with coming environmental legislation – Steve Simms of Simms Showers considers how marine fuel physical suppliers and traders can best insure themselves against quality claims.
Read MoreSteve Simms of Simms Showers takes a deep dive into the carbon offsetting space and reflects on the risks and opportunities the European Union’s Emission Trading System might present to bunker suppliers.
Read MoreIn the November publication of Bunkerspot, Principal Steve Simms lends his expertise on how legal counsel can be indispensable to credit decisions and bunker claims.
Read MoreIn this detailed discussion of bunker credit issues, Steve Simms of Simms Showers offers a useful checklist for bunker suppliers when tasked with making sound credit decisions.
Read MoreSupplying HSFO to scrubber-equipped vessels is not necessarily an ‘easy sell’. Steve Simms of Simms Showers takes a close look at the small print about scrubber use in maritime regulations and contracts.
Read MoreShipping’s energy transition is underway but the switch to new fuels will require a new commercial approach. Steve Simms of Simms Showers considers how bunker sales terms should be revised or written anew in the years ahead.
Read MoreGoing viral describes the rapid spread of disease as seen with the coronavirus outbreak and has also been coined by the IT sector to describe computer cyberattacks.
Read MoreBunker traders and brokers can add distinct value to LNG bunker provisions. Effective LNG bunker provision turns on having counterparties which are committed to knowing the necessary operations closely, and continually.
Read MoreBunker 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 MoreWhat, 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 MoreSimms 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 MorePost-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 MoreThe 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 More01 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 MoreMariners 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.
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