Two deaths at sea during the past 24 hours

A 26 year old crewman from the M.V Beaufiks from a throat infection it would appear that he had been denied medical treatment for the past two weeks.  The crewman (not named).



A 53 year old man was killed when the M.V. COSL Innivator was hit by 46 foot high wave. The matter is still under investigation

Port News

Ice restrictions for ships is to be introduced at the Port of Primorsk  (Baltic)  on January 17th 2016

Heay snow restricts unloading of ships at Butumi port (Georgia)  The captain of the Batumi port Tengiz Gadilia announced the heavy snow and storm had caused delay in both the schedule of ships and unloading of goods.

Trade News

EU - Ukraine Association Agreement: free trade part operational 1st Jan 2016

On 1 January 2016, the European Union and Ukraine started applying the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) which forms part of the Association Agreement signed in June 2014. The rest of the Association Agreement has already been in force since November 2014.

The application of the DCFTA of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement constitutes a milestone in the bilateral relationship, as it will offer new economic benefits to both sides. Ukrainian businesses receive stable and predictable preferential access to the largest market in the world with 500 million customers, while EU businesses will be able to benefit from easier access to the Ukrainian market and build new relationships with Ukrainian suppliers and cooperation partners. This will also be to the benefit of Ukrainian citizens, as they will have better access to high quality products, and increased competition and the lowering of import tariffs should lead to lower prices.

 EU, Philippines to begin free trade talks.

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union and the Philippines will begin free trade talks early next year as the bloc builds on accords with Singapore and Vietnam, a senior EU official said Tuesday.

"Launching negotiations with the Philippines will represent an important milestone in EU-Philippine relations and (is) further evidence of the EU's commitment to Southeast Asia," EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem said in a statement.

"The Philippines has been one of the fastest growing economies in the region in recent years. We need to make sure our companies enjoy the right conditions to seize the great potential of that market of 100 million consumers," Malmstroem said.

In addition to the Philippines, the 28-nation EU is in free trade talks with Malaysia and Thailand, having concluded deals with Singapore last year and Vietnam this year.
All five are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos and Myanmar.

EU efforts to negotiate an overall free trade accord with ASEAN have stalled, with the focus now put on bilateral deals.

The EU exported goods worth 6.8 billion euros to the Philippines last year and imported 5.7 billion euros, the European Commission said.