At the end of February 2014, the case of dispute over damages for pollution filed by Shanwei MSA against the owners and insurer of M/V Kenos Athena closed by mediation after six mediation meeting at the request of the both parities.

        The Korean vessel M/V Kenos Athena loaded with approximately 7,000 tons of sulfuric acid and 140 tons of bunker sank in the Shanwei waters of Guangdong Province in March，2013. Subsequently Shanwei MSA brought action against the owners and insurer of M/V Kenos Athena, requesting the payment of over RMB 140,000,000, including clean-up and pollution control costs, wreck marking costs, emergency response and salvage expenses.

        On 27 January 2014, Shenzhen Tribunal of Guangzhou Maritime Court received a letter of appreciation from DSV Ocean Transport A/S and its associate company Shanghai DSV Air & Sea Co., Ltd. As written in the letter, the two companies were deeply impressed by our efficiency and impartial attitude towards domestic and foreign litigants. They also stated that “the successful mediation of the dispute has enabled DSV A/S to continue to exit and operate, and freed our associate company Shanghai DSV Air & Sea Co., Ltd. from the troubles of litigation so that it can continue to expand business in China. This case is very important to us, and the resolution gives us and our affiliates the confidence to continue business in China.”

        Basic facts of the case: the claimant Newland Electronic (Hong Kong) commissioned the defendants, DSV Ocean Transport A/S and Shanghai DSV Air & Sea Co., Ltd., to transport three containers of LCD TV sets from Yantian, Shenzhen, China to Vigo Port, Spain. The defendants delivered the goods at the port of destination without the presentation of the bill of lading. Subsequently, the claimant brought an action to Guangzhou Maritime Court against the defendants for loss of goods in the sum of RMB4,390,000. Through two days of mediation, the parties reached a settlement at court and the dispute was fully solved on 20 November 2013 after the defendants agreed to compensate RMB2,800,000 to the claimant.

    By invitation of School of Law, City University of Hong Kong, Guangzhou Maritime Court sent 20 judges to Hong Kong to organize special training in nautical knowledge from 16 to 21 December 2013.

    During the training, senior maritime lawyers, port experts, company law experts, and maritime law professors from Hong Kong shared knowledge in maritime arbitration, civil procedure, lightering at transshipment ports, company registration in Hong Kong, as well as remuneration, welfare, and work-related injury handling of expatriate crew. Besides the courses, the trainees also visited Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT) and Pearl River Warehouse Terminal for fieldwork.

    On 29 November 2013, Guangzhou International Maritime Law Seminar 2013 was successfully held by the Ocean Shipping Regulation Committee of China Maritime Law Association, the Guangdong Provincial Lawyers Association, Yang & Lin Co., Law Firm and other organizations. More than 500 people from the industry were in attendance including, people’s courts, maritime safety administrations, shipping lines, insurers, mutual assurance associations, universities, environmental protection departments, fishery administrations, salvage bureaus, shipyards, port authorities, waterway administrations, maritime law firms both at home and abroad, freight forwarding agents and adjusters attended the seminar, with 30 distinguished foreign guests included.

    Participants in the seminar held heated discussions, examining difficult and cutting-edge issues relating to maritime theory and practice. Such topics included were the legality and practice in examining and hearing cases of disputes over freight forwarding by sea, marine insurance and maritime adjudication, introduction to marine investigation carried out by maritime authorities, questions related to the incidents arising during the transportation of cargoes which may liquefy, issues of evidences and law application in claims against damages of marine pollution and law application in cases of disputes over contract for domestic waterway cargo transportation.

      Recently, this Court received a letter of appreciation from Professor Helen Sampson who is also the director of the Seafarers International Research Centre, expressing the appreciation of our support and assistance to their field research focusing on the legal system and practice pertaining to the compensation for work-related injuries and casualties to Chinese seafarers.

    On 23^rd October 2013, the 19^th National Maritime Court Law Enforcement Seminar was held in Guangzhou. Presidents and vice-presidents in charge of law enforcement from 10 maritime courts nationwide, as well as authors of relevant papers (over 50), attended the seminar. Wang Yanjun, vice-president of Civil Division IV of the Supreme People’s Court, Huang Xiwu, judge of Civil Division IV of the Supreme People’s Court, Xu Peihua, president of the law enforcement department of the Guangdong Higher People’s Court, and Wang Jianping, vice-president of Civil Division IV of the Guangdong Higher People’s Court, were invited to the seminar. The seminar was held by Guangzhou Maritime Court.

    During the seminar, Meeting Minutes regarding Mutual Assistance in Handling Matters Entrusted by Maritime Courts Nationwide was discussed and concluded. The seminar also included thorough discussion on matters such as problems and solutions on vessel detentions, auctions and debt allocations during the law enforcement process, and the maritime law enforcement system following the amendment of the Civil Procedure Law.

        In March 2013, a voyage charter party was entered between a Singaporean and an Indian company. Due to delay by the Indian company, the payment of freight and demurrage at the port of loading/unloading, under that charter party rose to the amount of 247,000USD. On 16^th September, the arbitration was brought before the London Court of International Arbitration by the Singaporean company in accordance with the charter party.

        On October 8, 2013, the Singaporean company applied before the Guangzhou Maritime Court for security of maritime claims, requesting for detention of MV/KIRAN, owned by the Indian company and moored at Port of Guangzhou, Guangdong, and providing the Court with a guarantee of 300,000USD. On 9^th October, Guangzhou Maritime Court detained MV/KIRAN in accordance of the law.

        As MV/KIRAN was detained, the Indian company actively negotiated with the Singaporean company. The day after the detention, the parties reached a reconciliation agreement regarding the compensation amount. The Singaporean company proceeded to withdraw its application for the London arbitration and applied to release MV/KIRAN. The Guangzhou Maritime Court has since released MV/KIRAN. The case of the dispute over the voyage charter party between the Singaporean company and the Indian company is now officially closed.

    On 22 August 2013, a series of cases went to trial by Guangzhou Maritime Court by applying small claims procedure. This was the first time the Court applied the procedure since the amended Civil Procedure Law came into force. Besides the plaintiff parties, four deputies to the Municipal People’s Congress also attended the trial.

    From 25 to 26 July 2013, Guangzhou Maritime Court held an open trial on a series of disputes over pollution damages caused by the sinking of M/V Kenos Athena.

    In March of last year, the Korean vessel M/V Kenos Athena loaded with approximately 7,000 tons of sulfuric acid and 140 tons of bunkers sank in the Shanwei waters of Guangdong Province. Subsequently the plaintiffs, MSA and the Administration of Ocean and Fisheries, brought action against the owners and insurer of M/V Kenos Athena, requesting the payment of RMB 150,000,000; including clean-up and pollution control costs, wreck marking costs, emergency response and salvage expenses, as well as direct pecuniary loss of national fisheries resources, and loss of natural fisheries resources.

    Representatives of the MSA, Administration of Ocean and Fisheries, surveyors, owners and insurers of M/V Kenos Athena, and attorneys on behalf of the parties attended the trial.