OneOcean unveils free coronavirus regulation site

OneOcean has introduced a free-to-view feature on its Regs4ships software that enables managers to monitor regulations and guidance concerning the growing coronavirus epidemic.

This comes as the number of people infected globally has risen to 72,436 infections in China alone and growing numbers of outside of that nation.

China’s latest official figures released on 18 February put the overall death toll at 1,868. Outside China there are around 800 cases and three deaths reported to the World Health Organization.

Coronavirus, officially named Covid-19, has disrupted shipping in several ways from infecting vessels and cruise ships to reducing demand for oil products and maritime trade. Covid-19 virus infected 454 passengers on cruise ship Diamond Princess, which is emergency docked in Japan.

OneOcean said its new application will provide reports of Covid-19 cases by date and flag state. It will display a comprehensive list of new coronavirus-related regulations and guidance using maritime regulation database Regs4ships.

“The maritime community is undoubtedly being disrupted by the coronavirus threat,” said OneOcean chief executive Martin Taylor. “Many of the industry stakeholders are providing guidance and legislation around this very new and challenging area.”

OneOcean combines this information into a free service to shipping. “I am sure that using our team of legislation experts to pull this all together in a free-to-view area will assist with co-ordinating our global reaction and management of what is a very difficult situation,” said Mr Taylor.

A single webpage report can be accessed by anyone, not just OneOcean software subscribers.

Maritime Optimisation & Communications has viewed this website to obtain the latest information on global infections and flag state regulations from Australia and Singapore across the world to Bahamas and Marshall Islands.

This website will aid and alert workforces across the shipping, cruise and wider maritime industries of the extent of coronavirus infection. Daily situation reports and updates from international and flag organisations will be available.

• Coronavirus update: Chinese crude oil demand estimates shrinking fast
• Coronavirus could cut Chinese turbine installations by up to 50%
• Chinese tug construction stunted by coronavirus

This webpage can be accessed using the following URL: www.oneocean.com/coronavirus

This provides an up-to-date report with an accumulation of accounts by date and flag state in which relevant vessels are registered and where available other pertinent information can also be viewed.