Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Current event summary Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Recent development synopsis - Assignment Example The initial step is to distinguish the key players and focus on the person who are generally significant and the person who are at the danger of leaving. They can be offered both money related just as non monetary motivating forces changed by their necessities. As per the article, it is essential to discover the shrouded diamonds where the HR and the line chiefs would cooperate when the progressions happens. These will positively assist the organizations with identifying the abilities that are covered up inside the organization. It tends to be on a very basic level couldn't help contradicting the article as when the progressions happens, holding of the key entertainers is fundamental as well as the ordinary entertainers or the normal entertainers is significant as they may likewise assume a pivotal job over the long haul of the organization’s fortune. Besides tossing of money related motivating forces is by all accounts the most ideal method of holding the workers. However, usage of this technique can thus de-rouse different entertainers. It might now and again end up being an inappropriate usage of monetary assets of an association. There are different routes through which the workers can be held during such troublesome occasions and it would likewise keep up help in keeping up a harmony between the key entertainers and the others. The fundamental explanation for picking this article was that employee’s maintenance is a significant issue that is looked by practically all the organizations during the hours of rebuilding. The article assists with giving legitimate comprehension of what should be possible so as to keep up the abilities in the association. It likewise features the significance of the ordinary entertainers in supporting the changes. Such change frequently makes the workers anxious and scared. Along these lines it is most extreme critical to win the hearts and brains of the members and furthermore the individuals who are related with the change procedure. Albeit an employee’s

Saturday, August 22, 2020

What the U.S should do in Afghanistan

Presentation Terrorism is positively perhaps the best danger to universal security, harmony, and steadiness. It is one of the principle challenges confronting the universal network since the finish of Cold War, which took steps to plunge nations back to crushing fighting like First and Second World Wars. Subsequently, the universal network, drove by the world’s prevailing force, the USA, and its partners has organized a genuine war against psychological oppression (Bergen and Gelb Para. 4).Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on What the U.S ought to do in Afghanistan explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More The hazard of fear based oppression has constrained the U.S, and its partners, to step up the battle against psychological warfare by sending military undertakings and knowledge work force to nations, for example, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. These nations are accepted to be the operational bases from where fear based oppressor bunches like al-Qaeda and Taliban design and execute their grievous demonstrations. There has been a significant and simultaneously, an intriguing discussion, on what the U.S ought to do in Afghanistan following ten years of military activity against Taliban and other fear based oppressor outfits. While the US government gives off an impression of being persuaded that suitable time to leave Afghanistan has not come, a few analysts, international strategy specialists, an extensive area of the media, and a significant number of researchers recommend that the U.S should leave Afghanistan now. By the by, the US should proceed with its strategic Afghanistan until such when it will be persuaded that fear based oppressor bunches are not in charge of Afghanistan and don't have odds of re-holding onto power from regular folks and an authentic Afghan government later on. What the U.S ought to do in Afghanistan The U.S and its partners are the primary objective of the frenzy of disdain executed by fe ar based oppressor gatherings, for example, Al Qaeda and Taliban. Shockingly, increasingly honest and destitute individuals have lost their lives and thousands have been injured seriously as psychological oppressors assault with a point of murdering Americans and residents from its unified nations, particularly the Britain. For instance, during the 1998, Al Qaeda bombings in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar el Salaam, Tanzania, at the American government offices in those two nations, many non-American Kenyan and Tanzanian residents kicked the bucket and thousands brought about perilous wounds (Daily Nation Para.6). From an international strategy perspective, just as the need to keep up worldwide harmony and security, there are sound reasons that back the proceeded with remain of the US and its allies’ military soldiers in Afghanistan. To start with, the Taliban rebellion, which is, basically, a sexist gathering of oblivious, petty, and bigoted hoodlums whenever left over the top, will give a sheltered ground from which al-Qaeda will intend to execute their devilish deeds against honest, unarmed regular citizens particularly the Americans (Bergen and Gelb Para.4).Advertising Looking for explore paper on worldwide relations? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, the Afghan War is a war that merits battling and imperative to security of Americans and their properties, yet in addition others inside the global network who effectively get injured by terrorists’ unjustified rough acts coordinated towards the US and its partners. Second, an intemperate Taliban can now effectively assume control over control of Afghanistan’s eastern and southern districts and perhaps the whole nation without the U.S and the worldwide military powers. This line of contention is tied down on the way that, the Afghan government and its ninety thousands-men armed force are exceptionally frail to withstand a genuine i nsubordinate test from Taliban’s warriors, a reality that is additionally recognized by some Afghan senior government authorities. It is difficult to win the battle against fear based oppression short-term. The Taliban outfit in Afghanistan, with the material help from against American components in Pakistan, is solid and calls for conceivable system to handle. The capacity of a foe to retaliate more earnestly isn't really a sign that the significant war against the hazard of fear mongering and political agitation in Afghanistan is unwinnable. Truth be told, it is sheltered to contend that, the U.S military powers and partners proceeded with remain in the south East Asian locale combined with increased knowledge has begun to hold up under organic products in the war against fear based oppression. Following the triumphant murdering of al-Qaeda pioneer, Osama container Laden, in one of the most heavenly manhunt story in contemporary history of mankind affirms of the products of the war against fear mongering (Klein Para. 12). Thirdly, the accessible proof shows that, Afghans, particularly the unarmed harmony cherishing ones, favor the U.S military nearness in their nation. For instance, an assessment of public sentiment directed by the BBC in 2009 demonstrated that, more than sixty-three percent of Afghans supported the U.S military nearness in Afghanistan. Accordingly, the U.S should keep increasing the battle against Taliban and Al-Qaeda while simultaneously helping the Afghan government and its military to reinforce itself in anticipation of unavoidable future administration challenges. Afghanistan is in a tempestuous progress period, which is joined by numerous financial and political difficulties that can be a genuine obstruction to harmony in Afghanistan, yet in addition in the entire of South East Asia and to a fruitful battle against psychological oppression. Unexpected flight of the US and global military powers would open up Afghanistan to the r eturn of recharged Taliban military battles. Most presumably, the al-Qaeda might want to vindicate by murdering more Americans in view of the unexpected passing of their pioneer, Osama container Laden, toward the beginning of May this year.Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on What the U.S ought to do in Afghanistan explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More The exchange strategy is essential in convincing the Taliban to end military battles and acknowledge the constitution; by the by, the job of a skillful and solid outsider in fixing of any conceivable harmony arrangement, presently and in future, can't be belittled. At this moment, it is perilous to surrender to Taliban guarantees that an exit of the Western soldiers will make them end their unjustified military battles. Moreover, considering offering capacity to an illicit equipped band that can scarcely maintain any single article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is equivalent to to ssing essential human privileges of the poor blameless Afghans to hounds (Foley and Oates Para.16). Thusly, the U.S should proceed with its crucial Afghanistan and even consider endorsing the 2009 proposition by President Obama’s organization to build military soldiers in Afghanistan (Bergen and Gelb Para.15). Regardless, Obama is worried that he would be accused if there should arise an occurrence of a fear monger assault following a brisk withdrawal of the US military soldiers as of now when everything is certain that Al-Qaeda may vindicate, the unceremonial demise and entombment of Osama, by slaughtering more Americans (Bergen and Gelb Para.17). The US and her partners should then keep on observing carefully for any conceivable psychological oppressor assaults while in Afghanistan while simultaneously make a situation that is helpful for significant arrangements that include applicable worldwide entertainers like the United Nations among others (Atal Para.19). To put it pl ainly, the US and its partners should set aside more effort to set up any potential estimates that can assist Afghanistan with peopling travel into a quiet nation fit for undertaking supportable country building forms without threats of slipping go into political agitation through Taliban control. Given that an extensive level of Afghans, as demonstrated by ongoing news assessments of public sentiment, favor the US military nearness in their nation, it is questionable that the dominant part won't prepared to endure ‘Stone Age’ administration styles of the Taliban any more (Foley and Oates Para.6).Advertising Searching for look into paper on global relations? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More The advantages won so distant from the U.S and allies’ intercession in Afghanistan particularly with respect to shielding privileges of ladies and young ladies, ought to be defended as far as possible, paying little mind to the expense as far as money related assets. The advantages are a sign that the war against Taliban, and by augmentation fear based oppression, is winnable. Right now, despite the fact that ladies and young ladies keep on mulling in dehumanizing conditions, a huge number of ladies and young ladies are in school; consequently, there is promise for an even a more promising time to come for them. Their moderate however sure liberation from the to a great extent man centric and unjustifiable mastery by men, under Taliban control, ought to be the encouraging sign that the battle against the Taliban is winnable sooner rather than later (Foley and Oates Para.6). The US should, in this manner, complete crafted by helping Afghans repossess their nation from Taliban, and initiate the battle against fear based oppression by destabilizing psychological militant alcoves and places of refuge in South East Asian nations. The US must welcome the way that, they came to complete that battle independent of the unavoidable difficulties that have come their direction and will keep on developing later on. Decision In a recap, the US should proceed with its crucial confusing out the Taliban from Afghanistan by setting up estimates that will limit odds of Afghans slipping back to political agitation. The accomplishments acknowledged up until now, such as helping Afghans to choose an administration and give most of ladies and young ladies their poise and uprightness, ought to be the reference point of the expectation that the US and its partners will crush Taliban and psychological warfare at long last. Works Cited Atal, Subodh. â€Å"

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

The Consumption Continuum

The Consumption Continuum Consumption is a continuum that covers an expansive range, with monk-like ascetics on one end and ready-for-reality-TV hoarders on the other. But consumption alone isnt an inherently bad or evil thing. Actually, it isnt a thing at allâ€"its an action. While minimalists are closer to the ascetics than the hoarders on this continuum, minimalism itself is far more concerned with living intentionally, living elegantly through simplicity, living meaningfully while enjoying the material possessions you own without giving those possessions too much significance. Thus, the problem isnt consumption; the problem is we the people. We are the problem. When we give too much meaning to the stuff we buy, when we think it will bring us happiness or contentment, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Happiness doesnt work that way. Contentment is internal, and it is possible to be content with nothing or with a room full of stuff. Wed posit to you, however, that its much easier to see whats important when you get the excess stuff out of the way. A sunset is far more beautiful when you remove the blinders. Subscribe to The Minimalists via email.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Changes Of Change Management And Construction Sector

Changes are everywhere (APM, 2006). Without changes, our society will not make any progress. Change management is an important part in project management and it is related with all industries. Projects bring about changes. Change management improves the efficiency of the organisation and help the project teams save time and money. In past studies, researchers have not considered how change management varies in different sectors. Some researchers tend to state that a framework can be used to manage change. However, different industries have their own characteristics and there is no one approach which is suitable for all projects. Therefore, it is important to think about the differences and come up with more effective ways to manage change†¦show more content†¦Chapter 1 Introduction Since IT industry and construction industry are agile, changes often occur. Although there is a general change management framework, it is still necessary to analyse how change management varies between IT and construction industries because different sectors and different organisations have different characteristics. This chapter introduces the aim and objectives of this research, explains why this topic was chosen, clearly defines the scope and limitation and mentions benefits of this research. It can help people have a clear understanding of the context of this research and what kinds of works are included in it. 1.1 Aim and objectives: The aim and objectives of this dissertation is: 1. To analyse the differences of the background of the IT industry and construction industry. 2. To identify the advantages and disadvantages of the general change management approach. 3. To clearly understand how change management should be conducted differently in IT and construction industries. 4. To develop approaches to effectively manage changes in IT and construction industries. 1.2 Value of this research This research can bring benefits to both organisatons and future research. Although there are many studies related with change management, only a few shows how to implement change management according to different characteristics. For example, how to tailor

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Power of Personal Relationships in The Women of...

The brightest moments in a person’s day are usually times when they have made a personal connection. Whether it is a smile from a complete stranger or a kiss from a loved one, these personal connections build relationships that shape the lives of every individual. Relationships vary in type, depth, and complexity, but any which way, they play a prominent role in the lives of The Women of Brewster Place, and the characters in The Road. Friendly, biological, and intimate relationships are extremely critical components of these two stories and help shape the path of each character’s journey. The relationship between Mattie and Eva although brief was very influential. Mattie was in a remarkably rough situation after just leaving her home and†¦show more content†¦However, it does just that in the lives of Mattie Michael and Etta Mae Johnson. All her life, Etta was searching for a partner to share her love with, although not exactly what she was looking for, she found that companionship in Mattie. Mattie is not perfect, does not have the reddest lips, the rosiest cheeks, and is obviously not a man for Etta to love; but Mattie is just the right partner for Etta. Their friendship served as an anchor of stability for Etta and, a flame of excitement for Mattie. The two women truly cherished their relationship with one another, which is why it was able to defy the test of time. Mattie and Etta’s camaraderie is a reminder that time is all we have, which is only further demonstrated through the connection between the man and the boy. The bond between father and s on is a beautiful love story at the forefront of this gory post apocalyptic novel. The love that the man and the son have for each other is at a level of self-sacrifice and compassion that can compare to not even the sappiest romantic comedy. The man and the son are alone in the world with nothing to hang on to but each other. Their relationship is so precious and delicate that even when the boy forgets to close gas valve, the man blames himself in fear of breaking his son’s heart. This type of relationship shows that a strong personal connection can preserve hope in even the direst of circumstances. At the absolute most desperate of times, personal relationships have beenShow MoreRelatedInfluence of Culture on Strategic Human Resource6353 Words   |  26 PagesBEATRICE DIMBA (PhD Candidate: Strathmore University, Kenya) Contacts: Professor Peter K’Obonyo Deputy Principal University of Nairobi, Kenya College of Humanities and Social Sciences P O Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya Beatrice Dimba Ole Sangale Road, P O Box 59857 00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: (254-020) 606155 Fax: (254-020 607498 e-mail: bdimba@strathmore.edu June, 2007 Page 2 Abstract: Extant theories of strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices and cultures have generally adoptedRead MoreInternational Hr Best Practice Tips38524 Words   |  155 Pagesunits ([32] Gupta and Govindarajan, 2001). Knowledge creation, diffusion and exploitation has become a key factors for creating competitive advantage in MNCs ([41] Nobel and Birkinshaw, 1998; [5] Bartlett and Ghoshal, 2003). More specifically, [11] Brewster et al. (2005) identify knowledge management as one of the key delivery mechanisms for IHRM. [49] Tregaskis et al. (2005) conducted a detailed review of international HR networks in MNCs including form, functions, structure and style and concludedRead MoreEssay on Gospel Music6236 Words   |  25 Pagessingers by doubling the vocal line in harmony. The bottom, left corner of the piano was used as a bass fiddle while the upper right hand portion played the counter melodies, taking the place of a trumpet or flute. It was the right hand corner that filled in the material during the rhythmic breaks. Often times the text of the gospel songs portrayed meanings of the TrinityRead MoreWorkers Playtime?: Boundaries and Cynicism in a Culture of Fun Program10325 Words   |  42 Pagesblurring had an unintended effect of fuelling cynicism among some employees. Although this cynicism probably has a number of sources, it is argued that its relationship to boundary management provides some interesting insights about the limitations of contemporary culture management. Keywords: boundaries; culture; cynicism; dignity; fun; humor; power The attempt to foster â€Å"cultures of fun† in contemporary workplaces has been a prominent feature of culture management programs ever since the trend gainedRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. 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The term performance refers to a set of outcome produced during a certain period of their job time and does not refer to the traits, personal characteristics, or competencies of the performer. The evaluation of employee‟s

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements Free Essays

string(166) " view of the carrier’s agent and ordered the release of the cargo against security lodged with the court in the form of deeds to a property owned by a third party\." A. monitor complience with legislative requirements †¢Understanding the principles on how to monitor complience with the legislative requirements monitor complience with legislative requirements Understanding the principles on how to monitor complience with the legislative requirements 1. explain the basic principles of â€Å"general average† 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements or any similar topic only for you Order Now state the procedures for release of cargo to the consignee before the general average contribution has been assessed. 3. tate briefly the basic statutory regulations such as; load line convention, international convention and prevention of pollution at sea, STCW convention, ILO convention, SOLAS Convention, ISM code, ISPS code, GENEVA Conventions of 1958 and the United Nation Convention (UNCLOS) on the Law of the Sea, PMMRR, R. A. 8544, etc. how compliance is controlled and consequences of their non-compliance. 4. enumerate the different organizations, offices and authorities engaged in various controlled activities on vessels (classification societies, flag and port state, inspections, etc. 5. enumerate at least ten (10) different mandatory certificates, documents and records required of a commercial vessel, and the implications of their absence. 1. ) The law of general average is a legal principle of maritime law according to which all parties in a sea venture proportionally share any losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole in an emergency. In the exigencies of hazards faced at sea, crew members often have precious little time in which to determine precisely whose cargo they are jettisoning. Thus, to avoid quarrelling that could waste valuable time, there arose the equitable practice whereby all the merchants whose cargo landed safely would be called on to contribute a portion, based upon a share or percentage, to the merchant or merchants whose goods had been tossed overboard to avert imminent peril. While general average traces its origins in ancient maritime law, still it remains part of the admiralty law of most countries. The first codification of general average was the York Antwerp Rules of 1890. American companies accepted it in 1949. General average requires three elements which are clearly stated by Mr. Justice Grier in Barnard v. Adams: â€Å"1st. A common danger: a danger in which vessel, cargo and crew all participate; a danger imminent and apparently ‘inevitable,’ except by voluntarily incurring the loss of a portion of the whole to save the remainder. † â€Å"2nd. There must be a voluntary jettison, jactus, or casting away, of some portion of the joint concern for the purpose of avoiding this imminent peril, periculi imminentis evitandi causa, or, in other words, a transfer of the peril from the whole to a particular portion of the whole. â€Å"3rd. This attempt to avoid the imminent common peril must be successful†. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/General_average 2. ) RELEASE OF CARGO WITHOUT PRESENTATION OF THE CORRECT DOCUMENTATION There has been a noticeable increase in the unlawful or incorrect release of cargo, associated with one of the following release methods: a) Countri es that require imported cargo to come immediately under the control of their Customs service, who then take on the responsibility for its release. ) Countries with legislation that permits the release of cargo without the presentation of the original bill of lading. c) Authorisation by the carrier’s agent to release cargo without the permission of the shipper or the issuer of the original bill of lading. There has been considerable coverage regarding the delivery of containerised cargo to locations such as Chile and Paraguay, whereby their Customs service takes immediate control of the cargo and subsequently release it, often without presentation of the original bill of lading. Signum has recently encountered two situations whereby fraudsters have manipulated legislation that allows Customs, without consultation with the carrier’s agent, to release cargo without presentation of the original bill of lading. 1. The Dominican Republic legislation stipulates that a carrier must deliver all cargo to the Dominican Port Authority/Customs with the carrier’s liability ceasing at the point of entry. Cargo can be released upon presentation of the original bill of lading, accompanied by the commercial invoice. In the absence of an original bill of lading, a bond to the value of the cargo, issued by a bona fide bank or insurance company, is acceptable. The bond indemnifies any party against a loss that may occur as a result of the of the cargo being released. Neither the carrier nor their agent needs to be made aware of such a bond. Signum was asked to enquire into a matter that involved a consignee who secured the release of his cargo by means of an insurance bond and then disappeared, having failed to make payment for the cargo. Initially, the insurance company, who had supposedly issued the bond to the consignee, maintained that they could not account for itsexistence, suggesting that it had been fraudulently issued. Enquiries revealed that a member of their staff, who was authorised to issue such bonds, had done so on the instructions of her ex-supervisor and a Customs Agent. When these two parties were interviewed, they denied the clerk’s version of events. The Dominican Republic legislation stipulates that provided an authorised person issued the bond, it protects any party who suffered a loss, which applied in this instance. This allowed the shipper to lodge a claim against the insurance company for the loss of the cargo. 2. A similar situation occurred when perishable cargo was released in Suape, Brazil, without presentation of the original bill of lading. The consignee made a fraudulent application to a court under the provisions of the Brazilian Importation Legislation on perishable goods to secure the cargo’s release. He alleged that the shipper had reneged on a contract that allowed him to partly pay for the cargo prior to its receipt and then pay the outstanding amount by instalments. Due to the shipper’s refusal to release the cargo under the terms of the contract and his intention to re-ship it would cause him an irreplaceable loss. The court accepted this submission without seeking the view of the carrier’s agent and ordered the release of the cargo against security lodged with the court in the form of deeds to a property owned by a third party. You read "Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements" in category "Papers" After obtaining custody of the cargo, the consignee attended the court and produced a fraudulent document, showing that the shipper acknowledged the payment agreement. This caused the court to cancel the security and return the deeds of the property. The court application and payment agreement were shown to be fraudulent and that the consignee had committed similar frauds. The only action that could be taken was to notify Customs and the law enforcement agency of this person’s activities. A more serious problem that continues to cause concern is where carriers’ agents disregard their legal responsibility in respect of the notified release instructions and authorise a party to receive their cargo without presentation of the correct documentation. This lack of judgement is all too often influenced by their close association with the consignee or their agent, with whom they have no legal obligation. Such releases can cause serious financial implications to the other parties. The general methods used to secure the release of cargo are: 1. The consignee/agent promises to present the original bill of lading at a later date. 2. The production of a consignee/agent’s letter of credit. 3. Bank reference confirming sufficient funds exist in the consignee’s account. 4. The presentation of a forged document. Signum was asked to enquire into the activities of an agency, whereby it appeared that over a period of time some 150 containers laden with cargo had been released in non-compliance to their release procedure. This procedure required both the Shipping Manager and another member of staff to authorise the release of containers, upon production of the correct documentation. The Shipping Manager, due to his status and guile, was able, over several months, to authorise the release of these containers without complying with the agencies directive. Only when it became impossible for him to continue to deceive others as to his actions, did he decamp. Prevention is simple. If the original bill of lading is not produced, or there is doubt as to whether it is genuine, then advice should be sought from the issuer of the document. If the matter cannot be resolved satisfactorily and safely, assistance should be obtained from the Club’s local correspondents or the Members’ usual contact at the Club. Signum is always available to investigate serious cases. http://www. ukpandi. com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/Signum_Reports/Signum%20release%20of%20Cargo. pdf 3. ) USCG Load Line Regulations and Policies (46 CFR parts 42–47) 46 USC chapter 51) Overview The principal Coast Guard office responsible for load line regulations and policy is the Naval Architecture Division (CG-ENG-2). In general, most commercial U. S. vessels that are 79 feet (24 m) in length or longer (or more than 150 gross tons if built before 1 Jan 1988 on domestic voyages, or built before 21 Jul 1968 if on foreign voyages) must have a valid lo ad line certificate when venturing outside the U. S. Boundary Line, whether on a domestic or international voyage. Domestic voyages are coastwise, offshore, or high seas voyages that return directly to a U. S. ort (including â€Å"voyages to nowhere†). There are a few limited categories of vessels excluded from load line requirements. For example, small passenger vessels (i. e. , less than 100 gross tons) that only operate on domestic voyages are excluded. Refer to 46 USC 5102 for vessel applicability specifics. IMPORTANT NOTE CONCERNING U. S. FISHING VESSELS: Previously, all U. S. fishing vessels were statutorily excluded from domestic load line regulations, regardless of size or length (although some fishing vessels that also process their catch beyond certain stages are required to obtain load lines). However, in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, Congress revoked that exclusion for new fishing vessels built on/after July 1st, 2012. Subsequently, in the Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Act of 2012 (signed into law on 20 Dec 2012), Congress postponed the load line compliance date to July 1st, 2013. Consequently, fishing vessels built on/after 1 July 2013, that are 79 feet or longer, and that operate outside the Boundary Line, are required to have a load line. Load line assignment includes pre-construction review and approval of plans by the assigning authority. Therefore, after 1 July 2013, fishing vessel designers/builders who intend to re-use construction plans for previously-built fishing vessels are cautioned that the plans might not comply with all load line requirements. If the owner intends to operate the new vessel outside the Boundary Line, then designers/builders are advised to submit the plans to the assigning authority in a timely fashion. Existing fishing vessels (i. e. , built before 1 July 2013) remain exempted from load lines for the time being. However, they will eventually have to meet the requirements of an alternate load line compliance program to ensure their continued seaworthiness beyond a certain age. The safety requirements for this alternate program, and the age at which the fishing vessels will need to comply, will be developed in cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and established by future regulation. (â€Å"Built† for these purposes means the date on which the vessel’s keel is laid, or the assembled weight of the vessel is at least 50 metric tons (49. long tons) or one percent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less. ) How is load line length measured? Where is the Boundary Line? Purpose of Load Line Assignment The purpose of load line assignment is to ensure the seaworthiness of the intact (undamaged) vessel. This is accomplished by: †¢Ensuring a robust hull that can withstand severe sea conditions (i. e. , structural design, construction, and mainten ance) †¢Ensuring weathertight watertight integrity (i. e. , coamings; exposed doors, hatches, hull valves, etc, are in good working condition) Ensuring that the vessel has reserve buoyancy and is not overloaded (by limiting the maximum loaded draft) †¢Ensuring that the vessel has adequate stability for all loading operating conditions (by approved stability documentation instructions) †¢Ensuring rapid drainage of water on deck (boarding seas) (by adequate arrangement of freeing ports in bulwarks) †¢Ensuring safety of crew while working on deck (by increased freeboard to reduce boarding seas, guardrails) †¢Ensuring that modifications to vessel do not compromise seaworthiness (modifications must be approved by LL assigning authority) Periodic inspections (afloat and drydocked) to verify that the above are properly maintained (by LL assigning authority) Obtaining a Load Line International load line certificates are issued to vessels that meet the requirement s of the IMO International Convention on Load Lines (ICLL); ICLL certificates are required on U. S. vessels that go on voyages to foreign ports or waters. Domestic load line certificates are issued to vessels that meet the requirements of U. S. load line regulations (which are found in 46 CFR Subchapter E). With minor exceptions, the U. S. requirements for an unrestricted domestic load line (suitable for high seas voyages) are the same as the requirements for an international ICLL load line. For this reason, an ICLL certificate is acceptable in lieu of a domestic certificate. Load line certificates (domestic or ICLL) are issued on behalf of the United States by the American Bureau of Shipping or one of several other USCG-approved classification societies. The choice of assigning authority is made by the vessel owner/operator. The Coast Guard itself does not issue load lines other than a â€Å"single voyage exemption certificate. † In order to be issued a load line (whether domestic or international ICLL), the vessel must be constructed to meet the load line requirements. This entails pre-construction review and approval of the vessel’s design by the assigning authority. Surveyors then periodically visit the shipyard to verify that it is being constructed according to the approved design. Upon completion of construction, the vessel is inclined so that its stability documents can be approved and issued. The freeboard assignment is calculated, and the load line marks are inscribed on the hull. Upon final verification that all of these steps have been properly accomplished, the vessel is issued a load line certificate. A load line certificate is normally issued for a 5-year term, subject to annual â€Å"topside† surveys to verify that hatch covers, doors, vent covers, and other critical closures are in good working condition, and that there have not been any damage or unauthorized modifications that would compromise the vessel’s seaworthiness. At the end of the 5-year term, the vessel must be drydocked to inspect the underwater hull, seachests and valves, etc, before a new certificate can be issued. Load Line Enforcement and Violations U. S. vessel owners and operators are subject to fines and penalties if a vessel is overloaded such that the load line marks are submerged, or the vessel is operated in violation of any restrictions on its certificate. Penalties are set forth in 46 USC 5116. Foreign vessels in U. S. waters are required to have a valid international (ICLL) load line certificate. A foreign vessel may be detained in port if the Coast Guard determines that it is overloaded, or unseaworthy due to poor condition. The vessel won’t be released to depart until the deficiencies have been corrected: excess cargo is offloaded, repairs have been made and a surveyor from the assigning authority has attended the vessel to confirm its compliance with ICLL regulations. 4. ) BP Shipping safeships On the face of it, BP Shipping is one of the safesttanker operators around, regularly achieving topquartile safety results in the industry and rarelymaking headlines for the wrong reasons. But as the organization’s fleet has grown rapidly to more than 80 vessels today, so the realization has spreadthat truly world-class safety performance is about more than lowering headline safety numbers or beating industry benchmarks. For safety performance to really move to a new level, it has to become self sustaining and therefore sustainable. â€Å"Day in, day out, the safety message has to be made and remade so that it becomes engrained at every level everywhere, in every action, in every decision and in every way. The entire organization has to be safety empowered and constantly on the lookout for new hazards,† says Dave Williamson, director of fleet operations for BP Shipping. â€Å"We’re beginning to make the turn towards constant improvement and the sort of restless state of mind that we need, but there is still some way to go. † In the past, most emphasis has been put on numbers and performance based on: ‘days away from work case’ incidents, lost time injuries, near misses, oil spills and other serious incidents. These performance matrices continue to be monitored very closely and show continuous improvement. But now the push is on to move safety performance to another level, motivated in no small measure by a fear that some of the cultural and operational factors that led to the Texas City refinery explosion in 2005 might be present in some parts of BP Shipping’s activities. The key to this has been to get everyone in the organization to think about safety in a new way, one that focuses on experience, leadership, training, processes and relationships rather than numbers. Intrinsic to this more open approach is the importance of driving safety back into the ’line’ – to people with asset management capability. In parallel, new emphasis is being placed on safety leadership on vessels and ashore to engender a stronger sense of inclusiveness and team bonding around safety behaviour. â€Å"Safety is not just about trips or falls. It’s about exactly the same things you also need to achieve great operational performance and the same motivations that give us the continuous drive to have the best people, processes, equipment and leadership. † Williamson concludes: â€Å"At the moment we’re not able to say we’re the best, we still have areas where we believe there is significant room for improvement. But ‘the best’ is a relative state and safety is a never ending journey. Mysense is that we’ve made significant changes andadvances in the past couple of years. † Measuring safety All injuries by activity, October 2006 All injuries by location onboard, October 2006 Other 23 % Office work 2% Cargo operations 2% Shipyard 5% Navigating 2% Engine operations 9% Bunkering 7% Maintenance 36% Mooring 7% Drills and exercises 2% Domestic 5% Other 6% Enclosed space 2% Steering gear 2% Store rooms 6% Bridge 2% Engine room 41% Mooring areas 4% Lifeboat Accommodation 11% embarkation 4% Main deck 22 % Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Rush escorts the suspected high seas drift net fishing vessel Da Cheng in the North Pacific Ocean on August 14, 2012. Photo Credit: U. S. Coast Guard Liberian fishery observers toured a shrimp vessel as part of the two-week observer training program supported by NOAA Fisheries to combat IUU fishing. IUU fishing is a global problem that threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. IUU products often come from fisheries lacking the strong and effective conservation and management measures to which U. S. fishermen are subject. IUU fishing most often violates conservation and management measures, such as quotas or bycatch limits, established under international agreements. By adversely impacting fisheries, marine ecosystems, food security and coastal communities around the world, IUU fishing undermines domestic and international conservation and management efforts. Furthermore, IUU fishing risks the sustainability of a multi-billion-dollar U. S. industry. NOAA’s Role in Combating IUU Fishing Because the United States imports more than 80 percent of its seafood, NOAA Fisheries is working to ensure that high demand for imported seafood does not create incentives for illegal fishing activity. Working in partnership with other U. S. Government agencies, foreign governments and entities, international organizations, non-government organizations, and the private sector is crucial to effectively combating IUU fishing. We work with other fishing nations to strengthen enforcement and data collection programs around the world aimed at curtailing IUU fishing. We have put measures in place to restrict port entry and access to port services to vessels included on the IUU lists of international fisheries organizations with U. S. membership. For recent news on IUU fishing, visit our IUU stories page. In addition, U. S. legislation allows us to take action on our own. The Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act, which amends the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, requires NOAA to identify countries that have fishing vessels engaged in IUU activities. Once a nation has been identified, we consult with the nation to encourage appropriate corrective action. If the identified nation receives a negative certification, we can impose trade restrictions on that nation. The Lacey Act also provides the United States with the authority to impose significant sanctions against individuals and companies engaged in trafficking illegally taken fish and wildlife. Learn more about action NOAA is taking to combat IUU fishing. For more information or questions on IUU fishing, please visit our frequently asked questions page or contact David Pearl (david. pearl@noaa. gov). 5. ) passenger ship safety certificate – for all passenger ships †¢cargo ship safety radio certificate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 300gt on international voyages only †¢cargo ship safety equipment certificate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt on international voyages only †¢cargo ship safety construction certific ate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt on international voyages only †¢cargo ship safety certificate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 300gt †¢load line certificate – for passenger ships in non-UK waters, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 24 metres in length (if built on or after 21 July 1968) or of more than 150gt and for passenger ships in UK waters over 80 net tonnes †¢oil pollution prevention certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 400gt and oil tankers over 150gt †¢minimum safe manning document certificate – for passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt †¢safety manageme nt certificate – for all passenger ships and for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt †¢ship security certificate – for passenger ships, cargo ships oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts on international voyages only †¢sewage pollution certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts of 400gt or more, or carrying 15 persons or more on international voyages only †¢air pollution certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial achts of 400gt or more †¢anti-fouling declaration – for fishing vessels under 24 metres in length or of less than 400gt †¢anti-fouling certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers o r gas carriers and large commercial yachts of 400gt or more †¢certificate of fitness (chemical or gas) certificate – for all chemical tankers or gas carriers †¢dangerous goods certificate – for passenger ships built after 1 September 1984, and for cargo ships after a certain date of build on international voyages only †¢certificate of compliance for a large charter yacht – for all large passenger yachts †¢UK fishing vessel certificate – for fishing vessels between 15 and 24 metres in length †¢international fishing vessel certificate – for fishing vessels over 24 metres in length †¢small commercial vessel certificate – for pilot boats and small commercial vessels under 24 metres in length †¢certificate of registry – mandatory for all fishing vessels, optional for pilot boats and small commercial vessels †¢international tonnage – for fishing vessels under 24 metres in length How to cite Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements, Papers Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements Free Essays string(166) " view of the carrier’s agent and ordered the release of the cargo against security lodged with the court in the form of deeds to a property owned by a third party\." A. monitor complience with legislative requirements †¢Understanding the principles on how to monitor complience with the legislative requirements monitor complience with legislative requirements Understanding the principles on how to monitor complience with the legislative requirements 1. explain the basic principles of â€Å"general average† 2. We will write a custom essay sample on Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements or any similar topic only for you Order Now state the procedures for release of cargo to the consignee before the general average contribution has been assessed. 3. tate briefly the basic statutory regulations such as; load line convention, international convention and prevention of pollution at sea, STCW convention, ILO convention, SOLAS Convention, ISM code, ISPS code, GENEVA Conventions of 1958 and the United Nation Convention (UNCLOS) on the Law of the Sea, PMMRR, R. A. 8544, etc. how compliance is controlled and consequences of their non-compliance. 4. enumerate the different organizations, offices and authorities engaged in various controlled activities on vessels (classification societies, flag and port state, inspections, etc. 5. enumerate at least ten (10) different mandatory certificates, documents and records required of a commercial vessel, and the implications of their absence. 1. ) The law of general average is a legal principle of maritime law according to which all parties in a sea venture proportionally share any losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole in an emergency. In the exigencies of hazards faced at sea, crew members often have precious little time in which to determine precisely whose cargo they are jettisoning. Thus, to avoid quarrelling that could waste valuable time, there arose the equitable practice whereby all the merchants whose cargo landed safely would be called on to contribute a portion, based upon a share or percentage, to the merchant or merchants whose goods had been tossed overboard to avert imminent peril. While general average traces its origins in ancient maritime law, still it remains part of the admiralty law of most countries. The first codification of general average was the York Antwerp Rules of 1890. American companies accepted it in 1949. General average requires three elements which are clearly stated by Mr. Justice Grier in Barnard v. Adams: â€Å"1st. A common danger: a danger in which vessel, cargo and crew all participate; a danger imminent and apparently ‘inevitable,’ except by voluntarily incurring the loss of a portion of the whole to save the remainder. † â€Å"2nd. There must be a voluntary jettison, jactus, or casting away, of some portion of the joint concern for the purpose of avoiding this imminent peril, periculi imminentis evitandi causa, or, in other words, a transfer of the peril from the whole to a particular portion of the whole. â€Å"3rd. This attempt to avoid the imminent common peril must be successful†. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/General_average 2. ) RELEASE OF CARGO WITHOUT PRESENTATION OF THE CORRECT DOCUMENTATION There has been a noticeable increase in the unlawful or incorrect release of cargo, associated with one of the following release methods: a) Countri es that require imported cargo to come immediately under the control of their Customs service, who then take on the responsibility for its release. ) Countries with legislation that permits the release of cargo without the presentation of the original bill of lading. c) Authorisation by the carrier’s agent to release cargo without the permission of the shipper or the issuer of the original bill of lading. There has been considerable coverage regarding the delivery of containerised cargo to locations such as Chile and Paraguay, whereby their Customs service takes immediate control of the cargo and subsequently release it, often without presentation of the original bill of lading. Signum has recently encountered two situations whereby fraudsters have manipulated legislation that allows Customs, without consultation with the carrier’s agent, to release cargo without presentation of the original bill of lading. 1. The Dominican Republic legislation stipulates that a carrier must deliver all cargo to the Dominican Port Authority/Customs with the carrier’s liability ceasing at the point of entry. Cargo can be released upon presentation of the original bill of lading, accompanied by the commercial invoice. In the absence of an original bill of lading, a bond to the value of the cargo, issued by a bona fide bank or insurance company, is acceptable. The bond indemnifies any party against a loss that may occur as a result of the of the cargo being released. Neither the carrier nor their agent needs to be made aware of such a bond. Signum was asked to enquire into a matter that involved a consignee who secured the release of his cargo by means of an insurance bond and then disappeared, having failed to make payment for the cargo. Initially, the insurance company, who had supposedly issued the bond to the consignee, maintained that they could not account for itsexistence, suggesting that it had been fraudulently issued. Enquiries revealed that a member of their staff, who was authorised to issue such bonds, had done so on the instructions of her ex-supervisor and a Customs Agent. When these two parties were interviewed, they denied the clerk’s version of events. The Dominican Republic legislation stipulates that provided an authorised person issued the bond, it protects any party who suffered a loss, which applied in this instance. This allowed the shipper to lodge a claim against the insurance company for the loss of the cargo. 2. A similar situation occurred when perishable cargo was released in Suape, Brazil, without presentation of the original bill of lading. The consignee made a fraudulent application to a court under the provisions of the Brazilian Importation Legislation on perishable goods to secure the cargo’s release. He alleged that the shipper had reneged on a contract that allowed him to partly pay for the cargo prior to its receipt and then pay the outstanding amount by instalments. Due to the shipper’s refusal to release the cargo under the terms of the contract and his intention to re-ship it would cause him an irreplaceable loss. The court accepted this submission without seeking the view of the carrier’s agent and ordered the release of the cargo against security lodged with the court in the form of deeds to a property owned by a third party. You read "Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements" in category "Essay examples" After obtaining custody of the cargo, the consignee attended the court and produced a fraudulent document, showing that the shipper acknowledged the payment agreement. This caused the court to cancel the security and return the deeds of the property. The court application and payment agreement were shown to be fraudulent and that the consignee had committed similar frauds. The only action that could be taken was to notify Customs and the law enforcement agency of this person’s activities. A more serious problem that continues to cause concern is where carriers’ agents disregard their legal responsibility in respect of the notified release instructions and authorise a party to receive their cargo without presentation of the correct documentation. This lack of judgement is all too often influenced by their close association with the consignee or their agent, with whom they have no legal obligation. Such releases can cause serious financial implications to the other parties. The general methods used to secure the release of cargo are: 1. The consignee/agent promises to present the original bill of lading at a later date. 2. The production of a consignee/agent’s letter of credit. 3. Bank reference confirming sufficient funds exist in the consignee’s account. 4. The presentation of a forged document. Signum was asked to enquire into the activities of an agency, whereby it appeared that over a period of time some 150 containers laden with cargo had been released in non-compliance to their release procedure. This procedure required both the Shipping Manager and another member of staff to authorise the release of containers, upon production of the correct documentation. The Shipping Manager, due to his status and guile, was able, over several months, to authorise the release of these containers without complying with the agencies directive. Only when it became impossible for him to continue to deceive others as to his actions, did he decamp. Prevention is simple. If the original bill of lading is not produced, or there is doubt as to whether it is genuine, then advice should be sought from the issuer of the document. If the matter cannot be resolved satisfactorily and safely, assistance should be obtained from the Club’s local correspondents or the Members’ usual contact at the Club. Signum is always available to investigate serious cases. http://www. ukpandi. com/fileadmin/uploads/uk-pi/LP%20Documents/Signum_Reports/Signum%20release%20of%20Cargo. pdf 3. ) USCG Load Line Regulations and Policies (46 CFR parts 42–47) 46 USC chapter 51) Overview The principal Coast Guard office responsible for load line regulations and policy is the Naval Architecture Division (CG-ENG-2). In general, most commercial U. S. vessels that are 79 feet (24 m) in length or longer (or more than 150 gross tons if built before 1 Jan 1988 on domestic voyages, or built before 21 Jul 1968 if on foreign voyages) must have a valid lo ad line certificate when venturing outside the U. S. Boundary Line, whether on a domestic or international voyage. Domestic voyages are coastwise, offshore, or high seas voyages that return directly to a U. S. ort (including â€Å"voyages to nowhere†). There are a few limited categories of vessels excluded from load line requirements. For example, small passenger vessels (i. e. , less than 100 gross tons) that only operate on domestic voyages are excluded. Refer to 46 USC 5102 for vessel applicability specifics. IMPORTANT NOTE CONCERNING U. S. FISHING VESSELS: Previously, all U. S. fishing vessels were statutorily excluded from domestic load line regulations, regardless of size or length (although some fishing vessels that also process their catch beyond certain stages are required to obtain load lines). However, in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, Congress revoked that exclusion for new fishing vessels built on/after July 1st, 2012. Subsequently, in the Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Act of 2012 (signed into law on 20 Dec 2012), Congress postponed the load line compliance date to July 1st, 2013. Consequently, fishing vessels built on/after 1 July 2013, that are 79 feet or longer, and that operate outside the Boundary Line, are required to have a load line. Load line assignment includes pre-construction review and approval of plans by the assigning authority. Therefore, after 1 July 2013, fishing vessel designers/builders who intend to re-use construction plans for previously-built fishing vessels are cautioned that the plans might not comply with all load line requirements. If the owner intends to operate the new vessel outside the Boundary Line, then designers/builders are advised to submit the plans to the assigning authority in a timely fashion. Existing fishing vessels (i. e. , built before 1 July 2013) remain exempted from load lines for the time being. However, they will eventually have to meet the requirements of an alternate load line compliance program to ensure their continued seaworthiness beyond a certain age. The safety requirements for this alternate program, and the age at which the fishing vessels will need to comply, will be developed in cooperation with the commercial fishing industry and established by future regulation. (â€Å"Built† for these purposes means the date on which the vessel’s keel is laid, or the assembled weight of the vessel is at least 50 metric tons (49. long tons) or one percent of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less. ) How is load line length measured? Where is the Boundary Line? Purpose of Load Line Assignment The purpose of load line assignment is to ensure the seaworthiness of the intact (undamaged) vessel. This is accomplished by: †¢Ensuring a robust hull that can withstand severe sea conditions (i. e. , structural design, construction, and mainten ance) †¢Ensuring weathertight watertight integrity (i. e. , coamings; exposed doors, hatches, hull valves, etc, are in good working condition) Ensuring that the vessel has reserve buoyancy and is not overloaded (by limiting the maximum loaded draft) †¢Ensuring that the vessel has adequate stability for all loading operating conditions (by approved stability documentation instructions) †¢Ensuring rapid drainage of water on deck (boarding seas) (by adequate arrangement of freeing ports in bulwarks) †¢Ensuring safety of crew while working on deck (by increased freeboard to reduce boarding seas, guardrails) †¢Ensuring that modifications to vessel do not compromise seaworthiness (modifications must be approved by LL assigning authority) Periodic inspections (afloat and drydocked) to verify that the above are properly maintained (by LL assigning authority) Obtaining a Load Line International load line certificates are issued to vessels that meet the requirement s of the IMO International Convention on Load Lines (ICLL); ICLL certificates are required on U. S. vessels that go on voyages to foreign ports or waters. Domestic load line certificates are issued to vessels that meet the requirements of U. S. load line regulations (which are found in 46 CFR Subchapter E). With minor exceptions, the U. S. requirements for an unrestricted domestic load line (suitable for high seas voyages) are the same as the requirements for an international ICLL load line. For this reason, an ICLL certificate is acceptable in lieu of a domestic certificate. Load line certificates (domestic or ICLL) are issued on behalf of the United States by the American Bureau of Shipping or one of several other USCG-approved classification societies. The choice of assigning authority is made by the vessel owner/operator. The Coast Guard itself does not issue load lines other than a â€Å"single voyage exemption certificate. † In order to be issued a load line (whether domestic or international ICLL), the vessel must be constructed to meet the load line requirements. This entails pre-construction review and approval of the vessel’s design by the assigning authority. Surveyors then periodically visit the shipyard to verify that it is being constructed according to the approved design. Upon completion of construction, the vessel is inclined so that its stability documents can be approved and issued. The freeboard assignment is calculated, and the load line marks are inscribed on the hull. Upon final verification that all of these steps have been properly accomplished, the vessel is issued a load line certificate. A load line certificate is normally issued for a 5-year term, subject to annual â€Å"topside† surveys to verify that hatch covers, doors, vent covers, and other critical closures are in good working condition, and that there have not been any damage or unauthorized modifications that would compromise the vessel’s seaworthiness. At the end of the 5-year term, the vessel must be drydocked to inspect the underwater hull, seachests and valves, etc, before a new certificate can be issued. Load Line Enforcement and Violations U. S. vessel owners and operators are subject to fines and penalties if a vessel is overloaded such that the load line marks are submerged, or the vessel is operated in violation of any restrictions on its certificate. Penalties are set forth in 46 USC 5116. Foreign vessels in U. S. waters are required to have a valid international (ICLL) load line certificate. A foreign vessel may be detained in port if the Coast Guard determines that it is overloaded, or unseaworthy due to poor condition. The vessel won’t be released to depart until the deficiencies have been corrected: excess cargo is offloaded, repairs have been made and a surveyor from the assigning authority has attended the vessel to confirm its compliance with ICLL regulations. 4. ) BP Shipping safeships On the face of it, BP Shipping is one of the safesttanker operators around, regularly achieving topquartile safety results in the industry and rarelymaking headlines for the wrong reasons. But as the organization’s fleet has grown rapidly to more than 80 vessels today, so the realization has spreadthat truly world-class safety performance is about more than lowering headline safety numbers or beating industry benchmarks. For safety performance to really move to a new level, it has to become self sustaining and therefore sustainable. â€Å"Day in, day out, the safety message has to be made and remade so that it becomes engrained at every level everywhere, in every action, in every decision and in every way. The entire organization has to be safety empowered and constantly on the lookout for new hazards,† says Dave Williamson, director of fleet operations for BP Shipping. â€Å"We’re beginning to make the turn towards constant improvement and the sort of restless state of mind that we need, but there is still some way to go. † In the past, most emphasis has been put on numbers and performance based on: ‘days away from work case’ incidents, lost time injuries, near misses, oil spills and other serious incidents. These performance matrices continue to be monitored very closely and show continuous improvement. But now the push is on to move safety performance to another level, motivated in no small measure by a fear that some of the cultural and operational factors that led to the Texas City refinery explosion in 2005 might be present in some parts of BP Shipping’s activities. The key to this has been to get everyone in the organization to think about safety in a new way, one that focuses on experience, leadership, training, processes and relationships rather than numbers. Intrinsic to this more open approach is the importance of driving safety back into the ’line’ – to people with asset management capability. In parallel, new emphasis is being placed on safety leadership on vessels and ashore to engender a stronger sense of inclusiveness and team bonding around safety behaviour. â€Å"Safety is not just about trips or falls. It’s about exactly the same things you also need to achieve great operational performance and the same motivations that give us the continuous drive to have the best people, processes, equipment and leadership. † Williamson concludes: â€Å"At the moment we’re not able to say we’re the best, we still have areas where we believe there is significant room for improvement. But ‘the best’ is a relative state and safety is a never ending journey. Mysense is that we’ve made significant changes andadvances in the past couple of years. † Measuring safety All injuries by activity, October 2006 All injuries by location onboard, October 2006 Other 23 % Office work 2% Cargo operations 2% Shipyard 5% Navigating 2% Engine operations 9% Bunkering 7% Maintenance 36% Mooring 7% Drills and exercises 2% Domestic 5% Other 6% Enclosed space 2% Steering gear 2% Store rooms 6% Bridge 2% Engine room 41% Mooring areas 4% Lifeboat Accommodation 11% embarkation 4% Main deck 22 % Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Rush escorts the suspected high seas drift net fishing vessel Da Cheng in the North Pacific Ocean on August 14, 2012. Photo Credit: U. S. Coast Guard Liberian fishery observers toured a shrimp vessel as part of the two-week observer training program supported by NOAA Fisheries to combat IUU fishing. IUU fishing is a global problem that threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries. IUU products often come from fisheries lacking the strong and effective conservation and management measures to which U. S. fishermen are subject. IUU fishing most often violates conservation and management measures, such as quotas or bycatch limits, established under international agreements. By adversely impacting fisheries, marine ecosystems, food security and coastal communities around the world, IUU fishing undermines domestic and international conservation and management efforts. Furthermore, IUU fishing risks the sustainability of a multi-billion-dollar U. S. industry. NOAA’s Role in Combating IUU Fishing Because the United States imports more than 80 percent of its seafood, NOAA Fisheries is working to ensure that high demand for imported seafood does not create incentives for illegal fishing activity. Working in partnership with other U. S. Government agencies, foreign governments and entities, international organizations, non-government organizations, and the private sector is crucial to effectively combating IUU fishing. We work with other fishing nations to strengthen enforcement and data collection programs around the world aimed at curtailing IUU fishing. We have put measures in place to restrict port entry and access to port services to vessels included on the IUU lists of international fisheries organizations with U. S. membership. For recent news on IUU fishing, visit our IUU stories page. In addition, U. S. legislation allows us to take action on our own. The Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act, which amends the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act, requires NOAA to identify countries that have fishing vessels engaged in IUU activities. Once a nation has been identified, we consult with the nation to encourage appropriate corrective action. If the identified nation receives a negative certification, we can impose trade restrictions on that nation. The Lacey Act also provides the United States with the authority to impose significant sanctions against individuals and companies engaged in trafficking illegally taken fish and wildlife. Learn more about action NOAA is taking to combat IUU fishing. For more information or questions on IUU fishing, please visit our frequently asked questions page or contact David Pearl (david. pearl@noaa. gov). 5. ) passenger ship safety certificate – for all passenger ships †¢cargo ship safety radio certificate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 300gt on international voyages only †¢cargo ship safety equipment certificate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt on international voyages only †¢cargo ship safety construction certific ate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt on international voyages only †¢cargo ship safety certificate – for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 300gt †¢load line certificate – for passenger ships in non-UK waters, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 24 metres in length (if built on or after 21 July 1968) or of more than 150gt and for passenger ships in UK waters over 80 net tonnes †¢oil pollution prevention certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 400gt and oil tankers over 150gt †¢minimum safe manning document certificate – for passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt †¢safety manageme nt certificate – for all passenger ships and for cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts over 500gt †¢ship security certificate – for passenger ships, cargo ships oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts on international voyages only †¢sewage pollution certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial yachts of 400gt or more, or carrying 15 persons or more on international voyages only †¢air pollution certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers and large commercial achts of 400gt or more †¢anti-fouling declaration – for fishing vessels under 24 metres in length or of less than 400gt †¢anti-fouling certificate – for fishing vessels, passenger ships, cargo ships, oil tankers, chemical tankers o r gas carriers and large commercial yachts of 400gt or more †¢certificate of fitness (chemical or gas) certificate – for all chemical tankers or gas carriers †¢dangerous goods certificate – for passenger ships built after 1 September 1984, and for cargo ships after a certain date of build on international voyages only †¢certificate of compliance for a large charter yacht – for all large passenger yachts †¢UK fishing vessel certificate – for fishing vessels between 15 and 24 metres in length †¢international fishing vessel certificate – for fishing vessels over 24 metres in length †¢small commercial vessel certificate – for pilot boats and small commercial vessels under 24 metres in length †¢certificate of registry – mandatory for all fishing vessels, optional for pilot boats and small commercial vessels †¢international tonnage – for fishing vessels under 24 metres in length How to cite Monitor Complience with Legislative Requirements, Essay examples

Sunday, May 3, 2020

Accounting Theory and Critical Issues

Question: Discuss about the Accounting Theory and Critical Issues. Answer: Introduction The following assignment examines the annual report of Common wealth Bank Australia in the context of adhering to the General purpose Financial Accounting. Commonwealth Bank Australia has been chosen as an ASX top hundred-listed corporation. The assignment evaluates the effectiveness of business entities in strictly adhering to the framework as well as the guidelines of the conceptual framework of accounting. In this regard, it can be said that there has been issues as per the assessment as well as the registering of financial transactions in the year ended annual report of the company. As such, this has an adverse effect on the procedure of the financial reports towards the stakeholders of the organization. Zimmerman (2013) stated that the general-purpose financial recording should develop the necessary guideline, to help the business entities to maintain authenticity and transparency in the financial accounts of the business entity. The business entity has been operating in many co untries and constitutes of a substantial market share in the international market. According to Groot and Selto (2013), the general purpose financial accounting offers a unified guideline that can be applicable to all the globally reputed companies in the Australian market. The Commonwealth Bank Australia has been making efforts to adhere to the General Purpose financial accounting in the market. According to Hassard and Pym (2012), the brand has faced issues recently in recording as well as measuring the transactions in the domestic and the international market. The Commonwealth Bank Australia is a multinational business organization that operates in many countries. The brand has taken many transfer pricing measures as per the taxation laws and guideline of the particular country. The conceptual framework in the business organization shall consist of the qualitative characteristics as well as recognition and the de-recognition criteria of the general-purpose financial accounting of the organization. The study also evaluates the accounting measures like IAS 11 and and its role in assisting the business entity in adhering to the conceptual framework in the context of the General Purpose financial Accounting. Despite of the best efforts of the management of the business enterprise in adhering to the General Purpose financial Accounting of the organization, there has been existing consistencies and issues related to the recording and the assessment of the financial transactions. Fiolleau et al. (2013) stated that these financial irregularities can be overcome by implementing rigid auditing measures in the business organization that shall facilitate organizational growth in the business entity. Discussion Qualitative Characteristics of General Purpose Financial Accounting The following attributes of the financial data provided by Commonwealth Bank Australia in the context of the General Purpose Financial Accounting can be noted. Relevance- The annual report of Commonwealth Bank Australia offers the relevant importance to the business enterprise. The report contains all the necessary details so as to assist the management of the business entity in developing the appropriate financial as well as the operating policies for a business entity. Jones (2015) stated that the accounting principles of the business enterprise shall have to offer the in-depth financial details about the necessary financial details about the business enterprise. As such , the annual report and the year ended financial statements of the business enterprise shall be considered as relevant in the existing global market. Material - The information can be considered as material if omitting it can lead to adverse financial decisions for the business enterprise. The company follows the principle of materiality to influence financial decisions for the business entity. As such, it can be said that the management of the business enterprise has considered every financial data that can have an impact on the financial decision making as well as sustainability of the business entity. in this regard , it can be stated that the management of the business enterprise has to take appropriate financial decisions regarding the preparation of the financial statements of the business entity . In this regard , it can be stated that the uniform quantitative guidelines for the establishment of the financial policies for the enhancement of the financial policies as well as the goals and the objectives of the business entity . Comparability - The financial statements established by the business enterprise can facilitate comparison between the two different years. As such, the brand has the ability to determine the operational as well as the financial policies of the business enterprise shall facilitate comparison between the two different years. As such, the management of the business entity can be able to take the necessary financial measures to overcome the organizational threats of the business entity. Bonin (2013) mentioned that comparability is one qualitative attributes that shall assist the users to assess the general financial state of a business enterprise. Thus. it can be stated that there are users shall be able to compare the general financial position of the business entity with the previous years and respond appropriately for organizational growth and sustainability in the domestic and the international market. Verifiability- The concept of verifiability would assist users in representing the economic condition of the existing business entity. Lee and Parker (2013) mentioned that the attribute of verifiability shall enable the users to verify the financial information of the business entity. In this regard , it can be stated that the financial data provided on the annual report has been verified in the context of the current year. Timeliness- The concept of Timeliness relates to having prior information to the decisions-makers of the business entity that shall help the business entity in making appropriate business as well as financial decisions. An in-depth analysis of the financial statements is presented in the business entity. Therefore, this shall assist the business enterprise in making authentic financial statements of Commonwealth Bank, Australia. As such, the timeliness of the financial statements is an essential attribute of towards establishing of the financial strategies as well as the policies of the business entity. Understandability- The concept of understandability refer to presenting the information in a simplistic manner to help users in making informed financial decisions for the business entity. According to Fiolleau et al. (2013), the management of the Commonwealth Bank , Australia has presented the accounting statements in a simplified manner so that it can be easily understood by the users. The concept of understandability is evaluated in the annual report of Commonwealth Bank, Australia . As such, the data presented in the annual financial statements of the business entity is simple to understand yet in-depth in details . As such, the understandability is a definite characteristic of the management of the business entity. These attributes has been essential for the business enterprise in the implementation of effective financial policies. Accounting Measurement For the purpose of measurement in accounting, the fair value of accounting is used to assess the assets and the liabilities of the organization as per the organizational goals and the objectives. In this regard, it can be stated that the fair value of measurement in accounting can be used in determining the actual worth of the assets and the liabilities in the business organization. Commonwealth Bank, Australia has been able to assess the existing liabilities as well as the assets of the organization as per the existing market condition in the domestic as well as the International market. According to Deegan (2013), the fair value accounting in the business entity has been an influencing factors in determining the exact financial position of a business entity. The fair value accounting of the business entity asists the business organization to make effective financial strategies of the business entity. Therefore, the value of the assets would be ascertained as per their current marke t value. Table 1: Asset Measurement (Source: Commbank 2016) Recognition Criteria The recognition criteria refer to the factors on which the identification of assets and the liabilities depends, in the context of Commonwealth Bank, Australia. The Commonwealth Bank , Australia has been recognized the asset as well as the liability of the business entity in, changes in equity as well as the expenses of the business enterprise facilitating authenticity and transparency in the annual financial statements of the business enterprise. Therefore, it shall assist the business enterprise in enhancing the cost of the organization as well as enhancing the changes in the business organization. In the recognition criteria, the probability in the inflow or the outflow of cash in the business organization for a particular period of time shall have to be analyzed in the attainment of the organizational goals and the objectives of the business enterprise. Presentation of Financial Statements Miller and Power (2013) stated that the following two existing standards - IAS 1 Presentation of the Financial Statements and IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting estimates and errors have assisted Common Wealth Bank Australia in adhering to the conceptual framework of the general-purpose financial accounting. These policies in the business entity shall help the business entity to strictly adhere to the general-purpose financial accounting and prepare detailed financial reports for the business enterprise. According to Freeman et al. (2014) the IAS 1 develops the basis of the financial statements in the year ended annual reports of the entity . These accounting statements provide the faithful representation of the transactions as well as events and conditions of the business entity. Existing Inconsistencies The existing inconsistencies in the existing conceptual framework shall have to be eliminated by the IAS 18 accounting standards. According to Deegan (2012), the framework states that the asset and the liabilities of the organization shall have to be recognized through the expected future benefits of the organization. In the recent years, the brand has faced discrepancies in the recording as well as the assessment of the financial transactions of the business entity. In addition, the brand has developed the necessary measures to overcome the existing discrepancies and facilitate the development of the financial policies of the business entity. The Common Wealth Bank, Australia has implemented effective internal accounting policies of the business organization. Auditing has been a pertinent accounting tool for the business entity in frequent monitoring of the financial statements in the business entity. This has ensured that the financial statements in the annual reports of the busine ss organization shall reflect the existing financial position of the business organization. Bonin (2013) stated that internal auditing is an effective part of the general-purpose financial accounting of the business organization. Therefore, the existing inconsistencies in the annual reports of the organization would have to be assessed through the internal control measures in the organization. As per the conceptual framework in the General Purpose Financial Accounting the assets and the liabilities of the organization would be recognized if the future economic benefits comes or flow out of the organization. In this regard, it can be stated that the IASB emphasis uniforms academic guidelines and the policies of the business entity. As such, the management of the business entity has been responding appropriately in overcoming any discrepancies or threats for the business entity. As such, this has assisted the business entity to strictly adhere to the conceptual framework of the business entity. Financial Reporting Horngren et al. (2013) mentioned that financial reporting refers to development of the external financial statements consisting of balance sheet, statement of cash flows and the stockholders equity and the notes to the financial statements present in the annual report of the organization. Thus, it can be said that the stakeholders of the business organization has to receive updated financial information about the business entity. As such, this shall assist the investors to acquire the necessary financial data and make informed investment and financial decisions for the business entity. The financial reporting is an essential aspect of the operational as well as the financial decisions of the business. As such, the business entity has been making pertinent efforts in adhering to the conceptual framework of the General Purpose Financial Accounting. According to Bebbington et al. (2014), the business entity has to make the necessary measures in the development of the goals and the objec tives of the business entity. Henderson et al. (2015) stated that the business entity has taken measures in the recognition of the intangible assets of the organization. In this regard, it can be stated that the management of the business organization has also recognized bad debt as well as the provision of bad debt in the organization. In addition, the recognition of revenue expenses in the business entity is another pertinent part of the General Purpose Financial Accounting in the business organization. The financial reporting deals in the disclosure of the financial data to the management as well as the public. According to Christensen et al. (2016), the financial reporting can have to be issued in the quarterly as well as the monthly basis. As such, the Commonwealth Bank Australia has been reporting to the existing shareholders of the business organization through the strict financial reporting guidelines. Horngren et al. (2013) stated that the security and the exchange commission (SEC) in the business enterprise is an essential part of the financial reporting policies of the business entity. As per the guidelines of the general Purpose financial accounting, the shareholders, potential investors and the consumers and the government of the business organization are the parties that shall benefit from financial re porting .Thus, Commonwealth Bank, Australia adheres to the General Purpose financial accounting in developing the organizational policies and strategies. Conclusion It can be said that Commonwealth Bank Australia has taken pertinent efforts in adhering to the conceptual Framework in the General Purpose Financial Accounting. The brand has taken measures in the establishment of operational and financial strategies for Commonwealth Bank Australia. However, the internal auditing is an effective tool for the business entity in assessing the financial situation of the business enterprise and recognizing the existing discrepancies in the financial system of business enterprise. The Commonwealth Bank, Australia has been adhering to the general-purpose financial accounting and measure the equity, asset, liability and income as well as the revenues of the organization. The brand strictly adheres to the conceptual framework in the context of the reporting of the financial statements to the business entity. The Commonwealth Bank, Australia conducts financial reporting in quarterly or on a annual basis The recognition criteria refer to the recognition of the assets and liability of the organization that result in the inflow and outflow of the revenue in the organization. The fair value of accounting in the business entity relates to the assessment of the assets as per their existing market value. The Commonwealth Bank, Australia has been in a strong financial position in the recent years. The data extracted from the financial annual reports relates to the measurement of the assets, liabilities as well as the income and the recognition of the incomes and the revenue of the organization and indicates the financial strength of the entity when compared to the substitute brands in the market. In the coming years it can be expected that the business entity shall acquire a greater market share in the domestic and global market. References Bebbington, J., Unerman, J. and O'Dwyer, B., 2014. Sustainability accounting and accountability. Routledge. Bonin, H., 2013. Generational accounting: theory and application. Springer Science Business Media. Bonin, H., 2013. Generational accounting: theory and application. Springer Science Business Media. Christensen, H.B., Nikolaev, V.V. and Wittenbergà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Moerman, R., 2016. Accounting information in financial contracting: The incomplete contract theory perspective. Journal of Accounting Research, 54(2), pp.397-435. Commbank 2016 Available at: https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/about-us/shareholders/pdfs/annual-reports/cba-annual-report-30%20June-2015.pdf [Accessed 3 Sep. 2016]. Cortesi, A., Tettamanzi, P., Scaccabarozzi, U., Spertini, I. and Castoldi, S., 2015. Advanced Financial Accounting: Financial Statement AnalysisAccounting IssuesGroup Accounts. EGEA spa. Deegan, C. (2013). Financial accounting theory. McGraw-Hill Education Australia. Deegan, C., 2012. Australian financial accounting. McGraw-Hill Education Australia. DRURY, C.M., 2013. Management and cost accounting. Springer. Eilifsen, A., Messier, W.F., Glover, S.M. and Prawitt, D.F., 2013. Auditing and assurance services. McGraw-Hill. Fiolleau, K.J., Hoang, K.J. and Pomeroy, B., 2013. Communications with Audit Committees: How Do Auditors Decide How Much Information to Provide about Managements Accounting Practices?. Freeman, R.J., Shoulders, C.D., Allison, G.S., Smith Jr, G.R. and Becker, C.J., 2014. Governmental and nonprofit accounting: theory and practice.JJpaejournal Of Public Affairs Education Volume 20 Number 3, p.441. Groot, T. and Selto, F., 2013. Advanced management accounting. Pearson Higher Ed. Harrison, J.S. and Van der Laan Smith, J., 2015. Responsible accounting for stakeholders. Journal of Management Studies, 52(7), pp.935-960. Hassard, J. and Pym, D. eds., 2012. The theory and philosophy of organizations: critical issues and new perspectives. Routledge. Henderson, S., Peirson, G., Herbohn, K. and Howieson, B., 2015. Issues in financial accounting. Pearson Higher Education AU. Horngren, C.T., Sundem, G.L., Schatzberg, J.O. and Burgstahler, D., 2013.Introduction to management accounting. Pearson Higher Ed. Jones, S. ed., 2015. The routledge companion to financial accounting theory. Routledge. Lee, T.A. and Parker, R.H., 2013. Towards a Theory and Practice of Cash Flow Accounting (RLE Accounting) (Vol. 50). Routledge. Miller, P. and Power, M., 2013. Accounting, organizing, and economizing: Connecting accounting research and organization theory. The Academy of Management Annals, 7(1), pp.557-605. Zimmerman, J.L., 2013. Myth: External financial reporting quality has a first-order effect on firm value. Accounting Horizons, 27(4), pp.887-894.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

The 1960s free essay sample

This paper examines the significance of the era known as the 60s on American life. (more)

Friday, March 6, 2020

The Best AP Style Cheat Sheet Every Writer Needs (Free Download)

The Best AP Style Cheat Sheet Every Writer Needs (Free Download) Clarity and consistency are building blocks of great content. When your writing is crisp, clear, and easy to understand, audiences are more likely to leave your site with a positive impression. Unfortunately, many brands forego style guides, and choose to wing it instead. This isn’t necessarily a fatal mistake by any means. However, it does often lead to content that looks sloppy. Without guidelines to enforce consistency, it’s easy to allow your content to become a formatting free-for-all where commas roam free and nothing follows a  clear logic. The results leave your blog or website looking the Wild West of basic grammatical conventions. If this sounds hyperbolic, consider this: newspapers are written to be as effortless to read as possible. Concise writing and consistent style go a long way toward achieving this goal. There’s a reason why your daily paper sounds how it does. It isn’t just a stubborn commitment to rules for their own sake. Does your content need to be perfect to be effective? Not nearly, no. But, everything you can do to enforce consistency and clarity will help your cause. The Best AP Style Cheat Sheet Every Writer Needs (Free Download) Table of Contents: Free Download What is AP Style? Who Uses AP Style? Ages Abbreviations and Acronyms Cities States Dates, Days, Months, Times, and Years Datelines Numbers Sizes, Dimensions, and Distances Punctuation Peoples Names Hyphens Quotes and Quotations Technology Terms Book, Movie, and Song Titles AP Style Checking Tools, Plugins, and Apps Bonus InfographicDownload Your Free AP Style Guide Cheat Sheet If you’d prefer to keep this guide handy in a portable format, you can download the entire thing as a PDF below. This is a good option for reading on tablets, e-readers, or simply keeping on file on your computer.What is AP Style? The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law  official style guide of the Associated Press, a not-for-profit news agency that’s been around since 1846. It’s often used by news organizations, magazines, and web publications, but brands often use it to form the basis of their own style guides, too. The official Associated Press style guide gets updated year to year. Here’s a look at some changes from back in 2016: Arguably, these changes have led to bloat. Detractors say the guide is excessively detailed, beyond the point of being necessary, or even useful. This author doesn’t disagree with this criticism (hence the creation of this simplified blog post). If following this specific style is important for your situation, though, consider buying the official version. It’s available in both digital and hard copies. NOTE: It’s important not to confuse AP style with APA style. Who Uses AP Style? Associated Press style is generally used by journalists, but they aren’t alone in using it. Here’s a short list of folks who might need to get familiar with it: Journalists Editors PR Professionals Marketers How Do You Denote Ages? A person’s age should always use numerals. When using age as an adjective (using their age to describe an individual), then use hyphens. Examples: The 20-year-old was arrested for underage consumption of an alcoholic beverage. At 34-years-old, Larry Fitzgerald remains impressively athletic. The five-year-old dog greets its owner every morning. Abbreviations and Acronyms Use abbreviations for well-known organizations. Acronyms for Organizations Ex: FBI, NASA, IRS, NFL, MLB, NHL, FIFA. For other organizations, spell it out on first mention, then use abbreviations for subsequent mentions. Use your best judgment. If people are unlikely to understand an abbreviation, then don’t use it. Examples: The FBI agent was assigned the case.NASA announced plans to visit Mars. The MLB has not announced hot dog price restrictions for this year. Abbreviations for Formal Titles Make sure your writing respects people’s formal titles. Some examples include political and medical titles. Follow these guidelines: Political titles should be abbreviated before full names outside of direct quotes. Examples: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rep. John Lewis. Medical titles follow similar format: Example: Dr. Michaela Quinn. Which Cities Stand Alone in AP Style? Some American cities are considered well-known enough they don’t need a state abbreviation. This makes sense, since most people know where they’re located. Here’s the full list of U.S. cities that fall under this criteria: Atlanta Baltimore Boston Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Dallas Denver Detroit Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Las Vegas Los Angeles Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis New Orleans New York Oklahoma City Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh St. Louis Salt Lake City San Antonio San Diego San Francisco Seattle Washington The same goes for the following international cities and country abbreviations: Amsterdam Baghdad Bangkok Beijing Beirut Berlin Brussels Cairo Djibouti Dublin Geneva Gibraltar Guatemala City Havana Helsinki Hong Kong Islamabad Mexico City Milan Monaco Montreal Moscow Munich New Delhi Panama City Paris Prague Quebec City Rio De Janeiro Rome San Marino Sao Paulo Shanghai Singapore Istanbul Jerusalem Johannesburg Kuwait City London Luxembourg Macau Madrid Stockholm Sydney Tokyo Toronto Vatican City Vienna ZurichHow to Format State Abbreviations Every state in the United States has a specific abbreviation. Some of these may not seem obvious. Follow this list to get them right. Alabama: Ala. Arizona: Ariz. Arkansas: Ark. California: Calif. Colorado: Colo. Connecticut: Conn. Delaware: Del. Florida: Fla. Georgia: Ga. Illinois: Ill. Indiana: Ind. Kansas: Kan. Kentucky: Ky. Louisiana: La. Maryland: Md. Massachusetts: Mass. Michigan: Mich. Minnesota: Minn. Mississippi: Miss. Missouri: Mo. Montana: Mont. Nebraska: Neb. Nevada: Nev. New Hampshire: N.H. New Jersey: N.J. New Mexico: N.M. New York: N.Y. North Carolina: N.C. North Dakota: N.D. Oklahoma: Okla. Oregon: Ore. Pennsylvania: Pa. Rhode Island: R.I. South Carolina: S.C. South Dakota: S.D. Tennessee: Tenn. Virginia: Va. Vermont: Vt. Washington: Wash. West Virginia: W. Va. Wisconsin: Wis. Wyoming: Wyo.Formatting Dates, Days, Months, Times, and Years in AP Style Dates and times have a number of formatting considerations. Dates: Follow this format: Monday (day), July 1 (month + date), 2018 (year). Times: Don’t use colons for times on the hour. Ex: 3 p.m., 8:30 a.m. Days: Omit st., th., rd., and th. Ex: July 1, not July 1st. Months: Abbreviate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. when writing out a specific date. Spell out names of months when not used to indicate a specific date. Ex: Aug. 3, 2018. Years: Use numerals rather than spelling them out. Ex: 2018, not twenty-eighteen. Other Considerations For Dates and Times a.m. and p.m. should use periods and lower case letters. Never say â€Å"yesterday.† Use the day of the week instead. Formatting Datelines News articles often start with a dateline indicating the location, month, date, and year a story took place. Include city (and state if necessary in the U.S.). Examples: FARGO, N.D. (July, 1, 2018) MILWAUKEE (July 1, 2018) LONDON (July 1, 2018) Numbers Spell out numbers one through nine, and use digits for numbers 10 and higher. The following exceptions, however, should always use digits: Addresses Ages Monetary values. Dates and times. Sizes and dimensions. Percents. Speeds. Temperatures. When Should Numerals Be Used? Use numerals when referring to a sequence of events or people. Examples: Super Bowl XLV Queen Elizabeth II World War I What About Percentages? Always use the full word â€Å"percent.† The % sign shouldn’t be used. That key might feel neglected, but it’s okay. Example: The analyst predicted a 100 percent increase in site traffic. Sentences Starting With Years Avoid starting sentences with a number, unless referencing a year. Example: 1977 was the last year the Minnesota Vikings went to the Super Bowl. Sizes, Dimensions, and Distances Sizes and dimensions should use numerals and spell out units of measurement. The same goes for distances. Examples: The party sandwich was 10 feet long. The delivery driver traveled 12 miles during harsh weather. Bill Smith is 6-foot-5 and plays basketball in his spare time. Punctuation in AP Style You learned everything you needed to know about punctuation in high school English class, right? Well, maybe or maybe not, but this style has quirks of its own to consider. General Punctuation Here are some general punctuation guidelines: Use a single space after a period. Commas should go inside quotation marks. Serial Commas In AP style, commas are not included before conjunctions. However, they should be used to separate each item in a list. Example: I ate a hot dog, pizza slice, burger, and an entire pie. Using Periods Lean toward using periods in abbreviations where applicable. Example: Examples: U.N., M.A., U.S.A. Singular Nouns Ending in S When proper nouns end in an S, add an apostrophe at the end. Example: Sally Jones’ red stapler has been stolen. People’s Names Use their first and last name on first mention. Then, use only their last name on subsequent mentions. Example: David Johnson is a professional running back. Johnson plays for the Arizona Cardinals. Using Hyphens Correctly Use hyphens to connect words in compound adjectives. Example: The larger-than-life performer juggled seven swords. Formatting Quotes and Quotations Here are two points about quotation marks: Periods and commas always go within quotation marks. Use single quotations for quotes within quotes. Example: â€Å"The candy truck spilled all over the highway,† said the driver. â€Å"It’s a real ‘sticky situation’ on I-94.† Technology Terms There are more tech terms and brand names to consider coming out every day. Here’s a list of some common ones you may encounter. Google hashtag Internet Apple â€Å"i† products: iPad, iPod, iPhone, iMac, unless the word starts a sentence. Then, capitalize the I. e-book email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter tweet website Web page YouTube social media cellphone World Wide Web Android AppleUsing Correct AP Style for Book, Movie, and Song Titles Your favorite author, director, or musician isn’t likely to write you an angry letter over incorrect style usage when it comes to their art. An editor probably will, though. Here’s how to get it right every time. Books, Movies, and Song Titles Use quotation marks rather than italics. This goes against what likely feels right, and how you’d normally format them, but those are the rules. Examples: J.K. Rowling is the author of â€Å"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.† â€Å"Party in the USA† does not make me feel like partying. It turns out that â€Å"Total Recall† was not a documentary. Newspaper, Magazine, and Website Names Use capitalization but no quotation marks nor italics. This blog post uses italics to highlight examples, so the publication names below have been rendered in normal paragraph text. Examples: The Guardian is a well-respected newspaper. Wired is a popular magazine for tech enthusiasts. Bob Jones is unsure where his Cat Fancy subscription came from. Other Considerations Capitalize formal titles before people’s names. Do not capitalize job titles before names. Use quotation marks for titles of books, movies, albums, and TV shows. AP Style Checking Tools, Plugins, and Apps Keeping all of this information straight can be a hassle (and this post only covers the majority of the most important elements to consider). Fortunately, there are several tools and plugins on the market that can help. Here are some worth checking out: AP Style Dates and Times (WordPress Plugin) AP Lingofy (Browser Extension) AP Style Guard (Desktop App) Bonus: AP Style Infographic That’s a Wrap Are there any details we missed? Drop a comment below and share with other readers.