Monthly Archives: January 2021

MONTREAL A new research centre created at Montreals Polytechnique university will aim to protect ships from pirates and theyre not talking about Blackbeard or Captain Kidd.

Canadas Maritime Cyber Security Centre of Excellence will combine the expertise of two Polytechnique researchers, Quebec cybersecurity startup Neptune Cyber and Davie Shipbuilding. The five-year research project will focus on cybersecurity for critical maritime infrastructures.

Its time to do something, because the shipping industry is still lagging behind, technologically, said Neptune Cybers technological director, Jeremy Citone. Its time for the shipping industry to catch up.

Critical ship components, including navigation and motors, are more and more connected to the internet in order to diagnose problems at a distance and avoid having to send a repairperson onto a ship that could be half a world away.

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But systems connected to the internet can become potentially attractive targets for hackers, who could try to paralyze a ship in the hopes of extracting a large ransom from the owner.

The idea is to see to what extent, with our background and our expertise, we can provide interesting solutions to make these systems resilient, said Polytechnique professor Nora Cuppens.

The solutions we know must be adapted so they can be applied in other specific fields, such as the maritime sector.

Hackers have shown repeatedly that they represent a serious threat.

In June 2017, a number of companies including Danish shipping giant Maersk were hit hard by the NotPetya ransomware virus. Maersk took almost two weeks to recover from the attack, which is said to have cost the company at least US$300 million.

Closer to home, Montreals public transit agency was victim of a ransomware attack last fall that paralyzed its activities for several days.

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One can easily imagine what could happen if cyberattackers took over the controls of an airplane in flight, or of several dozen cars on the highway. But what about an out-of control cargo ship steaming down the St. Lawrence Seaway?

We get the impression that not many people have asked themselves the question, Citone said.

As of Jan. 1, the International Maritime Organization has required shipowners and operators to integrate cyber risk management into their security initiatives. It is the first cybersecurity regulatory framework for the shipping industry, which previously operated without international standards, according to Cuppens.

Previously, what was in place amounted to procedures and guidelines on what to do in the event of a cyberattack, Citone said. But if the attack has already happened, its too late: youre in the middle of the ocean and youre down, he said.

Cuppens says that beyond attacks targeting port facilities or ships systems, theres a need to protect the entire supply chain, including trucks that bring merchandise to port.

Ships take up to five years to build, and its impossible to predict what threats could exist in the future. Therefore, the solutions whether on board or run from a distance need to be able to be deployed quickly and affordably if the industry is to adopt them, Citone said.

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Cuppens said solutions also need to take into account human factors, such as an employee who brings in a USB key to watch a film and ends up infecting the entire ship.

Within a year, the projects participants hope to have identified key vulnerabilities and laid the foundation for addressing them, Cuppens said.

Neptune Cyber and Davie will contribute a total of $1.7 million, of which $500,000 will be in cash and $1.2 million in support and equipment for the projects duration. About 10 graduate students will also be trained to become among the first specialists in the field.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan 28, 2021.

2021 The Canadian Press

Excerpt from:

New maritime cybersecurity centre to fight pirates on the high seas and the digital world - Global News

The Vende Globe sailing race ended last night just as it started 80 days earlierwith high drama on the high seas. The solo, round-the-world race, considered the Everest of sailing, was hard fought until the very end, with five potential sailors in the running until the last stretch and no clear winner emerging until hours after the first sailor crossed the finish line.

Charlie Dahlin, the 36-year-old skipper of the 60-foot racing yachtApivia, sailed from the foggy Bay of Biscay into the coastal French town of Les Sables-DOlonne, where the race had started. His time of80 days, six hours, 15 minutes and 47 seconds was the fastest of the 2020-2021 event. But behind him were two sailors who could potentially be named the Vende winners because they had participated in the search and rescue of another racer whose boat had broken up and sunk in November.

Boris Hermann, who was closing in on Dahlin, had been awarded compensation time of more than six hours for his part in the rescue, and behind him was Yannick Bestaven, who had even more time10 hours and 15 minutesto deduct from his final timeline.

Eric Dahlin was the first sailor to make it across the finish line, but he wasnt the race winner.Courtesy Vendee Globe

It wasnt Hermanns night. Just 90 miles from the finish, in the dark ocean, his racing yachtSeaxplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco crashed into a fishing trawler, damaging the yachts starboard foil and forcing it to limp towards Les Sables-DOlonne. He had completed 99.6 percent of the 23,400-mile race, spending 80 days in the worlds most remote oceans, often with sleep deprivation and extreme cold. Like all the racers, Hermann was always trying to find an edge in the race. On the final day, many expected him to claim first place. Hermann himself was unhurt, though clearly shaken by the unfortunate event.

It was just another day in the Vende, which had seen a record 33 racers start the race and only 25 complete it, with the others experiencing broken boats in brutal sea conditions, sails torn asunder from 50-knot winds, and, in the case of Kevin Escoffier, a sunken race boat.Escoffier, who watched his boat break in half and sink in minutes, was forced into a life raft in the middle of a storm in 20-foot seas. He was lucky. Most times, other sailors were typically hundreds of miles away from each other, following different courses to get an edge with the weather.

Fortunately for Escoffier, Hermann, Bestaven and two other sailors were relatively close. Escoffiers dramatic rescue by Jean Le Cam was one of the biggest highlights of this years race. Le Cam himself had had to be rescued during the 2009 Vende.

Yannick Bestaven sailed a strong, smart race but was rarely the leader. With ten hours deducted from his final time for his aid in the rescue of another sailor, he emerged as the winner.Courtesy Jean-Marie LIOT / Matre Coq

In the end, Bestaven was declared the winner, thanks to his compensated time. He crossed the finish line third, behind Dahlin and Louis Burton. Dahlin had consistently led the race, which follows a traditional southern clipper route around three capesCape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Hornwhile sailing across four oceans, including the hostile Southern Ocean. Dahlin, a first-time Vendee sailor, had experienced challenges during the race, including having to repair a damaged port foil that severely compromised his vessels sailing abilities.

The repair involved a full day. For hours, he was attached to a halyard, swinging over the side of the pitching boat to fit a replacement part into the broken area. I dont know how many times I went back and forth30 or 40 timesto adjust the piece to fit the case, he said.

Many others also had to repair broken hulls or other parts of their yachts to move forward. The original race favorite, Alex Thomsen, was forced to retire within 10 days of the start because of irreparable damage to his yacht Hugo Boss.

Borris Hermann, at one point favored to win the event, crashed into a fishing trawler just 90 miles from the finish line, ending any hopes of being on the winners podium.Courtesy Vendee Globe

These boats are stressful, noisy and life on board is difficult, said Bestaven after arriving in port. There is also loneliness sometimes.

Dahlin, who was given a heros welcome on crossing the line first, also spoke of intense ups and downs while sailing alone, often hundreds of miles from help, in the worlds most remote oceans. But it is a magical race, he added. It has changed me, I am not sure how yet, but it has. There are so many emotions of such strengththings I have not felt before. It is so strong.

I feel like Im living a dream, hallucinating, said Bestaven, holding two victory flares over his head after crossing the finish line. You go from total solitude to thisto this party and these lights. Im still in my race. Its a childs dream.

Bestavens racing yacht was equipped with state-of-the-art foils that lifted the hull above the water to increase speeds.Courtesy Vendee Globe

The 48-year-old Bestavendescribing his best quality as stubbornnesshas been ocean racing for 20 years but, like Dahlin, this was his first Vende Globe. The winners podium will consist of Bestaven in first place, Dahlin in second and Burton in third.

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The Grueling 80-Day Vende Globe Sailing Race Finally Has a Winner - Robb Report

Tokyo rejects Beijing's claims to the South China Sea in message to United Nations

Japan recently joined six other nations by messaging the United Nations that it rejects Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The note verbale sent Jan. 19 to the U.N. dismisses a September claim by Beijing that its maritime territory there extends to a cluster of islands and reefs more than 1,200 miles from the Chinese mainland. A note verbale is less formal than a diplomatic note and is sent unsigned.

The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam have voiced similar objections in the U.N. since September over Chinas claims to outlying archipelagos, including the Spratly and Paracel island chains.

Japan makes no claims of its own in the South China Sea, but it objects to Chinas assertion of sovereignty in the sea and airspace around those maritime features found to be low-tide elevations, according to the note.

Setting a baseline around the island chains would allow Beijing to claim nearly all of the South China Sea. The sea is a critical shipping lane vital to more than half of all global maritime trade, according to the U.N.

Japan in its message said China tried to restrict overflights by Japanese aircraft of Mischief Reef in the Spratlys, where China has built an airfield and made other improvements. It did not specify whether the aircraft was commercial or military.

As a matter of fact, China protested the overflight of Japanese aircraft in the airspace surrounding Mischief Reef and attempted to restrict the freedom of overflight in the South China Sea, Japan said in the note.

Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday declined to provide details about the flight, citing operational safety, or of the Chinese protest since it is a diplomatic matter.

The U.S. regularly conducts freedom-of-navigation operations sailing near or flying over contested islands in the South China Sea, including Mischief Reef.

While it has no competing claims in the region, Japan does control a small, uninhabited group, the Senkakus, in the nearby East China Sea, a claim China actively contests. President Joe Biden in a phone call Wednesday assured Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that the U.S. commitment to defend Japan extends to the Senkakus.

Japanese maritime security expert Tetsuo Kotani on Tuesday said Japan, whose constitution generally forbids offensive military action, relies on the international order set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The rule of law and rules-based order in the maritime domain is critical for maritime nations like Japan, the Japan Institute of International Affairs senior research fellow told Stars and Stripes by email.

Kotani added that Japan was likely inspired to issue the note as part of a collective action by the U.S. and some European and Southeast Asia countries.

Notes from the U.K., Germany and France to the U.N. in September decried Chinas claims to the South China Sea and emphasized the importance of unhampered exercise of freedom of the high seas, in particular the freedom of navigation and overflight in that region.

China in September told the U.N. its claims are consistent with the Law of the Sea treaty, which spells out international rights and responsibilities regarding the oceans.

Chinas assertion mirrored its failed argument in a 2016 arbitration involving the Philippines at The Hague that the nine-dash line drawn by China in 1947 is based on its historic rights to the region. The line encompasses about 90% of the South China Sea.

Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are established in the long course of history and have been consistently upheld by successive Chinese Governments, Beijing wrote to the U.N. in September.

Japan, however, said China had failed to invoke the relevant provisions of the treaty to back up its territorial claims.

The is no room for a state party to justify the application of baselines that do not satisfy the conditions stipulated under the Law of the Sea treaty, it wrote.

doornbos.caitlin@stripes.com Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos

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Tokyo rejects Beijing's claims to the South China Sea in message to United Nations - Stars and Stripes

Sea of Thieves' Season One update is finally here, adding big changes, new cosmetics, the Plunder Pass, a 120 Hz mode and more. While most of the tweaks amount to small bug fixes, your first quest for Renown should still start off from a more solid place. Check out the full patch notes courtesy of an official Rare blog post.

Season One Plunder Pass

Lunar Festival Ship Collection

Lunar Festival Costumes

Lunar Festival Weapon Bundle

Time-Limited Lunar Festival Pet Outfits

Order of Souls Possessed Pets

Vigilant Weapon Pose Emotes

Heroic Emotes

Free Plead Emote

New Year Sale!

Lunar Festival Bundle (Store Only)

Dark Adventurers Set

Silent Barnacle Set

Bedraggled Castaway Bilge Rat Set

Legacy Event Cosmetics

Arena Communication

Recommended Crew Size

120Hz Performance Mode

Larinna's Black Market

Gameplay

Pirate Emporium

Mysterious Notes

Tall Tales

Localization

Environment

Visual and Audio

Performance and Stability

As expected, the bulk of the Sea of Thieves Season One update is focused on the new additions to the game for its first official season. These include the paid Plunder Pass with 11 unique cosmetics, the free Renown progression system with 100 levels to climb and the addition of Trials to aid in said climb. Simply put, Sea of Thieves is becoming more similar to the other serviced-based games and battle royales you might already be playing.

Rare's iteration on the format, however, seems to offer players a lot at no additional cost. Still, there are paid rewards for those who wish to spend the extra $10 in Ancient Coins. The cosmetics are aplenty, but it should be noted that all Plunder Pass items will eventually make their way to the Emporium. In other words, if there's only one Plunder skin that you like, it may be smarter to buy that as its own item down the line rather than investing in the Plunder Pass upfront.

The Season One update also includes few noteworthy features we weren't expecting. Perhaps the most interesting item on the list is the 120 Hz mode tailored to those taking to the high seas on Xbox Series X. While we would've liked to see support for the Series S as well, it'll still be interesting to experience Sea of Thieves at such high framerates.

We're also pretty happy with the updated communication guidelines too, as anything that removes toxicity from the community is well worth implementing. While most of the minor adjustments in Sea of Thieves' latest update amount to bug fixes, Rare has snuck in some cool surprises to kick off Season One.

Sea of Thieves is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

What are your thoughts on Sea of Thieves Season One so far? Are you happy with the update? Tell us in the comments section!

See the original post:

'Sea of Thieves' Update Adds Season One, 120 Hz, Arena Tweaks and MorePatch Notes - Newsweek

Rare has detailed the price and content specifics of its upcoming Battle Pass and Seasons that will be coming to Sea of Thieves in the future.

Rarehas released details about Sea of Thieves' upcoming Battle Pass and other features that will be added to the game in the near future. Rare has shown a high level of support for the online Pirate-based teamwork game since its much-hyped release. The game didn't have much content at launch, but Rare has worked diligently to change that and continue supporting the artistic world that it has created.

Sea of Thieves was released in March of 2018 after being initially teased at E3 2015. The teamwork-based ship play, vast open world, and stylistic art approach drew much attention to the title. Hype continued to gather around the game until its release, whereupon it received middling consumer and critical response. The core game was a solid foundation, but the primary complaint that many players had was that the game did not haveenough content to keep people pillaging across the high seas. Luckily, since then Rare has released many updates that expanded on the core game's strengths and improved upon the criticized lack of content.

Related: How To Defeat Flameheart's Ghost Fleet In Sea Of Thieves

In an article by Gamesradar, Rare details the specifics pertaining to the game's upcoming Battle Pass and recurring Seasons. The Battle Pass itself functions similarly to others of its kind. Each Season within the game will last roughly three months each and introduce specific cosmetics, power-ups, timed events, and additional gameplay modes and variations. The Battle Pass allowsfans to acquire seasonal content easier than other players while givingthem earlier or even flat-out exclusive access to certain pieces of content. The Battle Pass will setplayers back 999 Ancient Coins (or $10 of real cash).

This is the latest large update that Rare has brought to Sea of Thieves to help keep the ever-expanding player base wanting more. In the past year alone, 15 million players have logged onto the game. While it can be a bit intimidating to enter a game fresh after it has already been established and after various updates, there are some easy ways to get startedwithin Sea of Thieves.

The story of Sea of Thieves is one that has became a bit too common within the gaming industry. Much like the releases of No Man Sky and Cyberpunk 2077, hype seemed to outpace where the game itself was actually standing as far as functionality and gameplay was concerned. However, Rare has shown that it is prepared to release continuous support for its game while also diligently staying aware of what the community has to say about their experiences. This is the reason why Rare is adding the Seasons and Battle Pass systems, to increase the lifespan of the game. This allows players to enjoy the game they were expecting.

No Man Skyhas seen a similar treatment since its release and a much needed overhaul is coming Cyberpunk 2077's way, according to CD Projekt Red. Sea of Thieves seems to be jumping onto the successful "game-as-service" bandwagon that has worked very well for smash hits such as Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege. For anyone looking to jump into their own pirate adventure, they can snag Sea of Thieves on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows.

Next: Every Xbox-Exclusive Game Coming In 2021

Source: Gamesradar,Sea of Thieves

Obsidian's Grounded Adds Bees & Mosquitoes In New Update

Excerpt from:

Sea Of Thieves Battle Pass Price & Details Revealed By Rare - Screen Rant

by Ed Gorman / IMOCA Globe Series 29 Jan 07:00 PST

Antoine Mermod, president of the IMOCA Class, hailed the 2020-21 Vende Globe as one of the class's greatest ever races, after a breathtaking night of drama on the Bay of Biscay that saw the Maitre CoQ IV skipper Yannick Bestaven clinch victory.

Speaking at the finish at Les Sables d'Olonne, Mermod noted that there is still a long way to go, with many boats still on their way up the Atlantic, but he said that it was already clear that this Vende Globe will go down as among the greatest and certainly one of the best races in the history of the IMOCA Class.

"Anyone who watched the battle to the finish over the last few days - that saw five skippers with a chance of winning after 80 days at sea - will agree with me that this was an exceptional race," said Mermod. "We have witnessed the best of solo ocean sailing by skippers in a class that has produced the most competitive race we have seen."

"It has also been a wonderful example of sportsmanship on the high seas," he added, "and I could not agree more with Yannick when he said graciously at the finish that there were two winners of this race, in a reference to Charlie Dalin who took line honours on APIVIA but has had to settle for second overall."

Mermod said the race had served up a gripping spectacle from day one, with regular changes in leader and with a highly competitive group at the front, fighting for every mile around the world. "What's more we have seen a very good battle between the foilers and the older boats and also some competitive races within races further down the fleet which continue as we speak," he said.

Mermod particularly highlighted the very low number of retirements with just eight skippers of the 33 who started in early November having dropped out so far. "I hope, of course that we do not see any further retirements," he said. "But I think that, given the very difficult circumstances in which this race has been staged against the backdrop of a worldwide pandemic, it has been a great endorsement of the IMOCA Class in terms of the rule and the preparedness of the boats and skippers."

"The stringent entry requirements that we have in place for skippers wishing to take part in the Vende Globe, together with the one-design aspects, the challenge of innovation and the safety protocols, have all been validated in a race, which has tested all the skippers and their boats to the limit," added Mermod.

"I would also like to salute the work of the SAEM Vende and its loyal and passionate partners. They stood firm in this very special context and enabled all those involved with the skippers to offer a Vende Globe to the public this winter, and what a Vende Globe!"

The IMOCA Class president said he was delighted by the global audience for a race which has been followed online all over the world. "We are keen to reach new markets and new fans wherever they are on the planet," he said, "and this race has helped project the exciting IMOCA story and its commercial partners in a way that few races have done before."

"We have witnessed exciting racing which has changed the way we think of the global race course," he added, "but also high drama with Jean Le Cam's display of exceptional seamanship when he rescued Kevin Escoffier. Then in the closing stages we have seen Boris Herrmann survive what could have been a major incident when coming into contact with a fishing trawler in the Bay of Biscay."

"It has been an unforgettable story and even as I speak that story continues to be written," said Mermod.

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Antoine Mermod, IMOCA Class President, hails 2020-21 Vende Globe as one of the greatest races - Sail World

(Photo: Ashley @Ashley_LBMCOC)

Heavy swells and rolling seas caused by a storm system parked off Greenland are generating a lot of attention and social media posts, but officials are warning people of the dangers of unpredictable wave action.

Environment Canada says high waves, pounding surf and higher-than-normal water levels are expected to continue for another few days off the east coast.

Thats prompted a warning from Public Safety about the chance of coastal flooding. The greatest risk could come around Saturday mornings high tide, with heavy seas extending to parts of the southwestern Avalon and eastern side of the Burin Peninsula this weekend.

Residents are asked to use caution near the coastline and be prepared in case of damage to roads or other infrastructure.

Advisory! Ongoing sea swells & storm surge conditions are occurring, causing significant damages to the breakwater at Long Pd. Forecasted conditions are expected to continue until Tuesday. Please use caution & stay away from the area. Repairs will begin when safe to be onsite.

Conception Bay South (@TownofCBS) January 28, 2021

Meanwhile, the Town of Conception Bay South is advising residents to use caution after a large portion of the Long Pond breakwater was washed away by storm surge. High sea swells eroded an estimated 200 meters of the breakwater.

Mayor Terry French says the situation is volatile, as there is a risk for significant damage in the coming days. The town encourages anyone with nearby property to take steps to ensure safety and reduce the risk of damage.

(Photo courtesy Pierre Gauvreau via Twitter.)

The town has hired an engineering firm to assess the damage and repair the breakwater when it is deemed safe to do so. However, due to the extent of the work, that may not happen until next week.

Depending on forecasts for the weekend, Mayor French says the town is considering setting up barricades to prevent access to high-risk areas.

An update is expected today.

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Heavy Swells Continue with Possibility of Coastal Flooding in Parts of Eastern and Southern Newfoundland - VOCM

International legal expert Mark Pieth argues that Switzerland needs to stop allowing big shipping companies to fly under the regulatory radar of their host country.

Mark Pieth, Criminal Law Professor, University of Basel

Though Switzerland is a landlocked country, it is the seat of some of the most prominent shipping companies in the world, including the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the second largest container shipper and the third biggest cruise ship operator.

MSC operates over 500 ships but there are many other smaller Swiss-based shipping companies close to the commodity industry, like SwissMarine with its 150 bulkers for coal and iron ore. Given Switzerland is one of the most important financial centres and the worlds largest commodity trading market as well as an important insurance (Swiss Re, Zrich) and logistics hub (Khne+Nagel, Panalpina), the countrys link to shipping shouldnt come as a surprise.

Switzerland has a long tradition in international trading. One of the oldest and most well-known companies, UTC (the former mission trading house), had its base in Switzerland and its own fleet of cargo sailing ships. Beyond shipping on the high seas, the ship registry in Basel is the nominal domicile for a large portion of cruise ships on the Rhein, Danube and other major rivers.

One question lingers: is Switzerland turning a blind eye to the industry because the ships roam seas far from the countrys borders and in a gray international legal zone?

Unlike for the financial services or pharmaceuticals industries, there is no regulator for shipping companies based in Switzerland.

The marginal exception is the mere 27 aging ships flying the Swiss flag simply to obtain public subsidies in view of potential crises. They can be called upon by the Swiss government to help in a crisis but contribute very little to the Swiss economy. There is an oversight body in Switzerland for these ships but the ships are amere footnote in history.

The large container, bulker and cruise operators flag their ships out to so called flags of convenience (predominantly Panama, the Marshall Islands and Liberia). This allows them to evade labour standards and minimum wages, to save taxes and hide behind a dense curtain of confidentiality. Trade unions have been unsuccessful in putting and end this practice.

A complex web of financial players and transactions has so far allowed Switzerland as the host state of shipping companies to evade responsibility for the sector.

Typically, a large container ship is owned by an obscure single ship company based in a place such as Hong Kong. The finance tools and beneficial owners hide behind offshore companies for instance in Panama. Frequently the safety standards of the ship registered with flags of convenience are lower than those registered in major sea faring nations. So-called classification societies are charged with the concrete supervision of standards on behalf of such flag states. They are, however, frequently caught up in a conflict of interest between their official function and private advisership - not very different from big auditing firms.

To prevent risks of unsafe ships roaming the seas, the port states assume a certain monitoring role called Port State Control.

While the large shipping companies, operating hundreds of ships worldwide, are often domiciled in Switzerland, they are not part of the Swiss regulatory system. Instead, the ships are under the regulation of their flag state, which are mostly flags of convenience.

How does this matter? If we look back at major oil spills (Deepwater Horizon, Erika, Prestige) traces of ownership and control regularly lead to Zug in central Switzerland. Switzerland can hardly plead ignorance when over the last decade 90 ships operated by Swiss companies were dismantled on beaches in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh under horrid conditions called beaching. NGOs claim that 80 of these ships run by MSC, were sold for their last voyage to a so called cash buyer to shield them from any responsibility during the beaching process.

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The problems of beaching or breaking down ships on tidal beaches, are well-known: toxic substances flow freely into the sea and workers are exposed (without protective gear) to asbestos, mercury, heavy metals, toxic paint, among other materials. Working conditions are extremely dangerous, much more than in the mining industry.

International treaties like the Basel Convention and the Ban Amendment prohibit the export of toxic waste to developing nations. With the more recent 2009 Hong Kong Convention on the safe recycling of ships, the lobbyists of the shipping industry and the Flags of Convenience States were able to rehabilitate beaching.

Officially, Switzerland states that it is not responsible for ships flying foreign flags even if the company operating them is based on its territory. The Swiss government considers the sale to a third party for its last voyage and the flagging out to an even more disreputable country as valid transactions. Switzerland totally neglects that the Basel Convention also applies to those organising the export of toxic waste.

Once again, Switzerland is allowing a problematic industry to establish itself on its territory and to fly under the regulatory radar.

Mark Pieth was an international regulator and criminal law professor for several decades. He is the author of books on corruption and the gold trade in Switzerland. He is currently working on a book about the challenges in the maritime industry.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of swissinfo.ch.

Opinion series

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Switzerland's irresponsible reign on the sea - SWI swissinfo.ch - swissinfo.ch