INTERTANKO: Round Table Chairmen Meet in London

The Chairmen of the Round Table of international shipping associations (BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping Federation, INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO) met in London this week to discuss a number of matters considered to be crucially important for the Shipping Industry. The following were the resulting agreed positions: • Climate Change and Green House Gas Emissions from Shipping 1. It is hoped that the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009 (COP 15) will adopt a new agreement respected by all States worldwide. 2. Over the course of many years, shipping has demonstrably increased its own efficiency and that of the overall supply chain in the service of world trade and continues to strive for continuous improvement. 3. It was re-affirmed that any CO2 emission reduction measures to be applied to shipping should only be designed and implemented through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The prime objective of any such measures should be direct environmental benefit. 4. Furthermore, all such measures should be recognised on a truly international basis and be applied to all ships in international trade, regardless of flag. Maintaining a level playing field is fundamentally important in order to achieve genuine environmental benefit. Any measure should be analysed by IMO to ensure that there is no inadvertent adverse impact on the growth in world trade or on competition within the industry. • Piracy 1. The International Shipping Associations wish to record their deep appreciation to the United Nations, the IMO, individual Governments and their navies for all of the actions taken to protect seafarers and shipping and to keep vital international trade routes open and secure. 2. However, despite these efforts, piracy continues in the waters off the Somali coast. Governments are urged to agree on tougher measures to safeguard international shipping. These measures should include the search for land based solutions and a more robust approach to prosecution and conviction of pirates, through amendments to national law in all States concerned and under existing treaty obligations. 3. The shipping industry itself bears a heavy responsibility to assure the safety of those on ships, and the international associations re-iterate their view that complete compliance with the widely circulated Best Management Practice (BMP) is an absolute pre-requisite for all ships navigating through the ‘at risk’ areas in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. 4. Shipping should do, and is doing, all it can to help combat piracy, but it is the obligation of governments to ensure the freedom of the high seas, to reserve them for peaceful purpose and to assure the freedom of navigation. 5. The industry also recognises that piracy remains a scourge in other locations including the Gulf of Guinea and elsewhere, indicating a need for a global perspective and response. • Criminalisation and Fair Treatment of Seafarers 1. The four associations expressed their firmly held view that the Shipping Industry abhors the unwarranted criminalisation of seafarers in any jurisdiction. 2. Port and Coastal State Authorities worldwide are urged to respect the IMO/ILO Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers in the Event of a Maritime Accident. 3. It is feared that recruitment and retention of seafarers is being negatively affected by criminalisation, and unfair treatment. 4. All governments are urged to respect the rule of law where everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. There should be no imprisonment or detention of seafarers without charges having been brought and/or without trial; seafarers are not criminals. An accident is not a deliberate act, neither is negligence to be viewed as willful misconduct. Respect for international law is paramount. • Profile of the Industry 1. The International Shipping Industry has a record of continuous improvement in reducing oil pollution, increasing safety, increasing the quality of ships and services, reducing serious accidents, while at the same time the global fleet has increased substantially with over 50,000 ocean going vessels covering some 500 billion tonne miles every day, carrying about 90% of world trade in the most environmentally friendly fashion and at remarkably low unit costs. 2. The fact that virtually all cargoes of raw materials and finished goods are delivered safely and on time is not considered newsworthy and hence finds no place in the public consciousness. 3. The Shipping Industry continues its traditional engagement, both operationally and financially, in the training and education of seafarers, in a continuing effort to enhance the professionalism of shipping people worldwide, at sea and ashore. 4. The safety aspects of shipping, its environmental performance, and the welfare of seafarers have been well regulated through the remarkable achievements of the International Maritime Organization.