European Commission's Maritime Green Paper Raises Red Flag with Shipping
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In a twenty-two page document posted on their WEB site, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) have responded and addressed the merits European Commission’s Maritime Green Paper. While ICS and ISF welcomed Green the Paper’s spotlight on the importance of international regulations for the maritime industry, their preliminary comments also warned that the EU’s interest in increasing coordination between the EU and the IMO might be a mistake.
The EU’s Green Paper was published in June, and could have an enormous impact on the worldwide shipping industry. In particular, the ICS response focused on the proposals to increase coordination of European Union member states' positions and the pursuit of full EU membership at the International Maritime Organization.
The ICS and ISF document, entitled “Towards a Future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for cleaner seas and clearer oceans,” also complained that the Green Paper had given inadequate emphasis to environmental issues. In the documents summary remarks, the ICS and ISF said, “However, we suggest that the Green Paper gives insufficient emphasis to the very sound environmental performance of shipping in comparison to other commercial transport modes and the extent to which shipping is part of the solution rather the problem with regard to concerns about global warming.”
Other issues likely to controversial, said the ICS and ISF response, included possible resurrection of the idea of a European Ship Register or the development of an EU Coast Guard. The issues related to cabotage and what EU Green Paper proposals, if adopted, could mean for member states, was also brought up.
The ISF claims to be the only broad based international employers' organisation dedicated to maritime manpower issues. They provide advice and guidance to members by representing them on issues that are regulated. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the international trade association for merchant ship operators. They represent the collective views of the international industry from different nations, sectors and trades. ICS claims membership which represents more than half of the world's merchant fleet.