INTERTANKO WELCOMES EC’S “CAUTIOUS” APPROACH TO SAFETY INITIATIVE

[proud_ionian]

INDEPENDENT tanker owners association Intertanko has applauded the European Commission for taking the time to do the necessary impact studies and assessments before tabling any new proposals on maritime safety.

The industry has recommended such a cautious approach, which should also be well in line with the Commission’s new overall vision of “better - not more – regulation”.

Intertanko notes: “For close to two years now the European Commission has announced that it will soon present its so-called Third Maritime Safety Package consisting of new initiatives within the fields of port state control, monitoring of ship traffic, minimum requirements for European Union (EU) flags, further controls of classification societies acting as Recognised Organisations (ROs), maritime liability and insurance as well as accident investigation.”

It continues: “Until now the aim has been to have all these proposals ready for a first discussion at the forthcoming EU Transport Ministers’ meeting at the end of June. According to various sources in Brussels it is now quite clear that this process has been further delayed. Despite several months of intensive work by the European Commission services and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), and two official hearings with member states as well as industry, differences of opinion prevail on several important topics.

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[proud_ionian]

Meanwhile Intertanko has submitted a comment to IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, which meets July 18-22, on the draft guidelines for Port State Control for MARPOL Annex VI and associated draft MEPC resolution.

Intertanko’s comments suggest new text aimed at avoiding some practical problems in the application of these guidelines - problems primarily due to lack of ratification of MARPOL Annex VI by many of the parties to the Convention.

Furthermore, Intertanko seeks clarification on whether a flag state which has not ratified MARPOL Annex VI could issue International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP)/Engine International Air Pollution Prevention (EIAPP) Certificates to ships.