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Governments and Maritime Leaders Reaffirm Relationship –
IMO is The Place for Shipping Regulations London, May 17
– Speaking to International Maritime Organization (IMO) delegates this morning, Secretary General William O'Neil said
he was pleased with recent actions of the French government. He felt contacts made by French authorities in the last week, reaffirm the role of IMO as "the only forum where safety and pollution prevention standards affecting
international shipping should be considered and adopted." O'Neil opened the 72nd session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of IMO with remarks concerning repercussions from the sinking
of the tanker Erika. Since the accident off France's coastline last December, O'Neil has repeatedly stressed the importance of prompt actions to address the damages to the
credibility of the established safety system for tankers. However, he has cautioned governmental representatives that safety and marine pollution requirements relating to
international shipping should follow the guidelines adopted by IMO. O'Neil and others hope to prevent local or regional regulations from being enacted in reaction to marine accidents such as the Erika.
According to O'Neil, French authorities notified IMO last week of their intentions to submit proposals to amend the MARPOL Convention at the next meeting of the Marine
Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of IMO. The MARPOL Convention is the internationally recognized body of rules and regulations pertaining to marine pollution by
ships, established by IMO per mandate from the United Nations. The MEPC is responsible for reviewing changes to the MARPOL Convention.
O'Neil pledged to expedite IMO's response to proposals by the French government and the international community. He said he and others have already investigated accelerating
the timeframe for reviewing this matter. One of the suggestions he proposes is to move up the meeting date for the following MEPC meeting (MEPC 46) from March 2001, to a date
closer to MEPC 45, which meets this October. Such a change could accelerate any modifications to the MARPOL Convention by reducing the time span between key decision-making gatherings.
(Excerpts from the International Maritime Organization, Maritime Safety Committee: Secretary-General's speech, May 17, 2000)
MEPC 46 and the Tributyltin (TBT) Conference Actions surrounding the Erika could potentially affect other marine pollution legislation
pending at IMO. Moving up MEPC 46 could be either a blessing or a curse to experts working on tributyltin (TBT) legislation. This depends on whether the dates for a
conference scheduled to concur with MEPC 46 will be moved up as well. One of the sub-committees of MEPC, the Working Group on the Harmful Effects of the Use of Antifouling Paints for Ships,
is under pressure to establish guidelines for TBT biocide paints in time for a "diplomatic conference" on this issue in March 2001. A TBT diplomatic conference is currently scheduled to coincide with MEPC 46 (See CQD World Wire Report - MEPC SUMMARY – March 2000).  Last March, O'Neil cautioned the working group that they had
only one more gathering (MEPC 45 in October, 2000) before IMO expected a workable legal framework at the diplomatic conference in 2001.
A move forward in the dates of MEPC 46 could help the TBT
working group to meet this deadline. Should the diplomatic conference follow some time after MEPC 46, the working group would benefit from an additional MEPC session to debate the myriad of details involved.
However, if the dates for the TBT diplomatic conference are moved forward to coincide with MEPC 46, questions may arise whether there will be adequate time allotted for review and
response between MEPC gatherings. Committee members are already under pressure to come to agreements on highly contentious issues. Shortening
the time frame for debate on the TBT issue will only increase such pressures. IMO officials caution that all aspects of the situation will be evaluated and discussed before any schedule changes are finalized.
Other Agenda items at MSC(from IMO briefing 8 – 12 May 2000)
- Review of the safety of large passenger ships
- Draft revised Chapter V of SOLAS to be considered
- Bulk Carrier safety Working Group to be established
- Draft 2000 High Speed Craft Code
- Review of proposed code for piracy and armed robbery
- Amendments to IMDG code
- Implementation of amendments to the STCW Convention
For further information see www.imo.org |
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