The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) have expressed strong objections against the European Commission's plan to take a greater role at International Maritime Organization (IMO) .

ICS and ISF, in a statement, had "confirmed the global shipping industry's strong support for the IMO and the continuing and vital need for global regulation, and considered the growing influence of the European Union as a threat."

ICS Chairman/ISF President, Rolf Westfal-Larsen, said: "In one sense, the European Union can be seen as a positive force for maritime safety and pollution prevention, giving urgency to the implementation and enforcement of IMO conventions and helping to improve the performance of its member states."

However, Westfal-Larsen said that the shipping industry is "very concerned about the ambitions of the European Commission to speak at IMO on behalf of 25 nations, and to reduce the scope for independent action by national experts who are currently free to debate the details of new rules on the basis of their technical merits. We fear that the growing coordination of positions in Brussels will increase the politicization of debates at IMO, and reduce the quality of decision making. Brussels does not seem to realize that both the industry and society at large would be the losers as a result."

He added: "European activity affects all ICS members, not least those in Asia. Although the main focus of our work will always be IMO, we agreed that we must also be active in our relations with the various EU institutions on behalf of the global industry. If we can improve the quality of the dialogue with European politicians and policy makers, and thus the quality of the decision making process, everyone will benefit."

The ICS and ISF also discussed the implications of the EU Directive on Criminal Sanctions for Ship Source Pollution which were, the ICS/ISF said, "in conflict with the MARPOL Convention, could criminalize companies and seafarers involved with genuine accidents."

The meetings also expressed "great disappointment" at the decision last week by the Canadian Senate to adopt similar legislation in conflict with Canada's international treaty obligations - the so called Bill C-15.

Source: MaritimeGlobal.net 05/25/05