Unclos
ICS Congratulates UN Secretary General
ICS Chairman Masimichi Morooka has celebrated the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law Of The Sea by writing to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. On behalf of the world’s shipowners, Mr Morooka extended congratulations to the UN and the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at Montego Bay, on 10 December 1982. He said: “The enduring relevance of UNCLOS pays testimony to the vision of those that drew up the text and oversaw its adoption all those years ago. Given that international shipping transports about 90% of world trade, UNCLOS is of great importance.” UNCLOS, provides the basic legal framework that defines the extent of States’ jurisdiction for the implementation of IMO’s detailed treaties and regulations for maritime safety and pollution prevention. These IMO Conventions are widely ratified by governments, and genuinely implemented and enforced on a global basis. Mr Morooka said: “The delicate balance of rights and responsibilities between nations as established in UNCLOS is central to the belief of the shipping industry that it is of the utmost importance that this major UN Convention continues to operate in its present form.
Senate Hearing on UNCLOS
The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conducted a hearing on possible ratification by the United States of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Following revisions to the deep seabed mining provisions of UNCLOS, the convention was signed by the United States in 1994, but no action was taken by the Senate toward ratification until now. Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), Committee Chair, made an opening statement generally supportive of ratification
UNCLOS Approved by Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conducted a business meeting at which, among other things, consideration was given to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Committee Chair Joseph Biden (D-DE) commenced the meeting by expressing his strong support for adoption of the Convention. As noted in a press release by Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), adoption of the Convention was recommended by a vote of 17 in favor with four opposed
INTERTANKO members lobby MEPs in Brussels
INTERTANKO’s European Reference Group continued its promotion of INTERTANKO’s policies in Brussels last week. Numerous meetings were arranged with Members of the European Parliament from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, with transport or shipping attaches from Malta, Cyprus and the U.K., as well as with senior officials from the Maritime Transport Directorate. INTERTANKO’s main message remains that shipping is international and should be regulated through international rules agreed in IMO
ICS: Ocean Shipping Well Regulated
Shipping's impact on the world's oceans is well regulated, says ICS Chairman at the World Ocean Summit. When it comes to governing the oceans, shipping largely has its house in order – that is the view of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) whose Chairman, Spyros M Polemis, took part in a major debate about oceans governance, in Singapore (Feb 23rd and 24th). Discussing ‘Who Should Rule The Waves’ at the World Ocean Summit
ICS: Shipping's Environmental Impact Well Regulated
Shipping’s environmental impact is well regulated by IMO, & the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should be left alone says ICS ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe, taking part in a major debate about oceans governance in New York said that: 'There is no shortfall in governance so far as the international regulation of shipping is concerned, which responsibly utilises the excellent facility that the sea provides for international transport - about
Symposium on Safety and Protection of Marine Environment to be Held in November
The Nippon Foundation (NF) and the Round Table of international shipping associations (RTisa) (BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO & INTERTANKO) are pleased to announce a symposium in Kuala Lumpur on November 24, 2008 to discuss current positive developments in support of safety and protection of the marine environment in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The governments of , and (the Littoral States), having been consulted on the objectives of the event by the organisers
INTERTANKO Calls for Prosecution of Bow Saga Pirates
INTERTANKO calls for the prosecution of the Somali pirates whose attack on the Norwegian 40,085 dwt chemical tanker Bow Saga in the Gulf of Aden Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor was frustrated by the Spanish frigate Victoria, where the pirates are now being detained. INTERTANKO hopes that these men will not be released due to the absence of any country willing to detain them and try them in court. We appeal to the Seizing State (Spain) or the Flag State (Norway) to co-operate to
ICS Sets out Future For Arctic Shipping
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), which represents over 80% of the world merchant fleet, has issued a new position paper on Arctic shipping. As the Arctic becomes more accessible, ICS has set out some key principles with regard to the future governance of Arctic waters. Offshore support vessel activity is already significant, while destination shipping is anticipated to grow as the extraction of energy and raw materials is developed
Arctic Shipping Future: ICS Sets Out Its Position
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), representing + 80% of the world merchant fleet, issues a new position paper on Arctic shipping. As the Arctic becomes more accessible, ICS has set out some key principles with regard to the future governance of Arctic waters. Offshore support vessel activity is already significant, while destination shipping is anticipated to grow as the extraction of energy and raw materials is developed
INTERTANKO launches PhD Fellowship
INTERTANKO launches PhD Fellowship in Marine Pollution Law at World Maritime University. INTERTANKO is to fund a three-year PhD study into the emerging law and policy on criminal liability for marine pollution and the effects of this on seafarers
Piracy & Armed Robbery: Latest Report
In the past 7-days the following attacks were noted by the International Chamber of Commerce, Commercial Crimes Services. Balikpapan Anchorage, Indonesia Two robbers armed with long knives boarded an anchored bulk carrier via the anchor chain. Duty crew noticed the robbers and raised the alarm
Piracy & Armed Robbery: Latest ICS Report
ICC International Crime Services (ICS) publish its report on world-wide pirate attacks on shipping thus far in the month of April 2013 The Piracy & Armed Robbery Report section below follows the definition of Piracy as laid down in Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations
Ambrey Risk Awarded Coast Guard Accreditation
Maritime security specialist, Ambrey Risk, based in Hereford U.K., announced that the company has become Maritime Coastguard Agency Accredited, and can now offer STCW95 courses, which are the basic entry level training courses for working at sea.
CSR to UN: We Need to Enforce UNCLOS
Douglas B. Stevenson, the Director of the Center for Seafarers' Rights of the Seamen's Church Institute, urged delegates attending the week-long meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to place on its agenda review of its protections for persons employed in
How Long Must the Tampa Wait?
Much has been said and written about the fate of the refugees aboard the Norwegian RoRo vessel Tampa and who's to blame. What has not been discussed is what the Tampa should have done or the international community's distressing response to the fate of not only the refugees but also to that of the
SCI Calls For Australia To Accept Refugees
The Center for Seafarers Rights (CSR) of the Seamen's Church Institute of New York & New Jersey urged the Australian government today provide safe haven for accept the people rescued from a sinking Indonesian ferry by the M/V Tampa, a Norwegian ship
ABS Fires Back Over Prestige Claims
ABS has instituted legal action against the Government of Spain seeking recovery for any claims made against the classification society for damages arising from the Prestige casualty. The ABS action is an aggressive response to the suit filed against the not-for-profit classification society by
USCG Commandant Supports UNCLOS Accession
Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, issued a statement reiterating long-standing Coast Guard support for joining the Convention on the Law of the Sea. “Becoming a party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea would greatly enhance our global position in
IMO Council Agrees on Piracy Initiative
The IMO Council, meeting for its 98th session in London, has agreed further action to address the continuing incidence of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships sailing in waters off the coast of Somalia and, in particular, ships carrying humanitarian aid to the country.
Case on EU Ship Source Pollution Directive to be Heard
On September 25, 2007, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg will hear oral arguments in the case brought by INTERTANKO and the industry coalition to examine the validity of the European Union (EU) Ship Source Pollution Directive.
BIMCO President Rages Over Kidnapping and Murder of Seafarers
A highly audible protest from the shipping industry against piracy – with a 30-second blast from ships’ sirens every day at noon, in every port in the world – has been recommended to draw public attention to the criminals who are now menacing world trade
Legal Beat: MARPOL Enforcement in the United States
Blank Rome LLP’s Gregory Linsin and Jeanne Grasso explain the challenges and lay out a cogent solution… Current Trends in MARPOL Enforcement The United States has long been aggressively enforcing compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from