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Joop Timmermans News

13 Nov 2003

ISU Presidents Urges Governments to Focus on Salvage

EU Members and coastal states worldwide are in danger of “losing the plot” over the response to the Prestige spill, according to the International Salvage Union (ISU). “Much has been achieved since the loss of the Prestige. In particular, there is now a much clearer understanding of the importance of taking the right decision when confronted with a request for a place of refuge. New guidelines in this area are about to be adopted by the IMO. Unfortunately, however, governments appear to be at risk of losing the plot when it comes to the fundamental issue: preventing the next Prestige. “While there is always room for improvement in the management and operation of ships, no amount of fresh regulatory action will eradicate the potential for another Prestige.

14 Jan 2004

Column: OPA 90 & the War on Terror

According to the USCG, oil spills have been reduced by roughly 90 percent since OPA90 was passed some 12 years ago. Encouraging, but statistics are often misleading. It would be a reasonable assumption that the oil that was spilled was a result of human error or equipment failure; not spilled intentionally. On September 10, 2001 you could base the potential for spills on past incidents. All that changed when we got our wake-up call the next morning. "9/ll showed us…the terrorists used our own infrastructure against us," says Admiral Vivien S. Crea, First Coast Guard District, Boston. We realize now that there are those who would benefit from intentionally spilling oil…and the more the better. OPA90 was not designed for this scenario.

16 Sep 2002

Timmerman Elected ISU President

Joop Timmermans was elected President of the International Salvage Union at the ISU’s September Annual Meeting in Quebec. Joop Timmermans, managing director of the Dutch towage, salvage and heavy lift company I.T.C. (International Transport Contractors), succeeds Jean Labescat, of the French Les Abeilles. Joop is a master mariner by profession. He commenced his seagoing career in 1962 with Nederland Line (Royal Dutch Mail) of Amsterdam, which later merged with NedLloyd Lines. He obtained his Master's License in the early 1970s. In 1975, Joop joined I.T.C. as a Marine Superintendent. He became Manager of the Commercial Department four years later and Vice-President in 1983. In 1991, he moved to Fairmount Marine of Rotterdam as Managing Director, a position he held for six years.

09 Dec 2002

Salvors Plan for Effective Casualty Response

A 10-point plan for more effective ship casualty response has been put forward by the International Salvage Union (ISU). The plan includes a proposal for an advanced EU “Casualty Response Database”, capable of real-time tracking of large salvage tugs and other key salvage assets. Speaking at the Barcelona Shipping Law Forum today, ISU President Joop Timmermans said: “Some of these measures can be put into place very quickly. Others are for the longer term. All 10, however, would make a useful contribution to improved casualty response. · Measure 1: EU adoption of the UK Command and Control model, based around a Ministerial Representative (the “SOSREP” in the UK).

05 Dec 2002

ISU Plan for Faster Response to Marine Emergencies

Concern for the marine environment will ensure that salvors and governments will continue to develop closer links, Joop Timmermans, President of the International Salvage Union (ISU) said today (December 5). Speaking at the Salvage & Wreck Removal Conference in London, the ISU President said: “New opportunities are opening up for cooperation with governments. One option is a new approach to providing information on salvage vessels, equipment and other resources available, locally and nationally, to confront a marine emergency. Obviously, National Response Plans include salvage-related information. Salvors could do more, however, to ensure that – as a minimum – all national plans hold comprehensive and up-to-date information on salvage resources.

02 Dec 2002

ISU Calls for Action

The loss of the tanker Prestige should convince the international community of the need to deal with the places of refuge issue once and for all, the International Salvage Union (ISU) said today. Joop Timmermans, ISU President, says: “Clearly, no-one is satisfied with the present system, which is dominated by knee-jerk reactions from politicians who have no experience of marine salvage and the assessment of pollution threats. There must be a better way of working. “Salvors are best qualified to provide technical input when requests for shelter are made. Naturally, the salvor wants to save the ship and keep the pollutant inside the vessel. This is also what the politicians want.

21 Mar 2003

ISU Poll Finds Rise in Tanker Assistances

Members of the International Salvage Union (ISU) recovered nearly one million tonnes of potential pollutants during salvage operations last year. During 2002, emergency assistance was provided worldwide for 268 vessels with cargoes and bunkers threatening pollution, as against 247 ships in 2001. The results of the ISU’s latest annual Pollution Prevention Survey show that oils, chemicals, other pollutants and bunker fuel recovered last year totalled 957,122 tonnes, as against 539,073 tonnes in 2001. This amounts to an increase of 77.5%. ISU President Joop Timmermans says: “ISU salvors have recovered over 10.4 million tonnes of potential pollutants in the nine years to end-2002.

31 Mar 2003

ISU Warns that Environmental Salvage is Undervalued

Salvage services with environmental objectives are undervalued, according to the International Salvage Union. ISU President Joop Timmermans told some 200 delegates at the March 2003 Fourth International Marine Salvage Conference: “In the ISU’s view, environmental defense – as a function of salvage – is undervalued. The ISU–sponsored conference was held at the London headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Joop Timmermans said the salvor’s reward for his traditional role, property recovery, was related to the value of that property. As for any additional value placed on environmental – or public interest – salvage services, the Special Compensation provided under Article 14 of the Salvage Convention is confined, essentially, to the reimbursement of expenses.