Countries must back IMO says O?Neal

In opening MEPC 44 IMO secretary General William O?Neil said the IMO should be regarded as the only forum for setting safety and pollution prevention standards on international shipping. He said regional or unilateral standards which go beyond those imposed by the IMO and apply to foreign flagged vessels are detrimental to international shipping and the IMO itself.

His statement preceded a discussion on the loss of Erika and an informal meeting of the OPRA (Oil Prevention, Response and Co-operation) working group. This highlighted three particular problems: Erika?s cargo was very close to the specific gravity of seawater and became submerged just below the surface; when emulsified the oil became very viscous, causing problems with recovery pumps; and rough seas hampered recovery operations.

The implications of the Erika incident will be discussed at MEPC 45 in October.