INTERTANKO voices its concerns

INTERTANKO supports the investigation and prosecution of illegal discharges of oil from ships but strongly objects to criminalising accidental oil pollution and to treating seafarers as criminals

Any criminal offence of pollution from a ship must be clearly defined and in accordance with international law and any penalties imposed on someone found guilty of such an offence must be proportionate. There should also be parity with any penalties imposed for pollution from land based sources and any suspects must be treated fairly, impartially and in accordance with international law on human rights.

INTERTANKO also requests coastal states to comply with their existing treaty law obligations to ensure that adequate, affordable, oil waste reception facilities. Further, in order to safeguard the lives of seafarers and the marine environment, INTERTANKO urges coastal states to ensure proper contingency plans are put in place so that adequate assistance and, if necessary, a place of refuge can be made available to a ship in distress.

On the issue of class ship construction surveys, INTERTANKO welcomes the development of Common Structural Rules for Tankers which are seen as an evolution and, importantly, a unification of the current individual classification societies regulations. This is an industry pro-active initiative which would further contribute to preserve the tanker industry excellence in safe operations and environmental protection.

The final draft of Common Structural Rules for Tankers will soon be released and based on the information gained so far on these developments, INTERTANKO:

(a) Expresses support for the development of Common Structural Tanker Rules

(b) Encourages the adoption of “common” rules by all IACS Class Societies

(c) Pending advice from the INTERTANKO Safety, Technical and Environmental Committee

(ISTEC) on assessment of the final draft, anticipates supporting the new JTP rules

(d) Urges that the new rules be implemented on the schedule now proposed.

(e) Requests classification societies to assess and to suggest clear implementation procedures

that would ensure that tankers being built to the current class regulations, including

shipbuilding contracts signed before the enforcement of the Common Structural rules for

tankers, were not negatively impacted by the introduction of new construction rules

(f) Requires that, in conjunction with new Common Structural Rules, Classification Societies

enforce their (i) Newbuilding Survey Standards and (ii) Construction Standards with the

shipyards they operate with. Further, that Classification Societies must take steps to enforce

the compliance quality standards they have approved for shipyards.