ICONS is the International Commission on Shipping, an independent commission originally set up to inquire into and report on means of combating sub-standard shipping.

ICONS Phase 1 was established with four Commissioners, the Hon P F Morris, Chair, Professor M Hayashi, Mr. J Bell and Captain B McKay.

Each of the Commissioners has a strong background in maritime matters and a commitment to shipping and environmental safety.

Although set up with initial funding from the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the commission has operated as a fully independent body.

During 2000 – 2001, the commission’s terms of reference were to:

• Investigate and appraise the current approach used by governments, industry and interested parties to achieve compliance with international minimum safety, environmental and social requirements
• Examine whether current approaches are in line with applicable international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
• Recommend an appropriate compliance/enforcement strategy that encompasses both the non-regulatory and regulatory approaches.

In the course of their yearlong investigation, the commissioners travelled the world to consult as widely as possible with interested parties. They also received 126 wide-ranging submissions from seafaring organisations and met with well over 400 people across the world.

ICONS held public meetings in London, Mumbai and Manila. A great deal of support was also received from government maritime agencies in the UK, Canada, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, the Greek Coast Guard, Cyprus, and India. (view Consultation meetings July – November 2000.)

The commission has the support of the United Nations agencies ILO and IMO, the European Commission, the OECD and a wide range of maritime agencies, including those of Australia, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Canada and Norway and mainstream industry organisations around the world.

The Commission has no regulatory power and offers no protection to its participants. Its work has provided a unique opportunity for the world’s shipping industry, its customers, employees and the world community to address the problems that flow from substandard shipping.

It has played a catalytic role in bringing parties together and establishing common linkages to develop means of improving the international shipping industry and providing safer conditions for seafarers. It relies on its ability to communicate with all parties, its catalytic role and the power of persuasion.

The commission presented its report ‘Ships, Slaves and Competition’ in Sydney on March 6 2001 through the vehicle of the International Shipping Symposium on Safer Shipping in the APEC Region, hosted by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services.

ICONS PHASE 11

Since the release of its report, the structure of the Commission has been reduced to Mr. James Bell and the Hon Peter Morris. The Commissions current task is to:

• Present, promote, explain, brief, publicise the report and its recommendations; and
• To assist and facilitate wherever possible in the implementation of the report and its recommendations.

For more information the current program for Phase II of the ICONS Commission, go to ICONS Program 2002.