A first ever-global inquiry into the effectiveness of international shipping safety standards, law and practices has begun in Australia.

The inquiry is being carried out by the International Commission on Shipping (ICONS) and is being led by the former Australian Minister for Transport, The Hon. Mr Peter Morris.

ICONS was established at the initiative of the International Transport Workers Federation and operates with the support of government agencies from the APEC region, the Americas and Europe.

Mr Morris said that there are elements within the merchant shipping industry who are prepared to continually flout international safety rules to cut costs.

"These elements continue to use ships of shame that endanger the lives of seafarers, provide inhuman hardship for some crew members as well as causing irreparable damage to our coastal environments," Mr Morris said.

The Commission has invited submissions from interested individuals, organisations and government agencies across the world.

Participants can lodge submissions electronically on the Commissions web site, www.icons.org.au. The preferred closing date for submissions is 31st May 2000.

Mr Morris added that over the years Australia has experienced its share of near misses.

"Something must be done before we suffer any real catastrophe, either through the loss of human life or irreparable harm to our fragile coastal environment."

"In 1991 off the West Australian coast, the tanker Kirki lost its bow. Whereas just last December we narrowly missed, not only a massive environmental catastrophe, but also a loss of human lives when the 20 year old, fully laden tanker, Eburna had its forward deck ripped open during towage movements in Melbourne.

"The fact that the cargo did not ignite was sheer good luck."

"In addition there have been several groundings on the Great Barrier Reef over recent years."

"The ultimate beneficiaries of sub-standard practices are the owners of cargo carried in these ships and the ships' charterers themselves. The world is demanding this must cease."

A reminder of just how vulnerable Australia is to the destruction of our marine environment, as a result of sub-standard shipping, was seen last December off the French Coast.

In that incident, the 25-year-old tanker, Erika broke up and despoiled 400kms of the coastline with fuel oil, destroying native flora and fauna, fishing grounds, beaches and tourism venues.

According to Mr Morris, governments and major shipping organisations worldwide are responding to these danger signals by demanding greater accountability and transparency in shipping activities.

He said that the Commission expects to make recommendations on the appropriateness of the current regulatory approach to shipping safety, the failure of nations that register ships to carry out their international responsibilities and to develop a means by which the industry can be made more transparent.

The Commission has complete independence in the determination of its work program, the performance of its tasks, its deliberations and the preparation of its report.

ICONS will hold its first public hearing in Sydney on the 24th July followed by Singapore on the 26th July. It will then proceed to Mumbai (India), Manilla (Philippines), Hong Kong, Beijing (China) and Tokyo (Japan).

The Commission will then travel to Canada and USA in the first half of September and Europe in November. It aims is to publicly release its report in Sydney in March 2001.

The members of the Commission are: The Hon. Peter Morris, Australia (Chairman), James Bell, London (Commissioner), Prof Moritaka Hayashi, Tokyo (Commissioner), and Capt Barry McKay, Ottawa (Commissioner).