Press
Releases
March
24, 2000
Singapore Supports International Shipping Commission
At the conclusion of a meeting between the International Commission on Shipping (ICONS) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Captain Say Eng Sin on behalf of the Authority, presented ICONS Chairman, Mr. Peter Morris, with a cash contribution to assist the Commission in its work.
The MPA would also provide secretarial support to the Commission for its future public consultations in Singapore.
Thanking the Authority, Mr. Morris stated that he was hopeful that this support would prove to be symbolic of the desire of the shipping industry to see ICONS succeed in its important task.
The independent Commission, established last June at the initiation of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), comprises four Commissioners, the Chairman Mr. Morris (Australia), Mr. James Bell (United Kingdom), Professor Moritaka Hayashi (Japan), and recently appointed Captain Barry McKay (Canada).
The prime objective of ICONS is to address the ongoing problem of sub-standard shipping that continues to plague the shipping world.
The Commission members are in Singapore to plan strategy and to meet with senior industry representatives at the Quality Shipping Seminar at the Pan Pacific hotel today and tomorrow.
Chairman Morris said that over the next 12 months the Commission would be conducting a series of public consultative meetings with representatives of all elements of the shipping industry to seek local opinion and gather feedback.
In the course of its work it will be concentrating on the human element in terms of onboard conditions, the state of ships and the responsibilities and actions of flag states.
Recognising its dynamic growth it was planned to hold the first series of meetings at various locations throughout the APEC region followed by the Americas then Europe/Africa.
The first meetings would be held in Sydney on 24 July and Singapore on 26 July. Mr. Morris stated that, with various major initiatives addressing the problem of sub-standard shipping now underway on various fronts throughout the world, he saw the Commission playing an important role in analysing the overall situation and making appropriate recommendations for a compliance/enforcement strategy aimed at eventually eliminating the problem.
Mr. Morris also underlined the importance of as many sectors of the industry as possible providing information and opinions to the Commission.
Bearing this in mind, it was the intention of ICONS, within the next few weeks, to directly contact as many parties as was possible, within the ASIA-Pacific region, with an invitation to participate in the Commission's deliberations commencing in July. However, given the relative short time frame and the logistical challenge of reaching everyone in this manner, all interested parties were earnestly invited to make their views known at the earliest opportunity, wither by mail or through the ICONS web site prior to receiving such notification.
The deadline for submissions for the Asia-Pacific meeting is May 31st, 2000.
Forthcoming Program
| Bombay |
28 - 29 July 2000 |
| Manila |
31 July - 1st August 2000 |
| Beijing |
3 - 4 August 2000 |
| Hong Kong |
7 August 2000 |
| Tokyo |
9 - 10 August 2000 |
|
