OVER the past six years, INTERTANKO has established a global framework that allows it to address local and regional issues facing the tanker industry, in addition to tackling more general, industry-wide concerns.

The backbone of this framework is formed by INTERTANKO's permanent presence in four centres - Oslo, London, Singapore, Washington and by the organisation's regional panels.

INTERTANKO has also recently expanded its regional panels, adding a dedicated Latin American Panel to its Asian and North American Panels and Hellenic Forum. While the new panel's work programme is still under review, early suggestions include ship vetting, port state control, chartering practices, oil spill response, adoption of IMO conventions in the region and the Panama Canal. The panel, which has active support from oil shipping interests across the continent, will meet twice annually, in line with INTERTANKO's other panels.

Up-to-date overviews of each panel's progress are available at: www.intertanko.com

Asian Regional Panel
Three issues dominated the work of the Asian Regional Panel in 2001 - piracy, bunker fuel and navigation.

In 2001, the Panel endorsed the INTERTANKO action plan on piracy as well as a statement with six recommendations. One of the difficulties associated in the fight against piracy in South East Asia is the lack of an overall regional strategy, and the sensitivity of the three littoral States, Singapore Malaysia and Indonesia with regards sovereignty issues. Amongst those that were high-lighted were cooperation and coordination amongst governments and their maritime law enforcement authorities and developing a legal framework to facilitate and enhance effective prosecution.

The recent amendments to the CP60 (Singapore's bunkering procedures) on custody transfer sampling brings the Singapore Standard in line with the international standard, ISO 8217. However, a more vital issue which was further reviewed is the procedure of 'air blowing' of the bunker delivery hoses upon completion of taking bunkers. There are apparent safety concerns as well as significant errors in quantification of delivered bunkers caused by froth appearing on the surface of bunkers thereby impacting accurate measurement onboard the receiving vessel. A request was therefore made by INTERTANKO to delete the requirement for the 'air blowing' procedure from CP60 and employ an alternative method, namely, the drain back of the content of the bunker hoses to the bunker barge, which is also allowed in CP60.

Lastly, the first phase of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) Master-Pilot passage plan came into effect on 1 August 2001, following positive feedback received from masters and INTERTANKO members during the pilot project conducted by the PSA Marine, INTERTANKO and MPA Joint Work Improvement Team.

INTERTANKO Hellenic Forum
Among the key issues addressed by the Hellenic Forum in 2001 were the problems encountered by some ships transiting the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, especially those en route from Cypriot ports.

The forum also discussed policy issues around transparency, classification societies, phase-out, condition assessment schemes and newbuildings. The panel recommended that INTERTANKO make members aware of current newbuilding standards along with requirements likely to take effect in the near future, as well as clarifying the relationship between shipyards and classification societies.

INTERTANKO's environmental programme continued to take a high profile on the forum's agenda. At its April meeting last year, the forum hosted a seminar that addressed ship recycling, anti-fouling paints, ballast water and engine emissions.

The forum was instrumental in arranging a "Tanker Safety, Pollution Prevention, Spill response and Compensation" seminar in conjunction with ITOPF during INTERTANKO's autumn council meetings held in Athens. Key speakers at the seminar included lieutenant commander Sabatakakis of the Hellenic Coast Guard, who explained that measures taken by Greece for the protection of the marine environment were in line with international rules and standards. He pointed out, however, that their effectiveness depended on local support, international co-operation and a focus on long-term considerations. HELMEPA's D C Mitsatsos concluded the seminar by calling for the adoption world-wide of voluntary educational programmes similar to the HELMEPA junior initiative. He said that this would demonstrate the industry's proactive environmental stance and help the public better understand the commitment of tanker operators to high levels of service and a clean marine environment.

North American Panel
The North American Panel was able to build on the success of its 2000 US Supreme Court appeal to overturn Washington State tanker legislation. That decision heralded a new phase for INTERTANKO's US members, who no longer live in the shadow of the possible introduction of egregious local legislation that contravenes federal and international consensus on vessel safety and the environment. Nonetheless, it is important that INTERTANKO remain vigilant and support federal initiatives regarding vessel operations.

The North American Panel is keen for the US administration to engage constructively with international shipping bodies on issues of standards and technology. The US is a driving force in the IMO rulemaking process and to that extent INTERTANKO and its North American Panel cooperate with the USCG on international rulemaking activities. It also voiced concern that the industry maintain close contact with the US Environmental Protection Agency as the agency moved towards closer involvement in the government's marine initiatives, particularly on issues such as the drafting of vessel discharge regulations.

INTERTANKO's work on ballast water, engine emissions and waterway management issues were also once again high on the panel's agenda.

2001 was a dramatic year for the US and the events of 11 September lead to a series of measures designed to enhance maritime and port security. The panel discussed maritime security at its recent March meeting, at which members spoke out in favour of a global approach to security, requesting an IMO-led review of current regulations to increase the safety of seafarer, ship, cargo and the environment.

The ramifications of the sinking of the Erika continue to be felt not only by the European tanker industry but further a field as well. Post-Erika initiatives took up a significant amount of INTERTANKO's time during 2001 and the organisation's progress on European issues can be found elsewhere in this review. From having been historically a major player in shipping , it is clear that the European Union (EU) has set itself the target of once again becoming a leading voice in the development of international maritime legislation. It is important that INTERTANKO engages with the EU on this front and to this end the organisation's permanent listening post in Brussels has become increasingly more important.