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Main aims
Asian Regional Panel
Hellenic Forum
Latin American Panel
North American Panel
- Providing a forum for the regional members, to facilitate better communication between themselves and with the Association; to promote the sharing of experiences; to enhance their understanding of, and their participation and involvement in, the activities of the Association, including the work of the Association’s other committees
- To promote the objectives, policies and strategies of the Association in the region, with respect to free competition, safety at sea and the protection of the environment
- To promote the activities, priorities and concerns of the regional members and of their tanker communities relative to the overall activities of INTERTANKO’s governing bodies and committees
- To address those tanker issues particular to a region and to its regional members
- To provide a conduit for regional members to provide input to INTERTANKO’s work programme and to examine and review issues that could be submitted to Council
- To act as a resource for the Association, providing feedback, information and advice for the other committees and for the Secretariat
- To promote interaction between the Association and the tanker industry in the region, and to cooperate with industry, governmental and environmental bodies in the region
- To examine and review regional legislative proposals and activities affecting the whole membership
- To screen applications from the region for INTERTANKO membership
- The regional panel chairman may also participate in the INTERTANKO Detention Review Board as appropriate if the member under review is from that region.
Asian Regional Panel
Chairman
Dr JH Lee, SK Shipping
Regional Manager and Secretary:
John C. Fawcett-Ellis / Tim Wilkins
Asia is vital to the global shipping industry. INTERTANKO has a substantial proportion of its membership in Asia and therefore devotes significant resources and commitment to this diverse and important region. The Association’s Chairman and Managing Director are regularly in Asia ensuring an active dialogue with members, maritime authorities, politicians and other key shipping people in this area.
From its base in Singapore, INTERTANKO can sustain and expand its activities throughout the region. 2006 saw a change at the helm at the Singapore office. The Association’s General Counsel John Fawcett-Ellis, who had been responsible for Asian activities since 2002, returned to Oslo and from 1 September Tim Wilkins, the Association’s Environmental Manager, took over as Regional Manager.
The highlight of 2006 was the Association’s Singapore Tanker Event in March. The Asian Regional Panel (ARP) and members in Singapore were very supportive of this event. Our sincere thanks go to those so generously sponsored the event. The meetings of our governing bodies, the conference sessions, the first Poseidon Challenge Day, and the many social events were well attended and deemed to have been a success.
The Asian Regional Panel, under the chairmanship of Dr JH Lee of SK Shipping, acts as a forum for members to discuss key issues including those of international and regional importance. With INTERTANKO’s Chairman, Managing Director and a strong presence from INTERTANKO’s directors and management team, the Asian Regional Panel met in September in Singapore. The Chairman, encouraged local members to recognise the importance of INTERTANKO’s Regional Panels in providing input to the Association’s Council to engage on key issues.
INTERTANKO’s Secretariat briefed Panel members on issues including the Ship Source Pollution Directive, ship recycling, air emissions and piracy. The Panel was updated on security and safety in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore by Dr. Sam Bateman of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS). Many members were interested in the continued security activity by the littoral states from the maritime perspective. In fact, one of the main issues preoccupying our Singapore office in 2006 was lobbying for a revision of the listing of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as a war risk additional premium area. INTERTANKO was pleased when in August the Joint War Committee of the London market reclassified the area, taking most of the Straits area off the list of additional premium areas. In September John Fawcett-Ellis and Tim Wilkins visited Kuala Lumpur to participate in the international meeting on security and safety of navigation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore hosted by the IMO and the Government of Malaysia.
INTERTANKO has an expanding membership in Asia. Since 2002 the number of members and associates in the regional has grown by more than one third. Since the Association amended its Articles of Association so that state owned companies, which operate in effect as independent trading entities, are eligible for full membership, we have been delighted that China Shipping Group and Sinotrans Shipping have taken the step to become full members. We welcome their increased engagement in the activities of the Association. The Japan P&I Club has also been welcomed as an associate member.
The year concluded with the Regional Manager visiting Japan together with the Chairman and Managing Director, meeting members in Tokyo and hosting a successful members’ reception with kind assistance from INTERTANKO’s local members.
Hellenic Forum
Chairman
Emmanouel Vordonis
Secretary: Tim Wilkins/Bill Box
Hellentic Committee:
Emmanouel Vordonis, Thenamaris Ships Management Inc
Nicholas G. Fistes, Euronav NV (Vice Chairman)
Costis E. Kertsikoff, Eletson Corporation (Vice Chairman)
Spyros M. Polemis, Seacrest Shipping Co Ltd (Vice Chairman)
Dimitris Dragazis, Consolidated Marine Management Inc
John P. Ioannidis, Olympic Shipping & Management SA
Dimitris S. Korkodilos, Andriaki Shipping Co Ltd
Dimitris Lyras, Paralos Maritime Corporation
Ken Marshall, Neda Maritime agency Co Ltd
John G. Skordias, Chandris (Hellas) Inc
Angelos Spyrantis, Sun Enterprises Ltd
Nikolas P. Tsakos, Tsakos Shipping and Trading SA
The Hellenic Forum is an important focal point for INTERTANKO’s Greek, Cypriot and Turkish members, whose interest to be involved and actively contribute to INTERTANKO thinking and initiatives, adds depth and strength to the Association’s work. In the past year the Forum has reviewed and endorsed the applications of 10 Greek tanker owners to join INTERTANKO. These new members are welcome additions to the Association and we hope that they will become actively involved.
The Forum met twice during 2006 under the chairmanship of Manolis Vordonis. Both meetings were well supported with some 60 participants attending and were preceded or followed by a Hellenic Committee dinner. The meeting in March was attended by the Association’s Managing Director who outlined the key issues for the Association. In particular he reported on the status of the challenge to the EU Ship Source Pollution Directive by the industry coalition which had been seeking a reference from the High Court in London to the European Court of Justice to consider the legality of the Directive and its conformity with international law, with a view to protecting the rights of seafarers and others in the industry and to uphold the principle of the supremacy of international law. At that meeting the Association’s Environment Manager, Tim Wilkins gave a report on matters concerning ship recycling and ballast water management including an update on the current discussions at the IMO’s MEPC committee.
The Forum also warmly welcomed its guest speaker, Simon Lisiecki, BP Shipping’s Director for Government and Industry. He spoke of BP’s new objectives in raising the bar for the tanker sector and ensuring that a positive communication and cooperation existed between tanker operators and BP so that they could work together on shared problem areas. An open and constructive discussion followed.
The Forum next met in October. Reflective of the importance of this region as having a deep knowledge and understanding of tanker operations, the meeting was honoured to have as a guest speaker BP Shipping’s new Chief Executive David Baldry, its Global Chartering Manager Lars Denker Nielsen as well as its Director of Government and Industry Simon Lisiecki. There was a good exchange of ideas and a willingness to develop closer working relationships as well as constructive discussions on quality, safety and eco-friendliness which continued during the Hellenic Committee dinner to which principals were also invited.
This meeting was also attended by the Association’s Technical Director, Dragos Rauta who gave a presentation on the background to and the content of INTERTANKO’s submission to the IMO Working Group on MARPOL Annex VI (Air Pollution). This complex issue was discussed at length by the Forum, with expressions of support and also of concern over its commercial and operational implications. It was understood that none of the solutions are without their difficulties but that all deserved serious consideration. The Chairmen of INTERTANKO’s Environmental Committee, Bunker Sub-committee and ISTEC were asked to use their specialist knowledge to form considered views on the air pollution issue in general but in particular on the INTERTANKO submission.
The desire of regional members to be actively involved in, and contribute to, INTERTANKO can only make the Association stronger, better and more effective in the international domain. Hellenic Forum is by definition about acting as a catalyst for boosting the participation and involvement of local members in the activities of the Association. This thinking has been behind the creation of a new, effective listening and response mechanism whereby individual Hellenic Forum members with relevant specialist knowledge meet (or correspond) to study and discuss specific issues. Each of these Regional Focus Groups (RFGs) will have a Regional Coordinator who may be a member of the relevant INTERTANKO Committee, and who may channel communication between Committee and RFG. This initiative might trigger similar moves from other regional panels.
INTERTANKO is grateful to its Hellenic Forum members who contribute greatly to the leadership and work of the Association’s various committees.
* Bill Box took over the role of Secretary to the Hellenic Forum with effect from 1.9.06 in succession to Tim Wilkins who has taken on responsibility for the Association’s Asian membership.
Latin America Panel
 |
 |
| Chairman Jose Peraza(2006) Joe Angelo |
Chairman 2007 Carlos Juan Madinabeitia |
Latin American Panel members:
Jose Peraza (Chairman), Heidenreich Marine Caracas CA
Carlos Juan Madinabeitia, Tradewind Tankers SA
Capt Jose Luis Hernandez, PMI Comercio Internacional SA de CV
Elizio Araujo Neto, Petrobras Transporte SA-Transpetro
Gustavo Pereyra, Antares Naviera SA
Michael Schroder, Sociedad Naviera Ultragas
"As we end 2006 we must be proud of what we have achieved! The Panel had a successful meeting in Rio de Janeiro this year with strong attendance and we look forward to our next meeting in February 2007 in Panama - which will be a special occasion as this meeting will be led by Carlos Juan Madinabeitia from Trade Wind Tankers, the new Chairman of the Latin American Panel, following the terms of reference, for the next 2 years. We are also proud of our choice!
I would like to thank our Chairman Steve Van Dyck for his leadership as well as Peter Swift for his dedication in supporting the establishment of this Panel. Special thanks to Howard Snaith and Dragos Rauta for all the knowledge they have shared with us, and finally strong recognition to our good friend Joe Angelo for his firm support at the Secretariat of the Panel." (Jose Peraza)
INTERTANKO’s Latin American Panel conducted its fifth meeting in April 2006 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ironically, this was the first meeting of the Latin American Panel actually held in Latin America - a sign of its certain success. To set the stage, the meeting started with a dinner for all members and guests overlooking the Copacabana Beach.
The Panel was honoured to have as its guest Captain Andres Manual Monzon, Deputy Secretary of the Vina del Mar Agreement on Port State Control. He provided the Panel with an update on the port state control programme in Latin America, providing a general overview of the organisation and of framework of the agreement, providing statistics on the inspections, deficiencies and detentions in the region. He invited INTERTANKO to send a representative to the next meeting of the Vina del Mar Agreement PSC Committee which took place in September 2006 in Venezuela.
Dr. Peter Swift, Managing Director of INTERTANKO, offered the panel an overview of the major issues involving INTERTANKO, the challenges facing the tanker industry, and the controversial issue of the criminalisation of seafarers and what INTERTANKO is doing to address this issue.
The panel heard from Petrobas an overview of its pipeline and terminals operations, from ABS on the new IACS Common Rules, from INTERTANKO’s Technical Director on the technical issues of the moment. It also discussed the recently-adopted International Labour Organization (ILO) consolidated Maritime Labour Convention and the latest developments within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) regarding maritime security.
Carlos Juan Madinabeitia’s unanimous nomination by the Panel, as its next chairman, was approved by INTERTANKO’s Council in November 2006.
North America Panel
Chairman
Richard du Moulin
Secretary: Joe Angelo
"The North American Panel was extremely successful in 2006 with two very well-attended meetings which updated INTERTANKO members on current issues facing the industry worldwide and focused on specific North American matters. Senior U.S. Coast Guard leadership participated in both of our meetings, clearly demonstrating the strong desire of both organisations to work closely together on issues of mutual interest. Panel members were particularly pleased with the District Court’s decision in July on the Massachusetts lawsuit which reinforced the 2000 U.S. Supreme Court decision on federal preemption of state regulations." (Richard du Moulin)
The INTERTANKO North American Panel once again held a March meeting in Stamford, Connecticut and an October meeting in Houston, Texas. This schedule appears to maximise participation of Panel members.
At the March meeting, RADM Craig Bone, the new U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention, was the guest speaker providing the panel with an overview of some of the important issues seen from his perspective. He indicated that recent developments in port security had resulted in an increased concern over risks to port security, but at the same time had a positive effect in increasing the general knowledge of the contribution that shipping and ports have on the U.S. economy. He identified a number of future challenges facing the Coast Guard, including re-establishing the balance between security, safety and environmental protection; addressing maritime security from a systems standpoint; proper treatment of seafarers, in particular their ability to come ashore. He also addressed "looming" issues which included cargo migration within the ship (in particular with regard to cargo seepage into empty spaces), Arctic operations, and the human factor continuing to be the main cause of accidents.
The Panel discussed the latest status of the Massachusetts lawsuit and the technical and legal aspects of the recently adopted California Air Resources Board (CARB) air emission regulations. Members received presentations on the recently adopted International Labor Organization (ILO) consolidated Maritime Labor Convention and the Green Passport for recycling ships. The panel also discussed the latest developments that have taken place within the International Maritime Organization regarding maritime security, relating to mandatory Ship, Company and Port Facility Security Officer training, guidelines for access to ships by public authorities and the new requirements for long range identification and tracking (LRIT) of ships.
At the October meeting, RDML Brian Salerno, the U.S. Coast Guard Director of Inspection and Compliance, provided the panel with a Coast Guard overview of five key issues on its agenda: the Commandant Strategy of the new Coast Guard Commandant ADM Thad Allen; Oil Spill Removal Organisation coverage during emergencies; the latest Coast Guard port state control statistics; recovery from national disasters; reception facilities in the U.S.
The panel also discussed a number of other important topics, including:
- Current U.S. legal issues related to the Massachusetts lawsuit, the new Rhode Island law for LNG tankers, the pending lawsuit on ballast water discharges and the CARB air emission standards (see Chairman and MD report).
- The INTERTANKO strategy on air emissions with regard to the revision of Annex VI of MARPOL.
- An interactive model harbour of safe refuge that could serve as an option for conducting risk assessment and facilitating decision-making when a tanker is in distress and/or is seeking safe refuge, so as to minimise the overall impact to the vessel, its crew and the environment. The model uses critical path project management techniques to help evaluate real time options.
- The draft Interim Strategy on the recycling of ships.
- Issues related to the human element.