This is the first time the Executive Committee has met in Japan in many years and the event has provided an excellent opportunity for INTERTANKO’s senior representatives to meet with the large Japanese tanker shipping community and discuss the key issues impacting tanker owners worldwide.

Highlights of the Executive Committee’s visit to Tokyo have been INTERTANKO Chairman Richard du Moulin’s visit to the newly appointed Deputy Director-General of the Japanese Ministry of Transport’s Shipping Bureau, Mr. Masazumi Nagamitsu; a meeting with the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control; and a very well attended reception for senior members of the Tokyo tanker community. Mr. du Moulin complimented the Japanese tanker community for renewing their fleet with modern and safe tankers and for their commitment to the International Safety Management (ISM) code process.

At the reception Richard du Moulin told the participants how important it was for tanker owners to act in unison to prevent future accidents which may lead to a proliferation of unworkable and unnecessary regulations and described some recent initiatives taken by INTERTANKO as the key industry association representing tanker owners. "Our recently published US Ports and Terminals Safety (PTS) Study showed that the regulatory regime governing US port facilities and services, such as pilotage, vessel traffic services and terminal operations, is not nearly so rigorous as that controlling tanker shipping", explained the Association’s Chairman. "This Study has received a positive response, not least from the US Coast Guard and a number of other responsible US government agencies. We believe that the findings of the PTS Study have worldwide applicability and in 1997 INTERTANKO will work, through the relevant international rulemaking bodies, to establish controls for port operations that are more harmonised and commensurate with those governing tanker shipping."

"The Nakhodka oil spill off Japan’s coast in recent weeks, with its adverse impact on the nation’s vital fishing industry, highlights the importance of adequate and rapid compensation for oil pollution damage," continued Richard du Moulin. "A number of countries, including Japan, have now ratified the 1992 Protocols to the 1969 Civil Liability and 1971 Fund Conventions. However, it is important that more states ratify these Protocols as they increase the compensation amounts available to victims of oil pollution from tankers. Countries failing to join the new regime are not only prolonging disharmony in the shipping community but also could incur significantly increased costs for their oil industry as the financial burden of the old, pre-1992 Protocols regime will be spread amongst fewer contributors".

Amongst INTERTANKO full Members are 14 Japanese shipowners controlling 129 tankers of 10m dwt. Japanese Members are responsible for the third largest fleet in INTERTANKO, after Greece and Norway.