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Asian Regional Panel Report Apr 2017 Singapore
21 April 2017
Click here to download the Asian Regional Panel Report Apr 2017 Singapore
INTERTANKO’s Asian Panel Meeting Report
Held on
Wednesday 26th April 2017
Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
INTERTANKO’s Asian Panel meeting held in Tokyo on 12th October 2016 was conducted in accordance with INTERTANKO’s Anti-trust and Competition Law Compliance Guidelines.
- The meeting was chaired by Mr. Kenneth Koo of the TCC Group. A list of attendees is provided in the Annex.
- The finalised report from the last Panel meeting held in Tokyo on 12 October 2016 was approved by the Panel.
- MPA’s 36 hour limitation. While the Panel supported the initiative in terms of reducing congestion in the port some members expressed concern that this would increase security risks when vessels were idling off port limits. Furthermore, the decision to idle in port waters often rests with the charterers. The Secretariat reported that MPA is undertaking a final round of consultation with various players including charterers before deciding on its course of action.
Also relating to the port of Singapore, feedback was received on pilotage delays and terminals not giving approval for SIRE inspections to be carried out. The Secretariat reminded members that INTERTANKO and OCIMF had led the development of a reporting form with the MPA in 2009 and encouraged members to use this to report on instances when terminal refused access to SIRE inspectors. With extensive research and information having been gathered by some members on pilotage delays and with additional information to be provided on the SIRE inspection issue, the Panel agreed that a small working group should be assembled to collect more data and information to allow the Secretariat to engage with the MPA.
- INTERTANKO Update. As part of INTERTANKO’s efforts in strengthening cooperation between its 14 committees and sub-committees as well as its 5 regional panels, the Secretariat presented the Managing Director’s Report, as well as reports from the Gas Tanker Committee, Environmental Committee, Vetting Committee and Human Element in Shipping Committee.
In regards to the presentation on the Environmental Committee’s work, members engaged with the secretariat on the ballast water management issue raising several technical and regulatory questions. In regards the former, some members raised concerns about the installation of systems that would be able to adequately treat ballast water in aft peak tanks.
In regards to the report from the Vetting Committee, there was agreement that charterers were still not accepting vessels after their third special survey. This led to additional comments raised in regards to chartering vessels after dry-docks as well as the ongoing issue associated with the Condition of Class (CoC). The Secretariat advised that a post Dry-Docking Checklist was being completed by the Documentary Committee having been drafted by ISTEC. This would be circulated to all members once it was finalised.
The Panel noted the work schedule of the Committees and the issues being handled, especially the good working relationship INTERTANKO now enjoys with OCIMF and SIGTTO. The Chairman emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Committees as there was significant overlap of issues being worked on by the Committees.
The Secretariat also informed the Panel specifically that work was being carried out to update the PSC section of the INTERTANKO Vetting Manual, and to produce it as a separate publication providing guidance on PSC procedures in different ports. Additionally, since the launch of TMSA3, INTERTANKO has been conducting a gap analysis between the revised key performance indicators (KPIs) and best practice guidelines in TMSA3 against those of TMSA2.
After-note: We are now pleased to announce that we have completed this analysis and as part of this exercise, the changes made in TMSA3 have been mapped to the structure of TMSA2.
- Navigational Safety in Asian Coastal Waters. The Secretariat presented the summary of recent feedback from members and stressed that the China and Japan Discussion Papers are live and dynamic documents which the Secretariat will use in its dialogue and engagement with the respective authorities. Concerns remain high in Chinese ports in regard to high concentrations of fishing vessels and small crafts in key waterways, resulting in proposals of designating Traffic Separation Schemes in a few locations to improve safety of navigation. The Secretariat appealed to members to continue to provide feedback with specific details on incidents, in order to build strong cases to engage the China MSA.
Reflecting on the problem of vessels waiting off Japanese coastal waters and the earlier discussion on limitation of port time in Singapore, there was support for reviving the Virtual Arrival concept. This concept had originally been launched by INTERTANKO and OCIMF in 2009. The Panel opined that if Virtual Arrival gained more traction with the charterers could assist in these circumstances as it would avoid vessels arriving too early at their destinations and waiting for extended periods in either crowded anchorages or hazardous areas offshore.
- Security in Asia. The Secretariat reported on the improved situation of piracy and armed robbery in Asia where a total of 85 incidents were reported in 2016 based on statistics compiled by ReCAAP ISC. While this was an improvement over 2015, an upsurge in crew abduction from ships in 2016 took place in the Sulu-Celebes Sea. This was a serious concern and the Secretariat recommended reporting to enforcement centres when in the affected area, full compliance with the regional guidance issued by ReCAAP ISC, conducting risk assessments and ensuring ship’s crew are vigilant and alert when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Sea. A member shared about the risk assessment that was undertaken resulting in a decision to avoid the area, only to be challenged by the charterers who felt that the voyage should have been carried out.
- Port State Control (PSC) in Asia. The Secretariat shared the results of inspections and detentions from Tokyo MOU, reflecting an improving trend of performance. The Panel shared concerns of deficiencies which were at times subjective and also not “closed” in Equasis despite being rectified. The Secretariat suggested for the PSC closing meetings to be held on the bridge which has the VDR, and reminded the Panel to use the PSC feedback form available in our website.
- Annual Tanker Event, Houston. The Secretariat provided an update on the schedule of meetings at the Annual Tanker Event to be held in Houston in the week commencing 22 May. The Panel noted the involvement of the OCIMF Executive Committee in the meetings and social activities. In a show of support for the event, the Chairman agreed to sponsor the event programme booklet which would be produced for all participants.
- Date and Place of next meeting. The next Asian Panel meeting is scheduled to take place on 31 October 2017 in Hong Kong.
- Any other business. Members also raised the following matters under AOB:
- The loading arms at the port of Mangalore were inadequate to cater for the size of chemical tankers being chartered into the port. INTERTANKO invited members to make full use of the TVD in sharing issues faced at the terminals.
- Argentina has introduced ballast water regulations which require chlorination on top of ballast water exchange and ballast water treatment.
- Enquire whether the USCG has considered expanding the Qualship 21 programme to also reflect a company’s performance and not just the Administration.
- Ship yards should be kept up to date with operational requirements and constraints on tankers. While Tripartite may be an avenue for this, there was some agreement that building a list of operational issues that ship builders should take into account or be aware of would be a useful exercise.
All presentations can be downloaded from the INTERTANKO website.