Press Release
Port State Control Needs Improvement Shippers Tell Kinnock
6 April 1998
The enforcement of high standards in bulk shipping is failing to detect rogue vessels, shippers of bulk commodities from all over Europe told EU Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock in Brussels today (Monday).
In a briefing seminar held to discuss the development of a voluntary code of best practice in the bulk shipping sector, delegates from 11 commodity industry groups in ten countries joined with members of the bulk shippers committee of the European Shippers Council in urging Neil Kinnock to tackle the levels of enforcement through better targeting of Port State Control as part of his "Quality Shipping Initiative". This was launched at the beginning of the year with UK transport minister Glenda Jackson as part of the UK's EU presidency agenda.
In return, shippers from the chemicals, steel, agrochemical, paper, aggregates and other sectors pledged support for the principle of voluntary initiatives to encourage shippers to make use of quality ships which meet international standards.
In response Neil Kinnock, who participated throughout the seminar, responded by calling for industry to share its knowledge of problem vessels with the Commission so as to help in the targeting of scarce enforcement resources. He also accepted the principle that quality shipping operations should be rewarded by fewer inspections.
Speaking at the seminar Chris Welsh, ESC Secretary General said:
"The number of companies and organisations represented here today demonstrates the commitment shippers have to improving safety standards and eradicating sub-standard and unfair competition from the bulk shipping sector. Neil Kinnock's interest shows there is equal willingness by the Commission and the challenge for shippers is to devise a means by which they can demonstrate that they have exercised a responsible care in selecting a vessel for the carriage of bulk commodities. We intend to present the results of our work at the Commission's Quality Shipping Conference on 4-5 June in Lisbon".
For further information contact: Nicolette van der Jagt, Secretary General of the ESC - Brussels 00 322 230 2113.
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