1. The 17th Interim Meeting of the Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF) Safe Navigation & Environment Committee (SNEC) was held in Singapore on 18th September 2009. It was hosted by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA).
2. The meeting was attended by 22 representatives of shipowner associations from China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and ASEAN, as represented by the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA) which is composed of the shipowner associations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
3. Mr. S.S. Teo, President of Singapore Shipping Association chaired the SNEC meeting on behalf of FASA.
4. During the meeting, the Committee considered and discussed various current issues concerning the safe navigation of ships and the protection of the marine environment.
5. The Meeting, however, placed great emphasis on the following two important issues:
* Piracy & Armed Robbery
The Committee noted with grave concern the more than 100 per cent increase in the number of pirate incidents around the world during the first half of 2009 as compared with the corresponding period in 2008. It was noted that pirate attacks are highly prevalent and dangerous in and around the waters off Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden and in the Red Sea area. Many ships had been hijacked along with the crew onboard by the pirates in the hope of soliciting heavy ransom from shipowners.
Although the number of attacks has shown a significant drop in the last three months because of the South West monsoon, the Committee is concerned about the possible resurgence in attacks once the bad weather has subsided. The Meeting expressed their appreciation for the continued protection provided by the multi-national naval forces to the many merchant ships transiting the Gulf of Aden. The Committee further urged governments with naval assets in the area to improve coordination.
Recognizing the very serious threat of imminent pirate attacks and hijacks in the Gulf of Aden, the Committee strongly advised the shipping community to remain highly vigilant and to disseminate the latest version of the Best Management Practices to deter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia to their ship masters urgently.
The Committee strongly recommended that shipowners enlist the escort and security services rendered by the multi-national naval forces stationed in that area when they are transiting those waters. They should also adopt the voluntary reporting system provided by the Maritime Security Centre ? Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).
Shipowners are strongly advised not to carry firearms on board all vessels.
* Greenhouse Gas Emission from ships
The Committee recognized it is important for the shipping community, as part of its corporate social responsibility, to be fully committed towards the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission from ships to protect our environment. This is notwithstanding that a 2nd IMO GHG Study 2009 had reported that international shipping was estimated to have emitted only 2.7% of the global emissions of CO2 in 2007.
The Committee supports the industry's full commitment to reducing GHG emissions through realistic and pragmatic market-based solutions.
5. The members of the Committee expressed their appreciation to the SSA for hosting the 17th Interim Meeting of the SNEC in Singapore. |
Editor's note:
The Asian Shipowners’ Forum is a voluntary organization of the shipowner associations of Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations comprising shipping associations of ASEAN countries. The aims of the ASF are to promote the interests of the Asian shipowning industries. Between annual ASF meetings, the ongoing work is carried out by the five Standing Committees; the Shipping Economics Review Committee, the Seafarers Committee, the Ship Recycling Committee, the Safe Navigation and Environment Committee, and the Ship Insurance and Liability Committee. It has been estimated that ASF owners and managers control and operate nearly 50% of the world's cargo carrying fleet.
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