Asian shipowners lament new range of global restrictions

THE Asian Shipowners Forum Ship Insurance and Liability Committee, at its recent meeting in Hong Kong, has expressed concerns about new Chinese pollution laws, aspects of the Rotterdam Rules, US sanctions on Iran shipments and the poor treatment of seafarers involved in marine accidents.

Despite the concerns however, the delegates - representatives from shipowners groups from across Asia - agreed that the standardisation of rules, the Rotterdam Rules, was needed, according to a statement from the organisation.

Regarding Chinese pollution controls, they raised questions over the lack of comprehensive implementation guidelines. The new regulations, which came into effect last month, have yet to be fully enforced.

Delegates also lashed out at US unilateralism vis-a-vis Iran shipments, saying that sanctions affecting the international community at large should only be promulgated through the United Nations, rather than the domestic channels through which they are currently being pursued. They were also dissatisfied about the scope of the proposed sanctions, which would appear to apply to all domestic and foreign shipments of refined petroleum products to Iran, together with all insurance or reinsurance agreements pertaining to those shipments.

On the treatment of seafarers involved in marine accidents meanwhile, the group stressed that those involved should be granted with the presumption of innocence and not, as was seen in past incidents, be used as pawns in scoring political points.

Source: www.Schednet.com