By
Rebecca Gibson |
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its latest annual review of maritime policy and regulatory developments, in advance of its annual general meeting, which will be hosted by the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association in Oslo from 5-7 June 2013.
The 2013 Annual Review covers the wide-ranging scope of ICS’s activities as an international trade association for ship operators.
It focuses on a number of key issues, including the need to balance environmental protection policies with shipping’s economic sustainability, the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions and the ILO Maritime Labour Convention.
The review also considers the developments in measures regarding piracy and hostage-taking, as well as the need to ensure safe and pollution-free ship operations in the Arctic.
In addition, it addresses developments in maritime safety, labour affairs, manning and training, maritime law and insurance, as well as shipping and trade policy concerned with the maintenance of the ‘level playing field’ and open shipping markets.
“The key message which I have been communicating to regulators during this first year in office has been the need for greater focus to be given to the economic sustainability of shipping, backed up by evidence of the continuous improvement of shipping’s environmental performance,” said ICS chairman Masamichi Morooka in his introduction to the review. “The protection of the environment must always remain a priority, but the prevailing economic situation requires that a degree of pragmatism is displayed as a plethora of new environmental regulations is implemented and enforced.”