By
Cherie Rowlands |
A consultation period enabling interested parties to report back on the administration load of complying with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) instruments ends on 31 October 2013.
The maritime safety body is seeking feedback from target groups that include companies and owners, as well as governments in their capacity as party to conventions, flag, port or coastal state. Manufacturers and equipment suppliers, ships’ masters and crews, port authorities, recognised organisations, shipbuilders, ship repairers, and shippers, as well as the general public, are also being encouraged to comment.
IMO secretary-general Koji Sekimizu said: “I would urge as many people as possible to take part in this consultation, as only with a strong set of data can we meaningfully identify where changes may be necessary.”
Feedback will be used to provide recommendations on how administrative burdens can be reduced, IMO said in a written statement. This would allow resources to be channelled instead towards the IMO’s overall goals of improving safety and security in shipping, as well as reducing its negative impact on the environment.
Analysis to date reveals that the largest group of respondents is ship management – including crew – while most comments relate to SOLAS and safety requirements, followed by MARPOL and the environment.
The six-month periodic review of administrative requirements in mandatory instruments was adopted at the twenty-seventh Assembly in November 2011.
For more information and to provide input, visit www.imo.org.