Intertanko calls for anti-pollution coverage for all liquids

Intertanko calls for anti-pollution coverage for all liquids    Intertanko, the association of independent tanker owners, has urged that all liquid cargoes be covered by antipollution regulations.
   On the eve of a meeting of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in London July 14-18, Intertanko said it proposed reducing the five categories of noxious liquid substances to three, given the new names X, Y and Z.
   The present categories are called A, B, C, D and Appendix III and refer to products defined by the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL 73/78). Appendix III lists unregulated products.
   Certain flag states want to keep Appendix III cargoes unregulated.
   “It would be unfortunate — and indeed, rather ironic — if support from the tanker industry for tighter regulations to better protect the environment were to be obstructed by some flag states on the grounds of commercial interests,” Intertanko said in a statement.