Greek ocean carriers agree to U.S. security efforts

Greek ocean carriers agree to U.S. security efforts    A delegation from the Union of Greek Shipowners in Washington last week has helped narrow the gap between the U.S. and Greek governments over allowing the U.S. Navy to board Greek-flag vessels at sea to deter illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction, delivery systems and related materials, according to a representative for the group.
   Greece is the largest ship registry not yet participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led effort under which countries agree to share intelligence and cooperate to intercept, search and detain vessels at sea suspected of transporting nuclear and other mass destruction materials. Liberia, Panama, the Marshall Islands, Croatia and Cyprus have all concluded ship-boarding agreements with the United States.
   Negotiations between the two governments have been stalled over how to handle claims of injuries or damage arising from a boarding incident. Damage can occur to either the boarding party’s vessel, the vessel being boarded or its cargo. Last week’s talks between State Department officials and the Greek shipowners association have “jump started” the effort to conclude an agreement, the representative said. The shipowners plan to recommend that the Greek government participate in the counter-proliferation program now that the liability issue has been largely resolved, he said.
   Talks with U.S. officials throughout the government focused on security and the energy transport role of the Greek shipping industry, said Nicolas Efthymiou, president of the Union of Greek Shipowners. Officials at the State and Energy departments were interested in making sure Greek vessel capacity would grow to meet the U.S. demand for oil and liquefied natural gas, he said.
   Greek vessels carry about 25 percent of the imported oil used in the United States, and handle about the same percentage of U.S. exports, primarily bulk commodities such as grain, coal and fertilizers.
   Greek vessel owners tend to provide ocean service on the spot market rather than on schedule routes, and do not participate in the container trade. Greek container ships are leased to large container lines.
      At a meeting with reporters, Efthymiou said the delegation pressed U.S. officials to carefully develop maritime security measures that are uniform and do not hinder trade. He called on governments to strengthen the International Maritime Organization, saying the need for an international approach is even more important for tramp carriers who do not call on a regular set of ports.
   “We can’t have a fragmented regulatory regime because the whole place will become a jungle” and make it difficult to do business, Efthymiou said.
   The Greek vessel owners are interested in joining the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, which already allows participation from container lines that serve the U.S. market, he added.