International Salvage Union concerned by proposals

International Salvage Union concerned by proposals    The International Salvage Union (ISU) said today that proposals by Spain and Mexico to control ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of cargo and bunkers following a collision, could hamper salvors’ efforts to prevent a future oil spill catastrophe.
   The proposals are being considered by the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). MEPC recently agreed to consider MARPOL amendments concerning oil transfer operations at sea. This process has been given “high priority” status and has a target date for completion by 2007.
   In November 2002, the oil tanker “Prestige” sank off the Spanish coast.
   “It is noteworthy that Spain is a co-sponsor of this proposal. This attempt to gain more control over shipping in international waters misses the point. Spain and Mexico are arguing the case for new powers to restrict or ban STS operations in special or particularly sensitive sea areas,” said Hans van Rooij, ISU’s president. “Yet these are the very areas most at risk. The freedom of the salvor to perform an STS on a laden tanker at a sheltered location is essential for the protection of such vulnerable areas,” he added.
   London-based ISU believes salvage operations involving the ship-to-ship transfer of cargo and bunkers from tankers and other vessels should be exempt from any new controls.
   “Our concern, however, is that new measures giving coastal states such powers might be used to justify the refusal of legitimate requests for shelter for ship casualties and a failure to approve the subsequent removal of cargo and bunkers which could cause pollution,” Rooij said.