SALVORS? UNION WANTS FASTER, INFORMED RESPONSE TO OIL SPILLS

SALVORSÆ UNION WANTS FASTER, INFORMED RESPONSE TO OIL SPILLS    The International Salvage Union in London has called for earlier involvement by professional salvors after a tanker has been damaged at sea, urging the European Union to adopt a U.K. model for “streamlined decision-making” by a qualified salvage master.
   “The loss of the tanker 'Prestige' should convince the international community of the need to deal with the ‘places of refuge issue’ once and for all,” the ISU said in a statement.
   “Clearly, no one is satisfied with the present system, which is dominated by knee-jerk reactions from politicians who have no experience of marine salvage,” said Joop Timmermans, ISU president. “There must be a better way of working.”
   “We understand the political difficulties surrounding such decisions, especially when a vessel is leaking oil,” he said. However, “salvors are best qualified to provide technical input when requests for shelter are made. Naturally, the salvor wants to save the ship and keep the pollutant inside the vessel. This is also what the politicians want,” Timmermans said.
   The ISU, earlier in 2002, made four proposals for consideration by the International Maritime Organization. The union said states should carry out a physical inspection of a casualty before making a decision on requests for shelter, and invite experts to assess risks.
   Consideration should also be given to political consequences should a place of refuge be refused. The ISU also urged that any financial security for entry into a place of refuge be reasonable and not exceed the legal liability of the shipowner involved.