WORLD SHIPPING COUNCIL ASKS THAT U.S. SECURITY RULES PREVAIL

WORLD SHIPPING COUNCIL ASKS THAT U.S. SECURITY RULES PREVAIL    The World Shipping Council, a Washington, D.C.-based association of 40 ocean carriers, has asked the U.S. Coast Guard “to create a consistent, uniform approach' to maritime security rules, 'for an industry that must operate within the jurisdiction of all the maritime trading nations of the world.”
   The WSC asked that, “the Coast Guard explicitly state that these new security regulations fully occupy this field, and that any state or local regulations on the subject are preempted.”
   The carrier organization also suggested that the Coast Guard establish the ability to 'communicate specific threat information to specific vessels … rather than relying only on generic communication ability to the entire industry.”
   The WSC also asked agency to confirm that a vessel security plan carried on a foreign-flag vessel would not be subject to public disclosure, and shown only to those officials with a “need to know.”
   “The timing of international and domestic requirements,” including mandated vessel security plans, should be “coordinated to avoid negatively impacting international commerce,” the WSC said.
   The organization also urged the Coast Guard to issue its interim final regulations after July 1 so that they would not precede the International Maritime Organizations vessel security plan requirements. “The penalty would be severe: the vessel would not be allowed to operate in U.S. waters,” the Council said.
   The WSC also asked that the Coast Guard review estimates pertaining to vessel compliance costs. The Coast Guard has estimated total costs per U.S.-flagged SOLAS freight ship would be $25,900 for the first year and $11,949 for each subsequent year. However, the council said figures from a member container-shipping line that placed compliance costs for a single vessel at $95,422 for the first year and $32,973 for each subsequent year.