SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1993
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"WE EXPECT THAT THE ASIA-PACIFIC MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON STATE CONTROL (MOU) COULD BE FINALISED DURING THE MEETING AND OPEN FOR SIGNATURE FOR PARTICIPATING MARITIME AUTHORITIES UNTIL MARCH 31, 1994," MR PYRKE SAID.
PORT WILL
SAID.
"THE MOU WILL THEN COME INTO OPERATION ON APRIL 1, 1994," HE
THE INAUGURAL
APRIL 1994 IN BEIJING.
MEETING OF THE MOU COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD IN
ONE OF THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE MOU IS THAT EACH MARITIME AUTHORITY WILL HAVE ONE VOTE IN THE COMMITTEE.
PARTICIPATING
"DECLINING SAFETY STANDARDS OF OCEAN-GOING SHIPS ARE ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF SEAFARERS, THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AND THE VIABILITY OF THE SHIPPING BUSINESS," MR PYRKE SAID.
"GLOBAL CO-OPERATION IS NEEDED TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT BY ELIMINATING SUB-STANDARD SHIPS," HE SAID.
"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HONG KONG, AS A MAJOR MARITIME CENTRE SHOULD BE A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE NEW REGIONAL COMMITTEE TO PURSUR THESE GOALS.
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ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF OCEAN-GOING SHIPS OPERATING IN THE ASIA- PACIFIC REGION CALL AT HONG KONG EACH YEAR.
"SHIPPING INDUSTRY WELCOMES HONG KONG'S EFFORT. IT WILL BRING CONVENIENCE TO THE SHIPPING COMMUNITY BECAUSE SHIPS INspected BY ONE AUTHORITY ARE UNLIKELY TO BE INSPECTED BY ANOTHER WITHIN SIX MONTHS, HE SAID.
AGREED.
G
It
MR PYRKE NOTED THAT A NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING ISSUES HAD TO BR
THEY ARE:
* WHICH MARITIME AUTHORITY WILL HOST THE SECRETARIAT THAT WILL
WORK UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE MOU COMMITTEE;
* HOW TO SHARE OUT THE FUNDING OF THE RUNNING OF
SECRETARIAT;
THE
* TRAINING OF THE PSC SURVEYORS; AND
* WHETHER THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION CONVENTIONS
PROTECT THE WELL-BEING OF SEAFARERS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE MOU.
to
AFTER THE MEETING IN TOKYO, MR TSE WILL ATTEND AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON "PORT STATE CONTROL NEW SOLUTION OR NEW PROBLEM" LONDON. ON DECEMBER 6 AND 7.
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HE WILL DELIVER A PAPER ON "THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTROL FOR THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION".
IN
PORT STATE
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