XN000022-1993-09-25+26 — Page 7

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1993

IS

+

THE

ANOTHER CONVENTION, GIVEN GREAT IMPORTANCE

CONVENTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION

INTERNATIONAL

FROM SIIPS.

WHILE THE IMO TAKES THE LEAD, PROVIDES THE VENUE AND ENCOURAGES CONCENSUS AMONG MEMBERS, IT IS INDIVIDUAL ADMINISTRATION WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT IMO CONVENTIONS, ONCE BROUGHT INTO FORCE INTERNATIONALLY, ARE THEN TRANSLATED INTO LOCAL LAWS.

TWO WAYS OF DOING THIS HAVE EVOLVED: FLAG STATE IMPLEMENTATION AND PORT STATE CONTROL.

OF

FLAG STATE IMPLEMENTATION MEANS THAT A GOVERNMENT'S MARITIME AUTHORITY MUST ENSURE THAT ITS OWN LAWS CONFORM WITH THE STANDARDS THE CONVENTION.

THIS MEANS CONSTANT ADAPTATION AND THE WRITING OF NEW LAWS BY PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH LAW DRAFTSMEN IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

PORT STATE CONTROL IS A MEANS BY WHICH ONE PORT STATE CAN INSPECT FOREIGN SHIPS CALLING AT ITS PORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE CONVENTION STANDARDS ARE BEING OBSERVED AND, IF NECESSARY, WITHHOLD CLEARANCE FROM THAT SHIP ΤΟ SAIL UNTIL IDENTIFIED DEFECTS AND OMISSIONS HAVE BEEN REMEDIED.

THE IMO IS SERIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT THE HARD WORK OF THE ORGANISATION AND MOST OF ITS MEMBERS OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES IS BEING JEOPARDISED BY THE FAILURE OF SOME ADMINISTRATIONS TO DISCHARGE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE CONVENTIONS.

THEREFORE, A NEW SUB-COMMITTEE ON FLAG STATE IMPLEMENTATION MET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN APRIL THIS YEAR. ITS TASK IS TO CONSIDER WAYS ΤΟ HELP ADMINISTRATIONS IMPROVE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS.

THESE AND MANY OTHER MEASURES SHOW THAT THE IMO IS DETERMINED KEEP WORKING TOWARDS ITS DUAL OBJECTIVES OF SAFER SHIPPING AND CLEANER SEAS.

то

BUT ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE OBJECTIVES DEPENDS ON THE FULL CO- OPERATION OF MEMBER ADMINISTRATIONS.

THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR ALLAN PYRKE, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT HONG KONG, BEING AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE IMO AND HAVING AN SHIPPING REGISTRY, IS BOUND BY THESE INTERNATIONAL

AUTONOMOUS CONVENTIONS.

HONG

LOCAL

"I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THE TARGETS SET BY THE IMO. KONG IS IN THE FOREFRONT OF THOSE ADMINISTRATIONS IMPLEMENTING LAWS STEMMING FROM INTERNATIONALLY RATIFIED MARITIME SAFETY CONVENTIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO,' MR PYRKE SAID.

"HONG KONG INTENDS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGIONAL CO-OPERATION ON PORT STATE CONTROL. A REGIONAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WILL BE FINALISED AT A MEETING IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR TOKYO AT WHICH HONG KONG WILL BE REPRESENTED."

IN

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