1. HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan
Maritime Activities 
Stakeholder opinion
2nd Stakeholder Conference
HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan
For reasons of clarification the thoughts and opinions expressed in this presentation and the attached papers do not necessarily reflect the views and policy of BIMCO.
Peter Lundahl Rasmussen, MNI, MIFSMS, AMIMAreST
Marine Manager – BIMCO Marine Department

2. What is BIMCO? The world’s largest shipping organisation serving:
Shipowners, managers and
operators
Shipbrokers and agents
P&I Clubs and National
Associations
Others, e.g. classification
societies, maritime
educational institutions,
maritime law firms, ports,
financial institutions.

3. Current membership Over 2,300 members in 123 countries
More than 925 Owners, Managers and
Operators with a fleet of
550 mill. DWT – equalling about
65% of the world merchant fleet
Around 1,285 brokers and agents
45 clubs, including the majority of
International P&I Group members
About 75 associate members
Objectives
Promote quality, safety & security
Facilitate business with practical & tangible services
Harmonise commercial shipping practices
Ensure the shipping industry’s position is heard within the IMO, EU, the US and governmental as well as non-governmental bodies.

4. Quality Coastal State
The focus has for a long time been on ships, but very little attention has been given to the performance of the Coastal States.
Therefore BIMCO calls for the formulation of a global standard for coastal state best practice, which States can then use to qualify as Quality Coastal States (QCS).
The Baltic Sea Action Plan seen as a holistic approach to solve maritime safety and marine environmental protection problems links well with the Quality Coastal State concept.

5. Quality Coastal State Quality Coastal States should interalia;
Fulfil international duties and obligations by ratifying, implementing and enforcing internationally agreed conventions,
Follow IMO Guidelines such as the IMO/ILO Guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers,
Maintain aids to navigation and provides vessel traffic services, where appropriate, and
Provide incentives to quality ships calling at its ports and/or navigating within its waters
In short, Quality Coastal States should as a minimum participate in the IMO Model Audit Scheme.

6. Illegal pollution
It should be recalled that the ability of ships to comply with MARPOL 73/78 and other environmental protection legislation depends on the commitment of port states to comply with their obligations under the same regulations.
The availability of adequate Port Waste Reception Facilities as well as the communication of the availability is important factors for solving this problem.
BIMCO strongly believe that the IMO Member State Audit Scheme being one of the fundamental elements of the QCS would be of great assistance to port states that sincerely desires to make real progress on this issue.

7. Illegal pollution
Has the main aim of the Baltic Strategy, which is to eliminate illegal discharges into the sea of all wastes from all ships, been achieved?
Most likely not - The available data need to be qualified and quantified in order to correctly determine the origin of the pollutants.
Based on location and volumes it is not objectively determined that all waste found at sea in the Baltic Sea originates from the merchant shipping industry.

8. Illegal pollution The Fair Treatment of Seafarers
Detection, investigation and prosecution is not all, BIMCO strongly believes that seafarer’s rights strongly must be protected in the aftermath of maritime casualties and environmental violations – whether or not there is evidence of wrongdoing.

9. Air Emissions

10. Air Emissions BIMCO’s position on Air Emissions
Implementation of requirements for vessels only to use distillate fuel in SECA’s, port areas, estuaries and at a certain distance from the shore of a port state where a port call is to be made. But vessels still to be able to burn fuels with higher sulphur content at high seas bearing in mind the prevailing global cap restrictions or use of alternative mechanisms to obtain an equivalent level of emission reduction by the following initiatives

11. Air Emissions
Gradually and realistic lowering of the Global Cap sulphur content or use of alternative mechanisms to obtain equivalent levels of emission reduction
Gradually and realistic lowering of the sulphur content for distillates used in SECA’s, port areas and estuaries or use of alternative mechanisms to obtain equivalent levels of emission reduction
The overall aim of the proposed measures is to protect the environment of ports and adjacent areas from ship generated air emissions without disrupting international trade.

12. Air Emissions 90% world trade versus 1.75% GHG emissions
Some shippingfacts.com
90% world trade versus 1.75% GHG emissions

13. Air Emissions
Comparative exhaust gas emissions                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

14. Efficient response capability
Regional initiatives and any improvement related to Emergency assistance and response operations is clearly welcomed by the shipping industry.
Existing measures that could be taken into consideration for further developments:
Maritime Assistance Services (MAS) IMO Resolution A.950(23)
Ship reporting and monitoring directive (2002/59/EC)

15. Introductions of alien species from ships
Evaluation and selection of the most cost-efficient measures to reduce the risk of introductions of alien species into the Baltic before the entry into force of the Convention is clearly a necessity, mainly to avoid solving one problem by creating a new i.e. release of additionally air emissions for the power required for BWM,
Specific measures that could be taken are mandatory reporting system and designation of ballast water exchange zones,
Only 6 IMO Member States representing 0.62% have ratified the Convention,

16. Conclusions
Energy efficiency
Comparative fuel
consumption

17. Conclusions
BIMCO welcomes all initiatives where all stakeholders are working together in developing pragmatic and workable solutions,
Unilateral based legislation should as far as practicable be avoided and, IMO should be recognised as the proper forum for international shipping legislation,
A proper implementation and enforcement of existing legislation would solve many problems.

18. 2nd Stakeholder Conference
Shipping is the safest and most environmentally form of commercial transport and that is not a bad stating point!
Many Thanks for your kind attention
2nd Stakeholder Conference
For further information