ASIAN SHIPOWNERS’ FORUM
10 Anson Road
#16-18, International Plaza,Singapore 079903
Tel: (65) 6325 4737 Fax: (65) 6325 4451
General Email: information@asf.com.sg
Website: www.asianshipowners.org__________________________________________________________
19 May 2015
Jeju, Korea

PRESS RELEASE
The 24th Annual meeting of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) was
held in Jeju, Korea on 19 May 2015, hosted by the Korea Shipowners’
Association (KSA).
Mr Youn Jae LEE, Chairman of 24th ASF, welcomed the delegates ofmember associations and announced that the theme for the meeting –One Asia – is a rallying call to build stronger collaborations amongst itsmembers.
Piracy & Armed Robbery
The ASF has noted with concern the increasing number of reports of fuelsiphoning in Asian waters. ASF nonetheless expressed concern thatsome reports may have unduly overstated the severity of incidents inAsian waters.
The ASF is very appreciative of the good work done by regional statesand intergovernmental bodies such as the Regional Cooperation
Agreement on Combating Piracy & Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) in countering the threat ofmaritime crime in the region. In this respect, the ASF appreciates thattimely and accurate reports are very helpful for the industry.
“The ASF recognises the commendable efforts of the ReCAAP ISC, andis comforted that Interpol is now integrated into the regional anti-piracy
team. However, we are still concerned over the number of piracy andarmed robbery incidents – in this regard, we urge states to do much
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more to address incidents that are occurring in their territorial waters,”
said Mr Patrick Phoon, Chairman of the Safe Navigation & Environment
Committee.
Monitoring, Reporting & Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
from Ships
The ASF was pleased to note that, at the 68th session of the IMO Marine
Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 68), steady progress has
been made in discussions about Monitoring, Reporting & Verification(MRV) of CO2 emissions being the next step in enhancing energy
efficiency of international shipping.
The ASF was extremely disappointed, however, by the EU’s unhelpful
decision to pre-empt the current IMO negotiations by adopting a
unilateral, regional Regulation on the MRV of individual ship emissions
which will apply to all ships entering EU waters.
“The EU’s decision runs the risk of undermining discussions at the IMO,”
said Mr. Patrick Phoon. “It is essential to have global regulations for
global shipping developed through consensus at the IMO.”
Canal Tolls
The Meeting noted that, in 2015, the Suez Canal Authority refrained from
implementing an annual toll increase that had been imposed in each of
the previous three years, and the Panama Canal Authority reflected theshipping industry’s opinion to a certain extent in its new toll
structure/tariffs.
Mr Yasumi Kudo, Chairman of the Shipping Economics Review
Committee, said, “In order to prevent a recurrence of unilateral, sudden
and irrational Canal toll increases which would adversely affect a stablebusiness environment, and to ensure safe transit, the ASF should do its
utmost, in collaboration with international shipping organizations such asICS, to establish an early and regular dialogue mechanism with canalauthorities.”
Places of Refuge
The ASF noted that attention is focused on this issue when there is anincident, but little seems to be discussed after the incident has been
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resolved. Delegates agreed that the consideration by a State to offer aplace of refuge to a ship in distress with little knowledge of the protection
available by way of the various IMO instruments would invariably
provoke a strong local reaction against the refuge. The ASF agreed that
it is essential to continue the work of promotion and education, both toraise and maintain interest in the issue and to encourage Governments
to consider the issue in their local context.
Refugees & Migrants
The ASF expressed its deep concern at the humanitarian and politicalcrisis involving migrants and refugees, both in the Mediterranean and in
Asian waters. While merchant ships and their crews will continue tomake their utmost efforts to rescue migrants and refugees in distress atsea, the ASF noted that this is an increasingly serious issue for themaritime industry. Not only do seafarers face many risks when dealing
with sick and injured people, but also refugees may seriously outnumber
ships’ crews. There is also the possibility that rescues at sea may be
used as an avenue for terrorism.
The ASF urges Governments both in Europe and Asia to urgently
address the issue in a humanitarian way, and encourages shipowners totake note of and act in accordance with the various industry publications
on the subject.
Maritime Labour Convention 2006
The Maritime Labour Convention 2006, entered into force almost twoyears ago. To date, 66 ILO member States, including 7 ASF member
states (Australia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore andVietnam), representing more than 70% of global gross shipping tonnage,
have ratified the Convention.
ASF encourages all owners to pay due attention to the Guidelines for
implementing the Occupational Safety and Health Provisions of theMaritime Labour Convention 2006 to secure the well-being of seafarers
aboard their vessels.
Ship Recycling
The ASF expressed its grave concern over the EU regulation which
includes elements that are at variance with the Hong Kong Convention.
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Dr. Frank F. H. Lu, Chairman of the Ship Recycling Committee (SRC),
emphasised, with the adopted ASF position paper (attached as Annex 1)
in his hand that “The Hong Kong Convention is the only instrument forworldwide green ship recycling. We very much welcome recent
movements of some EU member countries which request positive
approaches to improve ship recycling facilities in South Asia, and oppose
the exclusion of particular ship recycling methods. Through continued
dialogue, we encourage recyclers in major ship recycling countries tomake further improvement towards compliance with the Convention by
way of a fair evaluation of their development, allowing for their
topographical conditions.”

Mr. Ma Zehua, Chairman of the China Shipowners’ Association, waselected as the Chairman of the 25th ASF. His term of office will be from20 May 2015 until the next ASF Annual General Meeting in 2016.
********_______________________________________________________________________________For media enquiries, kindly contact:
Mr. Harry Shin
Secretary General
Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF)
Tel
EmailWebsite:::(+65) 6325 4737
harryshin@asf.com.sg
www.asianshipowners.org

The Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) is a voluntary organisation of the shipowners’ associations ofAustralia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and the Federation of ASEAN
Shipowners’ Associations comprising shipping associations of ASEAN countries.
The aim of the ASF is to promote the interests of the Asian shipowning industries.
It has been estimated that ASF owners and managers control and operate nearly 50% of the world's
cargo carrying fleet.

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Annex 1

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANKTHIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANKASIAN SHIPOWNERS’ FORUM
10 Anson Road
#16-18, International Plaza,Singapore 079903
Tel: (65) 6325 4737 Fax: (65) 6325 4451
General Email: information@asf.com.sg
Website: www.asianshipowners.org__________________________________________________________
19 May 2015
Jeju, Korea

ASF’s position paper on ship recycling
Adoptedat the 24th Annual Meeting of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF)
Towards ensuring smooth replacements with safe, environment-friendly and more energyefficient eco-ships, the ASF firmly believes that it is inevitable to develop environmentfriendly ship recycling yards in multiple countries to address the globally high demand fordemolition which is forecasted to remain in the coming years. If such recycling yards were
only located in a certain country, this could result in demurrage for vessels to be recycled
and prolong the lifetime of older vessels as well as longer distance navigation for vessels
incurring huge additional bunker consumption to reach the yard, which would not be in reality
preferable for the world environment or from the standpoint of economy.
The ASF’s stances on respective issues are as follows:
The International 2009 Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound
Recycling of Ships (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”)
The ASF is of the view that any unilateral regional regulation cannot be a final solution
towards the improvement of recycling yards all over the world, as long as it does not present
practically feasible ways to upgrade facilities which take into account practices for ship
recycling methods subject to topographic conditions in major ship recycling countries. In thiscontext, the Convention, which has been adopted after careful consideration by allconcerned parties such as governments, the shipping industry, the recycling industry and theshipbuilding industry, is the only, best and final solution to enhance safety and environment
protection for recycling. The ASF continues to call for early ratification of the Convention togovernments.
The European Regulation on Ship Recycling (Regulation 1257/2013)
The ASF recognises that as long as the EU regulation imposes more stringent requirementson recyclers than the Convention to practically prohibit ship recycling in the particular methodcommonly used in South Asia, which would undermine the Convention, the regulation is notsuitable to be de-facto standardisation. In order to ensure smooth replacements with ecoships, the ASF emphasizes that it is, no doubt, practical to incentivize recyclers in the area
as well to upgrade their facilities towards safe and environment-friendly yards harmonisedwith the Convention in light of the fact that South Asia produces 70% of the world’s ship
recycling volume.
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The ship recycling method commonly used in South Asian countries
In light of the necessity of ensuring sufficient capacity of environment-friendly ship recycling
yards in multiple countries for stable and economic recycling in a timely manner, each
recycling facility should be assessed not in respect of ship recycling methods but on a caseby-case basis on whether requirements pertaining to safety and environmental protection aremet. In this regard, there are advanced, safe and environment-friendly yards upgraded, withconsultation of third parties, in harmony with the Convention even in South Asia where theserecyclers have no alternative to use a certain ship recycling method subject to geographicalconstraints. The ASF therefore believes that it is essential to encourage others in South Asia
to follow the advanced recyclers through necessary actions such as the monitoring ofdevelopments and regular dialogue with recyclers.
Shipowners should also be recommended to continue the assessment of facilities andoperations of recycling yards respectively to select recyclers for the demolition of their fleets,
taking into account verification of third parties.

*********_______________________________________________________________________________For media enquiries, kindly contact:
Mr. Kwang-Ho (Harry) SHIN
Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF)
Tel
EmailWebsite:::(+65) 6325 4737
harryshin@asf.com.sg
www.asianshipowners.org

The Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) is a voluntary organisation of the shipowners’ associations ofAustralia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and the Federation of ASEAN
Shipowners’ Associations comprising shipping associations of ASEAN countries.
The aim of the ASF is to promote the interests of the Asian shipowning industries.
It has been estimated that ASF owners and managers control and operate nearly 50% of the world's
cargo carrying fleet.

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