ASIAN SHIPOWNERS’ FORUM
Safe Navigation & Environment Committee (SNEC)
c/o Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA)
59 Tras Street, Singapore 078998
Tel: (65) 62225238 Fax: (65) 622225527
email: fasa@pacific.net.sg

Date: 19 March 2010

PRESS RELEASE
1. The 18th Interim Meeting of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) Safe Navigation &Environment Committee (SNEC) was held in Singapore on 19 March 2010. It washosted by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA).
2. The meeting was attended by 19 representatives of shipowners’ associations fromChina, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and ASEAN, asrepresented by the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA) whichis composed of the shipowners’ associations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
3. Mr. S.S. Teo, President of Singapore Shipping Association chaired the SNEC
meeting on behalf of FASA.
4. During the meeting, the Committee considered and discussed various current
issues concerning the safe navigation of ships and the protection of the marine
environment.
5. On the Piracy and Armed Robbery problem manifested worldwide, theCommittee expressed grave concern on the almost 40% increase in the number ofpirate incidents in 2009 as compared with 2008. In particular, the Committee notedthat over 50% of the reported incidents had taken place in waters off Somalia, in
the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, with 47 vessels hijacked and 867 crew taken
hostage.
Recognizing the very serious threat of imminent pirate attacks and hijacks in theGulf of Aden, the Meeting strongly urged all Governments and the United Nations
to take more actions to deal with this problem and to help protect international
shipping through the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. Meanwhile, theCommittee agreed that all transiting ships should remain highly vigilant and adopt
the Best Management Practices approved by the International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) to tackle this pressing problem. Shipowners should adopt thevoluntary reporting system provided by the Maritime Security Centre – Horn ofAfrica (MSCHOA) and to seek the assistance of the escort and security services
provided by the multi-national naval forces stationed in that area.

18th SNEC Press Release – 19 March 201016 The Committee noted that there is currently a proposal by the United States toban the payment of ransoms for acts of piracy.
The Committee expressed great concern that in the absence of any effective
efforts to stop piracy, a ban on ransom payments would have a very adverse effecton the crews being held hostage by pirates. Such a proposal will also place
additional burdens on the families of the crew.
The Committee further urged each member Association to convey their concerns
to their respective governments.
7 The Committee expressed grave concern that the National Hydrographic Officeof India had, in early February 2010, issued a NAVAREA VIII warning for thearbitrary closure1 of, for all intents and purposes, the entirety of the Bay ofBengal to all flights and shipping activities on 7 and 9 February 2010. It is theCommittee’s opinion that such very short notice and unilateral nature of theclosure of the Bay of Bengal, a major shipping lane, is not in accordance withIMO regulations.
8 Whilst the Committee supports every effort to enhance maritime safety and theprotection of our marine environment, the Committee is however worried that theBallast Water Convention 2004 might enter into force very soon. Whilst there
are a number of IMO-approved ballast water treatment systems available, thesesystems are not necessarily operationally effective for all types and sizes ofships. As ships not in compliance with the provisions of the Convention may bebarred from a State party to the Convention once it enters into force, the lack ofsuitable systems for all types and sizes of ships might have serious
repercussions on the industry.
Furthermore, the Committee also expressed concern that the installation of aballast water treatment systems might have unintended consequences withregard to a vessel’s energy efficiency.
As such, the Committee hopes that States would take due consideration prior toratification as a number of operational issues remain to be addressed.
9 The Committee noted with regret that adoption of the Copenhagen Accord at the15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) last December
provided little guidance with regard to international shipping.
The Committee recognises that the onus now lies with the International Maritime
Organisation to take a pro-active role with regard to the development of a roadmap aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from ships so as to avoid
the imposition of unilateral regulations by individual States.

1

Based on Indian newspapers reports, the closure of the Bay of Bengal was apparently for the test launch of India’s Agni III
ballistic missile.

18th SNEC Press Release – 19 March 20102

In closing, the Committee reiterated that any measures adopted must meet IMO
principles.

10 The members of the Committee expressed their appreciation to the SSA for
hosting the 18th Interim Meeting of the SNEC in Singapore.

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Editor's note:
The Asian Shipowners’ Forum is a voluntary organization of the shipowner associations ofAustralia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and the Federation ofASEAN Shipowners’ Associations comprising shipping associations of ASEAN countries. Theaims of the ASF are to promote the interests of the Asian shipowning industries. Between
annual ASF meetings, the ongoing work is carried out by the five Standing Committees; theShipping Economics Review Committee, the Seafarers Committee, the Ship Recycling
Committee, the Safe Navigation and Environment Committee, and the Ship Insurance andLiability Committee. It has been estimated that ASF owners and managers control and operatenearly 50% of the world's cargo carrying fleet.

For any further questions, please contact:
Mr. Daniel Tan,
Secretary l
ASF Safe Navigation & Environment Committee
Tel: (65) 62225238
Email: fasa@pacific.net.sg

18th SNEC Press Release – 19 March 20103