ASA SPC
ASA Shipping Policy Committee
c/o Japanese Shipowners’ Association
Kaiun-Building, 6-4 Hirakawa-cho 2-chome
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan 102-8603
E-mail : int@jsanet.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-3264-7180 Fax: +81-3-5226-9166

2 May 2023, Singapore
Press Release on a Joint Session of SPC and SNEC (Revised)

SPC and SNEC Chairs affirm collaboration to strengthen Asian Voices
towards blue and safe shipping in inaugural joint session
The Shipping Policy Committee (SPC) and Safe Navigation and Environment Committee(SNEC) of the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA), held a joint meeting for the first time today
to discuss environmental and navigational safety issues, whilst taking into account the impactof economic and shipping policy considerations on aspects of their work.
There are five Standing Committees in the ASA, who usually discuss their own agenda items.
Given that the issues which both committees represent are increasingly interlinked, Mr Keiji
Tomoda, Chair of the SPC, who proposed the joint session on this occasion, emphasized;"The COVID pandemic reminded us of the criticality of maritime trade and just how important itwas for the shipping industry to collaborate with all associated stakeholders, in order to maintainsustainable supply chains. It has also been recognized, that environmental protection, througha circular economy, can only be also achieved by working together. However, it needs to beappreciated that all of these issues have to consider navigational aspects to ensure the safetyof all concerned. With this in mind, I am convinced that multi-layered discussions, through a joint
session of both Committees, could only act as a driving force to tackle such important issues
more efficiently".
During the joint session, Mr Simon Bennett, Deputy Secretary General, ICS, explained theimpacts of global and regional environmental regulations on the shipping industry, saying “ ICS
is pleased to join ASA members to increase understanding of the global industry’s Fund andReward proposal to IMO, ahead of the critical IMO meeting in July, and promote the urgent needto encourage governments to take this forward - together with a global fuel standard - toincentivise first movers with rewards for the rapid production and take-up of low and zero GHG
fuels, which will be necessary for shipping to achieve net zero emissions mid-century”. In thiscontext, Ms Caroline Yang, Chair of SNEC, added that; “International shipping needed to beregulated at a global level and not at any regional level, because this will only lead to excessive
administrative burden and confusion for the industry. This is consistent with ASA’s long-standing
position to support a predictable and uniformed approach to regulating GHG emissions that all
shipping sectors will be able to comply with, as ships move across different jurisdictions. . Weurge IMO and its member states, to accelerate development of an internationally harmonizedframework for decarbonisation under which early movers are not disadvantaged”.
The joint session also considered issues concerning the Suez Canal and the need to ensure safety oftransit. From Suez Canal Authority (SCA), Mr Elsayed Abou El-Fetouh Elsayed, Director of Planning,
Research and Studies Department and Eng Yasser Abdel Kader Darwish, Director of Transit
Department participated online in spite of time difference. SCA provided a review of the lessons learned
from the major incident in 2021, which led to 422 vessels delayed by the closure of the Canal, with anestimated US$54 billion dollars of trade lost,. The SCA team shared insights, learnings and measurestaken by the SCA to avoid similar accidents in the future. Mr. Tomoda stated that; “Not only the Suez
Canal but also the Panama Canal, are strategic points in global supply chains, and both Responsible
Authorities need to ensure safe and stable management to accommodate growing volumes of cargo
flow. With this in mind, the shipping industry needed to continue dialogue with both Authorities, not only
as users of the canals but also with the view of ensuring sustainable supply chains. Such dialogue
would cover topics such as green transits and stable supplies of alternative fuels”.
Mr Yuichi Sonoda, Secretary General of ASA, said; “This first joint session of ASA standing
committees has proved to be highly beneficial. Economies in Asia are major players in theworld shipping industry, leading in shipowning, shipmanaging, shipbuilding, shiprecycling andseafarers supply. We also have the geographical advantage to enable close communication,unhindered by time differences, and I would encourage other ASA standing committees toactively collaborate with each other to spread the Asian shipping voice to the world”.
Following the joint session, the 36th SPC interim meeting was held to discuss various agenda
items such as recent developments on international supply chain, anti-trust immunity, US
legislation, facilitation payment and canals issues. In details, please find attached its meetingsummary.

--------------------------------Shipping Policy Committee (SPC)
The ASA Shipping Policy Committee (SPC) is a forum for senior executives of Asian shippinglines to review macroeconomic trade information and developments, as they relate to shipping.
The objective of the SPC is to improve the quality of executive decision-making by the reviewof available economic data and the sharing of perspectives on major trade issues.
Safe Navigation & Environment Committee (SNEC)The ASA Safe Navigation and Environment Committee (SNEC) is a forum for the SNEC
members to discuss a pollution-free marine and atmospheric environment and the safety ofnavigation and protection of life and property at sea. The piracy and armed robbery worldwide
are one of main concerns for the Committee to continue to look into and the regulatory
developments are on-going issue.

ASA SPCASA Shipping Policy Committee
c/o Japanese Shipowners’ Association
Kaiun-Building, 6-4 Hirakawa-cho 2-chome
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan 102-8603
E-mail : int@jsanet.or.jp
Tel:+81-3-3264-7180 Fax:+81-3-5226-9166

2 May 2023, Singapore

MEETING SUMMARY
ofthe 36th Interim Meeting of the Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA)
Shipping Policy Committee (SPC)
The 36th Interim Meeting of ASA SPC was held in Singapore on 2 May 2023. The meeting waschaired by Mr Keiji Tomoda, Vice President of the Japanese Shipowners’ Association andparticipated in by 21 delegates from ASA member associations of ASEAN, Hong Kong, Japanand Korea and 5 observers and guests from ASA Associate Members and relatedorganisations, as per the attendance list attached. The ASA SNEC/SPC joint session was also
held for the first time, the aim of which in particular was to discuss environmental and navigationalsafety issues whilst taking into account the impact of economic and shipping policy issues onaspects of their work based on the conclusion of the 35th interim meeting to seek possible
collaboration with the SNEC.
During the ASA SPC interim meeting, members were committed to ensuring full compliancewith all applicable competition laws throughout the entire programme under diligent guidancefrom their legal counsel, as in previous meetings. The outline of the meeting is as follows:
1. Recent Developments on International Policy and Supply Chain
Delegates reaffirmed importance of ensuring reliable and efficient services to their customers as
their mission in spite of disruptive factors such as geopolitical tensions and pandemicsundermining global supply chain, at the same time, sharing common view that it is essential todeepen mutual understanding among stakeholders and to work together, if necessary, toachieve the mission. In this context, SPC continue to seek further collaboration with other ASA
standing committees to strengthen Asian voices to the public.
Under the agenda item, SPC appreciated Eng. David Miranda Silgado, Person in Charge ofSegumar Singapore, General Directorate of Merchant Marine, Panama Maritime Authority, for
his presentation titled “We are working towards a blue maritime industry”. He explained how thePanamanian government has contributed toward a blue shipping at the international level andalso implemented incentive schemes to shipowners. Delegates believe that the approach
Panamanian authority take should be balanced among safety, environment and efficiency.
-1-2. Anti-trust Immunity and US Legislative Developments
Recent developments concerning the review of the current anti-trust immunity system forcorporative carrier agreements in a number of jurisdictions were reported by Mr Robert K.
Magovern, Co-Vice Chair of Transportation and Trade at Cozen O’Connor and the SPC’s legal
counsel. Participants reconfirmed the ASA’s long-standing policy that the anti-trust immunity
system for liner shipping agreements was indispensable for the healthy development of the liner
shipping industry and the maintenance of a reliable service to the entire trading community. In
light of the recent legislative proposals in the US following the enactment of the US Ocean
Shipping Reform Act 2022 (OSRA2022) last year, which seek to eliminate the current anti-trust
immunity framework for Vessel Sharing Agreements (VSAs), SPC agreed that ASA will takenecessary actions, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to support maintenance of anti-trust
exemptions for liner shipping agreements.
3. Special Lecture on Anti-Bribery
Ms Cecilia Müller Torbrand, CEO of Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), delivered a
special lecture concerning recent activities and strategy, especially in relation to its cooperation
framework with the Suez Canal Authority. Delegates also echoed MACN’s activities toeliminate all forms of maritime corruption which had long been constraints to fair trade forshipping companies. It was therefore agreed that the SPC members were encouraged to use
MACN Anonymous Reporting System to report incidents to MACN in a proactive manner. We
continues to closely monitor this issue as a standing item at the SPC, seeking further
collaboration with MACN.
4. Canal Issues
In the light of fact that the unexpected changes precipitated by the pandemic are now swiftly
returning to almost normal, delegates shared the view that sharp increases in Canals toll basedon the unprecedented shipping market should be reviewed in a timely manner. In addition, SPC
reaffirmed necessary to continue to seek safe, smooth and stable transit of the canals throughdialogues with ACP (Panama Canal Authority) and SCA (Suez Canal Authority) for sustaining a
global supply chain, which was proved to be vulnerable due to port congestions and geopoliticaltension over the past three years. The dialogues intend to be aimed at covering wide range oftopics, not only their long-term pricing strategy including pre notice period before toll revisions,but also safe and efficient operation to address increase in cargo volume. In this connection,delegates appreciated a positive step, under leadership of SPC Chair, to invite a representativefrom SCA to make a presentation on safe transit of the Canal at the joint session of SPC andSNEC today. SPC also confirmed that it was essential for the stakeholders to take harmonised
approach to effectively voice common positions within the industry to the authorities as well as
the public. SPC members were therefore encouraged to input ASA’s positions to international
associations they belong to.
***

The ASA Shipping Policy Committee (SPC) is a forum for the members of ASA associations to discuss maritime policy issues such as regulation, taxation, trade
policy, customs, canals, infrastructure and the macro economy, and policy public relations.
-2-ASA SPC
ASA Shipping Policy Committee
c/o Japanese Shipowners’ Association
Kaiun-Building, 6-4 Hirakawa-cho 2-chome
Chiyoda-ku Tokyo Japan 102-8603
E-mail : int@jsanet.or.jp
Tel:+81-3-3264-7180 Fax:+81-3-5226-9166

2 May 2023

The 36th Interim Meeting of
the ASA Shipping Policy Committee (SPC)
on 2 May 2023

Participants List
CHAIRMAN< Japanese Shipowners’ Association >Mr Keiji Tomoda

Vice President, Japanese Shipowners’ Association

MEMBERS< Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Association >< FASA-Indonesia >Ms Carmelita Hartoto
Mr Budhi Halim
Mr Suyono
Mr Arziandi Rachman

Chairwoman, Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA)
Secretary General, Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA)
Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA)
Indonesian National Shipowners' Association (INSA)< FASA-Singapore>

Ms Caroline Yang
Mr Colin De Souza
Mr Michael Phoon

President, Singapore Shipping Association(Regional Head South Asia, Ocean Network Express Pte Ltd)
Executive Director, Singapore Shipping Association< FASA-Vietnam >Mr Nguyen Quang MinhMr Duong Ngoc Tu(General Director, Vietnam Ocean Shipping Joint stock Co.)
(General Director, Vinaship Joint Stock Company)< Hong Kong Shipowners Association >Mr James Zhao
Capt. Nittin Handa(Head of Marine Department of OOCL)
Director of Regulatory Affairs, HKSOA< Japanese Shipowners’ Association >Mr Hiroki Harada
Mr Nobuo Shiotsu
Mr Noriaki Yamaga
Mr Takahiko Tsurukawa
Mr Kentaro Tsuji(Representative Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer,Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha)(Senior Managing Executive Officer, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines)(Managing Executive Officer, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.)(President & CEO, "K"LINE PTE LTD)
(Project General Manager, Corporate Planning Group,Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.)Ms Kumiko Iwasa
Mr Daisuke Fujihashi(Project General Manager, Corporate Planning Group,Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.)(Project Manager, Corporate Planning Division, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.)< Korea Shipowners’ Association >Mr Jeremy Choi

(Senior VP, HMM Co., Ltd)Mr Jonghwa Lee

Deputy General Manager, Korea Shipowners' Association

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Eng David Miranda Silgado
Capt. Raja Ray
Mr Mathieu Kissin(Person in Charge of Segumar Singapore, Chief of Seafarers
Regional Office Singapore, Panama Maritime Authority)(Business Development Manager, Isle of Man Ship Registry)(Managing Director, Liberian Registry)

GUEST SPEAKER
Ms Cecilia Müller Torbrand(CEO, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network)

ICS SECRETARIATMr Simon Bennett

Deputy Secretary General, International Chamber of Shipping)

ASA SECRETARIATMr Yuichi Sonoda
Mr Dylan Ow

Secretary General, Asian Shipowners’ Association
Technical Manager, Asian Shipowners’ Association

LEGAL COUNSELMr Robert Magovern(Attorney, Cozen O’Connor)

SECRETARIATMr Masayuki Ito
Mr Daijiro Mizushima
Mr Motoki Bessho
Ms Moe Murakami
Ms Hiroko Saito

General Manager, Planning Division, Japanese Shipowners'
AssociationManager, Planning Division, Japanese Shipowners’ Association
Deputy Manager, Planning Division, Japanese Shipowners’ Association
Assistant Manager, Planning Division, Japanese Shipowners'
Association
Planning Division, Japanese Shipowners’ Association------------------------