TPT/WG14/SC/ST/…..

 ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERAITON
TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
FOURTEENTH MEETING – SEOUL
OCTOBER 1998

UPDATE ON PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT PHASE I OF THE
"SAFER SHIPPING IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION – AN INTEGRATED APPROACH" PROJECT

Submitted by Australia

October 1998

14^th APEC TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP MEETING
Seoul, Republic of Korea
October 19 – 23, 1998

EXPERTS GROUP ON MARITIME SAFETY

AGENDA ITEM 11: UPDATE OF PROJECT PROPOSAL:

"SAFER SHIPPING IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION – AN INTEGRATED APPROACH"

Australia

Background:

In 1997 Transportation Ministers directed the TPT-WG to "establish an Experts Group on Maritime Safety to address maritime safety concerns in the Region". Ministers urged "economies to work closely with international organisations having competence in the field, such as the IMO, to develop programs and mechanisms to promote the implementation of, and compliance with, existing international rules and standards adopted by these organisations."

At APEC TPT WG 12, the Experts Group on Maritime Safety (EGMS) recommended that the Australian project proposal ‘Safer Shipping in the Asia Pacific’ be circulated to all economies for consideration at TPT-WG 13. Economies subsequently endorsed Phase 1 of the project ‘Safer Shipping in the Asia Pacific’ at APEC TPT WG 13. Phase I is sponsored by Australia with Chinese Taipei, the Republic of Korea and Canada as cosponsors. The project overseer is Ms Joanne Blackburn.

The overall objective of the project is to remove the unfair competitive advantage obtained by those who use substandard shipping and enhance the efficiency of shipping services in the Asia Pacific. The project is consistent with IMO and flag state objectives to promote maritime safety. Phase I of the project will investigate the legislative, economic, or commercial arrangements within government maritime safety agencies, shipping and related organisations that mitigate against sub-standard shipping and encourage the use of safe shipping. A copy of project proposal for Phase I of the project is enclosed. It can also be found on the APEC TPT-WG website at http://www.apectptwg.org.au/.

Phase I was allocated $US77,500 at the APEC Budget and Administrative Committee (BAC) in July 1998. Australia will contribute a further $US6,000 to the project. Once APEC Ministers approve the APEC Budget in November 1998 economies should advertise the ‘Request for Proposal’ for Phase I. A draft RFP is also enclosed

Australia anticipates that Phase 1 of the project will commence in March 1999. A final report will be considered at TPT-WG 16. The EGMS meeting at TPT WG 16 should consider whether Phase II of the project will proceed.

The results of Phase 1 should also contribute to the EGMS future work program, such as the study proposed by the Republic of Korea into the implementation of international conventions and maritime safety administrations.

Action Required at TPT–WG 14

Australia will :

1. Ask interested economies to join the ‘Safer Shipping’ Project Steering Committee.
2. Convene a Project Steering Committee meeting to consider the draft ‘Request for Proposal’ and its evaluation criteria.
3. Recommend the Project Steering Committee decide on the method of intersessional communication for selecting the successful contractor.
4. Submit a detailed timetable for implementation of the project as contained in the RFP, finalise administrative arrangements for release of the RFP and selection of the suitable contractor.

1. Project Steering Committee

It is envisaged that project cosponsors would participate in the Project Steering Committee. Other member economies are encouraged to participate.

2. Request for Proposal and Evaluation Criteria

The Project Steering will be asked to finalise the draft RFP and evaluation criteria (as attached) if possible at TPT-WG 14. Australia would be grateful for economies’ views on these documents.

Communication.

Australia wants to ensure that Project Steering Committee members can communicate easily on any project issues that need to be resolved after TPT-WG 14. Australia recommends that members use the TPT-WG web site’s EGMS list server to communicate. Access to the list will be discussed during the EGMS meeting. Alternatively facsimile communication could be used.

To ensure contractors can obtain information from the responsible authority in their economy a table showing the name and details of an appropriate representative is attached to the RFP. Alternative contact names and details should also be listed.

4. Proposed Timetable

1. APEC economies to request proposals on 21 November, 1998.
2. Proposals to be received by economies by 21 December 1998.
3. Each economy evaluates proposals 22 December to 14 January 1998, recommending a preferred tenderer and one other based on the attached evaluation criteria.
4. Each economy to submit its preferred proposal and one other to APEC Secretariat by 15 January 1999.
5. APEC Secretariat to circulate all proposals to Project Steering Committee by 22 January 1999.
6. APEC Project Steering Committee to consider and evaluate proposals from APEC economies by 5 February 1999.
7. Preferred tenderer and two others will be recommended to the APEC Secretariat on 12 February 1999.
8. Notification of results of evaluation process 19 February 1999.
9. Sign Contract and commence Phase I by end of first week in March 1999.

Recommendation

Australia recommends that:

• A project Steering Committee be established to implement Phase I of the ‘Safer Shipping’ Project.

• The Committee should finalise the Phase I RFP, the evaluation criteria and the timetable for selecting the successful tenderer and completing the project during 1999.

This page was last updated on 10 Aug, 2006