Agenda Item 8

	AGENDA ITEM 8: MARINE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINARS, EXERCISE AND CONFERENCES IN THE REGION: INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SAFER SHIPPING IN THE APEC REGION

17^th APEC TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP MEETING
SINGAPORE
March 27 – 30 2000

EXPERTS GROUP ON MARITIME SAFETY

Agenda Item 8: Marine Safety and Environmental Seminars, Exercises and Conferences in the Region

International Symposium on Safer Shipping in the APEC Region

Submitted by Australia

March 2000

EXPERTS GROUP ON MARITIME SAFETY

Agenda Item 8: Marine Safety and Environmental Seminars, Exercise and Conferences in the Region

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON SAFER SHIPPING IN THE APEC REGION (TPT 04/2000) - Australia

Action Required by Economies

Economies are requested to provide

Provide comment on the proposed themes for the working groups and to provide suggestions for discussion papers, potential facilitators and rapporteurs to the project overseer.
Identify possible sponsors for the Symposium

Background

The Australian proposal for a three day International Symposium on Safer Shipping in the APEC Region was accepted at the 15^th meeting of the TPT-WG and funding approval has been given. The objective of the project is to bring together representatives of all players in the international maritime industry in the APEC region to develop dialogue and exchange views and information on factors affecting the development of a safer shipping culture with the region. It is expected that the final outcome would be a comprehensive series of options arising out of the discussions which could be adopted by member economies to improve maritime safety within the region.

Current Situation

Date and Venue

The International Symposium on Safer Shipping in the APEC Region will be held 5 – 7 March 2001, at the Hotel Nikko, Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia.

Format

The Symposium will be an interactive dialogue using facilitated small-group discussions and working group seminars running simultaneously with reporting back to a plenary session. Facilitators and/or rapporteurs will be required for the sessions.

Themes

The current themes being planned for Symposium include:

Ship Safety – including discussion on STCW, ISM, Seafarer Training, Crewing Conditions, Marine Incident Investigations

Environmental Protection - including discussion on oil spills, NATPLANs, sensitive sea areas, ballast water, fisheries, trade routes (sea lanes)

Technical – including discussion on IMO requirements, Port State Control, Search and Rescue, Satellite Navigation, Supply of Equipment

Shipping Business - including discussion on Protection & Indemnity, Insurance, Classification Societies, developments in Maritime Law

International and Regional Co-operation – including discussions on trade and economic linkages, International Conventions, MOU’s, links with Other Maritime Forums.

These themes will be the basis for working groups. The range of themes are comprehensive and may require streamlining as all issues may not be covered satisfactorily during the time available. Comments and suggestions for inclusions or deletions are being sought from APEC economies.

Discussion Papers

Discussion papers and suggestions for discussion topics are being sought from APEC economies and other interested participants prior to the Symposium and will be used to stimulate discussions in the working groups. It is proposed that these papers will be published along with reports from working group rapporteurs.

Recommendation

Member economies note that the Symposium will be held in Australia in March 2001 and the request to provide the project overseer with comments on the proposed themes as well as suggestions for Discussion papers. Member economies consider Australia’s request for potential rapporteurs and facilitators for Symposium working groups as well as identify possible sponsors to assist with the symposium.

This page was last updated on 15 March 2000