EXPERTS GROUP ON MARITIME SAFETY
Report Of Impromptu Meeting
Sydney, Australia, March 8^th,2001

1) An impromptu meeting of the experts group on Maritime safety (EGMS) was held in Sydney, Australia on March 8, 2001 following the APEC -sponsored "International Symposium on Safer Shipping in the APEC Region".

2) Representatives of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Korea, and New Zealand met to address maritime safety concerns in the region in order to identify problems and propose recommendations for improvement.

3) The meeting was chaired by Canada.

4) The origin of EGMS, the projects conducted and other initiatives were reviewed.

5) The group noted that a successful inter-sessional meeting was held in conjunction with IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meeting held in December 2000.

6) Canada advised that EGMS/TPT-WG was represented at the APEC Marine Resource Conservation Working Group in Vancouver during December 2000. The presentation (copy attached) was well received and the APEC Marine Resource Working Group wishes to establish closer links to TPT-WG on environmental issues.

7) Korea updated the group on the status of the project "To Identify Optimum Maritime Administrative Structures and The Legal Framework For Safer Shipping in the Asia-Pacific Region". The questionnaire has been circulated extensively and a preliminary analysis made on the responses received to date. A final draft will be presented to TPT-20.

8) Australia advised that the RFP for the project "Analysis of the economic benefits of the provision of Hydrographic services in the APEC Region" has been developed and circulated. Tenders will be evaluated by the Steering Committee.

9) The Group reviewed two project proposals submitted by Australia- "Analysis of regional Action against Substandard Shipping and the impact in the APEC Region" and "APEC Accreditation of Seafarer Manning Agencies". Following discussion, it was agreed that the first proposal should not be recommended for funding approval as some of the work proposed had already been accomplished during an earlier project; was contrary to recommendations reached during the symposium that there should not be unilateral actions to combat substandard shipping but globalised under the aegis of IMO; and that actions currently underway were widely known.

10) The second project proposal "APEC Accreditation of Seafarer Manning Agencies" was agreed to have merit and was recommended for funding approval. This project is proposed to be conducted in three phases. Issues will include the issuance of fraudulent certificates, the identification of work already conducted by Stella Maris and other agencies and the development of a model contract. The group noted that this initiative was identified by recommendations during the safer shipping symposium and the final report of the International Commission on Shipping. Input from experts would be sought prior to the finalising of the proposal.

11) The final report of the "International Symposium on Safer Shipping in the APEC Region" was reviewed. The report (copy attached) will be submitted as background material to the forthcoming meeting of APEC Transport Ministers and key recommendations included in the ministerial statement.

12) Similarly the key recommendations of the report of the International Commission on Shipping (executive summary attached) will be incorporated in the ministerial statement and the full report included as background material for the ministers.

13) Canada has submitted an information paper (copy attached) to the marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) and the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

14) EGMS has liaised with representatives of the newly-formed Security Experts group and will prepare a draft text on combating Maritime Piracy for inclusion in the ministerial statement.

1) Note that the EGMS has established means to effectively interact by means of the email listserver and intersessional meetings. These processes are expected to accelerate work and an APEC-focussed participation will be developed at IMO and other maritime forums.

2) Note that there should be greater liaision with the APEC Marine Resource Conservation Working Group on environmental issues.

3) Note that the project "To Identify Optimum Maritime Administrative Structres and Legal Frameworks For Safer Shipping in the APEC Region" is expected to be complete in October 2001 and a final report submitted to TPT-20.

4) Note that the RFP for the project "Analysis of the Economic Benefits of the Provision of Hydrographic Services in the APEC Region" has been developed and circulated. Tenders will be evaluated prior to awarding a contract for commencement of work scheduled for June 2001.

5) Recommend the project proposal "APEC Accreditation of Seafarer Manning Agencies" for funding approval.

6) Note that the reports of the Safer Shipping Symposium and the findings of the International Commission on Shipping will be submitted to the APEC Ministers of Transport and the key recommendations included in the ministerial statement.

7) Note that details of EGMS work has been submitted to the International Maritime Organisation.

8) Note that a draft text on combating Maritime Piracy is being developed in conjunction with the Security Experts Group for inclusion in the Ministerial statement.

9) Note that a report detailing the work performed by EGMS will be submitted to the forthcoming meeting of APEC Ministers of Transport.

This page was last updated on 30 Mar.,  2001