Saturday, February 21, 2009

No compromise on safety

The current Chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), Oh Kong-gyun, has said that during the global economic downturn, the IMO, flag administrations and classification societies would have to be more active in promoting safety standards and policies to help protect life at sea.

“After a period of unprecedented economic expansion, we are now facing a major global economic downturn that will impact the entire shipping industry,” Mr Oh said at the recent Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association gathering. “We fully expect that this will pose more challenges to ship safety, shipbuilding quality and protection of the marine environment. “Simultaneously we can expect an increasing public expectation and demand on the IMO, flag administrations and classification societies to uphold and actively promote standards and policies that help protect the safety of life at sea and the marine environment.” He said he hoped that the maritime community had the strength to cope during the financial instability.
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