The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), that represents the world’s national shipowners’ associations and 80% of the world merchant fleet, addressed its concerns about the Canadian proposed legislation which it says will interfere with international maritime trade.
Concerning the Canadian legislation, the Canadian Senate will establish a moratorium on the shipment of crude oil in the waters of Northern British Columbia (Bill C-48: An Act respecting the regulation of vessels that transport crude oil or persistent oil to or from ports or marine installations located along British Columbia’s north coast).
ICS Deputy Secretary General, Simon Bennett commented that the legislation is considered to be a dramatic step and could result to serious concerns in Canada’s global trading partners.
He continued stating that the moratorium doesn’t seem to be based in evidence.
We fear it could establish a dangerous precedent that might be copied elsewhere, including by individual U.S. States, with the potential to impact greatly on the efficiency of world trade, as well as that of Canada.
… Simon Bennett reported.
Following, ICS supports that the results in the environmental perspective are impressive, especially in the tanker sector.
On average, worldwide, there are currently fewer than two significant oil spills (over 700 tonnes) per year, compared to 25 such incidents per year thirty years ago, despite a doubling of the amount of oil transported by sea.
In addition, ICS encourages Canada to continue its history of environmental protection and support.
The global shipping industry fully acknowledges the importance of robust environmental protection measures, and is committed to the goal of zero pollution, consistent with the comprehensive global regulatory framework adopted by the UN IMO in accordance with the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which Canada is a State Party.
This legislation, tabled in the Canadian parliament in May 2017, is currently being reviewed by a standing committee of the Senate of Canada.
