March 2014
INTERNATIONAL SALVAGE UNION
UK shipping minister praises salvage industry at ISU conference The UK Shipping Minister, Stephen Hammond MP, gave the keynote address at the International Salvage Union’s annual conference for its Associate Members. There was a full programme of speakers and panel discussions on topics related to the salvage industry particularly Arctic operations and container operations. Mr Hammond paid tribute to the salvage industry and said he recognised that specialist contractors provide the bulk of the marine casualty response capability and most of the technical expertise in emergency response. He went on to describe the evolution of the UK’s SOSREP system. He said that “salvage by committee” is ineffective and inefficient and that the SOSREP system allows for a single voice to over-ride other interested parties if necessary. Mr Hammond told some 170 delegates that the UK and the European Union are tackling the issue of Places of Refuge for casualty vessels – a matter on which the ISU, along with the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Union of Marine Insurance, is campaigning - particularly following the case of the MARITIME MASIE off Japan. He said that the case of the MSC FLAMINIA in 2012 showed the need
ISU President Leendert Muller (above) introduces the UK Shipping Minister, Stephen Hammond MP (left) at the ISU Associate Members' day conference in London
for guidelines on Places of Refuge and added that the UK SOSREP had recently been in Qatar to discuss the issue with regional representatives following the case of the Stolt Valor, also in 2012. In concluding, Mr Hammond said that the success of righting the Costa Concordia showed that the salvage industry is “innovative and capable of meeting the most demanding challenges at sea.” ISU
President, Leendert Muller, said: “We are privileged to have had Mr Hammond as a speaker at our event. The UK’s maritime emergency response decision making - through SOSREP - is admired around the world and we look forward to further developments in international attitudes to Places of Refuge.”
ISU Annual Pollution Prevention Survey - 2013 Results The International Salvage Union has announced the results of its annual Pollution Prevention Survey for 2013. The total quantity of pollutants salved by ISU members - nearly three quarters of a million tonnes - was slightly less than in 2012 although the overall picture is consistent over the two years. The 2012 numbers included a small number of substantial coal cargoes under the “other” category. In 2013 there were more, but smaller and more varied, cargoes salved in the “other” category. There was a marginal increase in the number
of services performed by ISU members compared with the previous year. The total of all pollutants salved in 2013 was 718,602 tonnes compared with 810,068 tonnes in 2012. It is a decrease of 11%. The average annual figure for the 19 years for which data is available is a little below one million tonnes of potential pollutants salved per year. It mirrors the trend of a decreasing number of casualties which chiefly reflects improvements to ship and operational safety over the past two decades.
In 2013 the major change was a significant increase in the quantity of oil cargoes (crude and refined products) salved, up 58% from 104,665 tonnes to 165,395 tonnes. However, this category is highly variable and can be dramatically affected by one or two large cargoes. Another notable increase was in chemicals salved – up 49% from 99,015 to 147,987 tonnes. Again, this category may be affected by a small number of large casualties. (Continued on page 3)
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