BIMCO is to prove that the shipping industry is as green as it says it is by initiating a study aimed at documenting that the sector, preferably going back 35 years, has acted increasingly environmentally consciously and must stand out as an environmentally responsible industry with the focus on sustainable development.
The owners’ association, which is headed up by its President Philip Embiricos, also pledged to stay proactive on the environmental issue and said it strongly supports the IMO as the vehicle for the development of international solutions and standards.
At the spring meeting of the association, held at the Royal Automobile Club in London, the BIMCO board also agreed to continue its work to seek a global solution in IMO for the shipping industry in respect of the 2009 Copenhagen conference to discuss amendments to the Kyoto Protocol.
The Board also discussed and endorsed a new five year strategy plan that will affect all areas of the association’s work. This will initially impact on the business support systems and internal coordination and streamlining, to strengthen the efficiency and productivity of the secretariat. Other important elements of the new vision plan include, apart from BIMCO’s standard objectives, further strong support for the expansion of education within the industry, an even closer monitoring of any threats to shipping including terrorism, piracy, armed robbery and drug smuggling, as well as the enhanced promotion of the fair treatment of seafarers.
