The Canadian alternative draft MEPC 67 resolution states that Port State Control (PSC) authorities should “refrain from issuing sanctions, warnings, detentions and exclusions to ships for inadvertent minor exceedances”, as defined by International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
However, in analysis of the Canadian proposals, ICS argued that, if adopted, “The definition of ‘minor exceedance’ should be a matter for full debate at MEPC and not merely the adoption of a definition provided by a North European environmental NGO,” and, with not enough time to have those discussions, the definition could be left “open and subject to political whim” after the convention is adopted.
Despite the Canadian administration’s assertion that its proposal is “simpler and broader than the industry proposal to grandfather specific ships based on the date of BWM systems type approval”, ICS stressed that it would provide no assurance that type-approved, correctly installed, maintained and operated BWM systems would be found compliant in PSC inspections. “Member states need to take all necessary steps to ensure BWM systems are reliable. It should not be left to owners, managers, crews and operators who do not have the scientific background required to make such assessments.”
ICS director of external relations Simon Bennett said: “ICS is pleased that the government of Canada - which has previously been sceptical about the industry’s concerns - now appears to acknowledge that there is a serious problem.”
“Sadly, however, the solution that Canada has proposed to IMO, as an attempt at a compromise, does nothing to address the industry’s fundamental concerns.”
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