Joint HELCOM-OSPAR Heads of Delegation
HELCOM/OSPAR JHOD 2/2003
Second Meeting
Berlin, Germany, 26-27 March 2003
Agenda Item 2
Topics for the Joint Ministerial Meeting and their preparation –
Environmental Impact of Shipping
Document code:
2.3/x
Date:
19.03.2003
Submitted by:
WWF
COMMENTS AND PROPOSALS WITH REGARD TO THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF DRAFT TEXT ON
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SHIPPING FOR THE MINISTERIAL DECLARATION
The Meeting is invited to consider the proposals and comments presented by WWF when
discussing document JHOD 2/2003, 2.3/2.
Note by Secretariat: FOR REASONS OF ECONOMY, THE DELEGATES ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO BRING THEIR OWN
COPIES OF THE DOCUMENTS TO THE MEETING
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HELCOM/OSPAR JHOD 2/2003, Document 2.3/x
Comments and proposals with regard to the further development of draft
text on the environmental impact of shipping for the Ministerial
Declaration
Presented by WWF
Background
1. In light of recent environmental disasters such as the sinking of the Prestige off the Galician coast,
the emerging and increasing accidental risks identified in the Baltic Sea and the obvious link
between North-East Atlantic and Baltic in terms of shipping routes and transportation patterns,
WWF strongly welcomes the joint approach taken by the OSPAR and Helsinki Commissions to
help reduce the environmental impact of shipping.
2. WWF believes that such transregional concerted action on shipping will also add value to the
effective implementation of IMO measures in general and help tighten up standards and
regulations to avoid and eliminate non-accidental risks and chronical pollution caused by maritime
traffic.
3. With a focus on §§ 11-12 of document 2.3/2, WWF would like to provide comments and make
initial proposals for draft Ministerial Declaration text as attached.
Action requested
4. JHOD is invited to consider WW’s text proposals and comments and decide on action as
appropriate.
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HELCOM/OSPAR JHOD 2/2003, Document 2.3/x
Comments and proposals with regard to the further development of draft
text on the environmental impact of shipping for the Ministerial
Declaration
Re 11b & 12a
WWF supports the development of an EC Directive, with some caution, and believes that the OSPAR
and HELCOM States and the EC should work co-operatively within the IMO to seek a global solution
to the carriage of the heaviest grade oil in double-hull tankers. While WWF understands the desire
from the EC to reduce environmental threats posed by such transport in single hull tankers, we do not
see it as appropriate to protect the Baltic Sea and NE Atlantic waters or all European waters at the
expense of the waters of other coastal nations.
Re 11d
WWF supports HELCOM Ministers‘ commitment to a Baltic Sea PSSA and believes that in the
Ministerial Declaration OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should make a commitment to work cooperatively within the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to designate the Baltic Sea, the Belt
Seas and Kattegat PSSA with carefully selected additional mesures tailored for individual sites.
OSPAR Ministers should make a commitment to work with the EC and undertake a risk assessment of
the most sensitive and vulnerable waters of the NE Atlantic, including NW coast of Spain, west coast
of France, SW approaches to the English Channel / La Manche, and the west coasts of UK and Eire,
with a view to deciding if and where PSSA(s) designation is required in the NE Atlantic.
WWF is also concerned about the rapid increase in oil transportation along the biologically rich and
highly sensitive Norwegian Barents Sea coast, and urges the Norwegian government to seek PSSA
status for this area.
Re 11e
OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should agree to take urgent and co-ordinated steps to reduce the
problem of spreading of non-indigenous invasive organisms to and within the Baltic Sea and NE
Atlantic maritime area in accordance with international law and in order to fully implement IMO
Guidelines (Resolution A.868(20)) and decide upon national and/or regional measures by the end of
2004.
Furthermore, OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should agree to co-ordinate efforts with the IMO to
ensure that the upcoming "International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast
Water and Sediments", contains provisions that will effectively reduce the risk of introduction of alien
species to the Baltic and North East Atlantic.
Co-ordinated efforts should also be made to promote a rapid entry-into-force mechanism for the new
Convention.
Re 11f and beyond
OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should urge the Paris Memorandum signatories and/or EU states to
improve the inspection and harmonise the rigor of inspections in all ports in order to avoid distortion
of the port state control regime and to prevent vessels from docking in those ports that have less
stringent controls.
Re 12a and beyond
OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should commit to an initiative to harmonise the ice-classification
standards. OSPAR and HELCOM States and the EC should work co-operatively within the IMO to
seek transparency in the activities of the classification societies.
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Additional issues
Operational discharges
OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should agree to co-operate in the development of the concept of
vessels designed, constructed and operated in an integrated manner to eliminate harmful discharges
and emissions throughout their working life, as agreed by North Sea Environment Ministers in Bergen,
March 2002.
Illegal discharges of oil and other substances is still a considerable problem in the HELCOM / OSPAR
areas. WWF is pleased to see improved co-ordination of efforts to combat these problems through the
Bonn Agreement and the Helsinki Commission. However, given the fact that illegal discharges are
still occurring in considerable numbers, and causing inter alia frequent strandings of oiled seabirds,
WWF wants to see increased surveillance of ship traffic via flights and/or satellite as well as a coordinated system for the prosecution of offenders. Tele-detection and monitoring systems for oil spills
should be established and promoted to help trace and avoid illegal discharges.
Antifouling paints
OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should commit to urgent ratification of the Antifouling System
Convention and agree to adopt a common strategy for reductions in the harmful effects of other
alternative antifouling compounds, ensuring that toxic compounds are gradually replaced by viable,
non-toxic alternatives, including for smaller vessels.
Regional contingency plan
OSPAR and HELCOM Ministers should commit to define, develop and implement a Regional
Contigency Plan for a rapid response to oil and chemical spills in a co-ordinated manner among all the
Contracting Parties.
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