Doha: Despite considerable progress being made in the protection of environment, Qatar is relatively slow in implementing some key international regulations, according to a marine environment expert.
"Qatar is not part to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol)" said Henri Pinon, Consultant in waterborne transport.
The convention requires states to ensure their ports are equipped with adequate reception facility for residues ships need to deposit on-shore. Pinon, who is taking part at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) workshop organised by Customs and Ports General Authority added that Qatar is part to the IMO convention, but neither of the Marpol annexes.
"It is something to be improved. There is no good reason not to be part of that and setting up such a facility does not require such a huge investment", he said in remarks to The Peninsula yesterday.
Marpol Convention is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
The workshop on flag state implementation and port state control to be concluded today, the first major event taking place since the merger of customs and ports departments in Qatar presented a global view of the present rules and regulations in the maritime industry.
Among the topics discussed was the implementation of regulations and standards related to safety and prevention of maritime pollution by ships and IMO is the specialised United Nations agency for this area of competency.
IMO has adopted several international conventions, which are in force, like Solas (Safety of Life at Sea).
Pinon noted that these conventions are always evolving with several amendments introduced, the latest being about security measures developed to protect international shipping from the threat of terrorism, which came into effect on July 1st this year.
"The main aim of Solas is not security, but safety. Security is an additional domain of preoccupation, which was urgent because there was an obvious pressure in favor of improving security, but safety remains the most important issue and also pollution prevention", said Pinon.
The international maritime security measures now in force were developed and adopted by IMO in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US.
The security measures, which include the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) are in the form of the Solas Convention and are aimed at enhancing maritime security on board ships and at ship/port interface area.
© The Peninsula 2004
