Tokyo consensus: shipping is no cash cow!

On 16 October, representatives from the Japanese shipping community gathered at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo to share concerns facing the industry.

The BIMCO/INTERTANKO networking lunch and seminar, held in co-operation with the Japan-BIMCO Committee, featured presentations by the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA) Secretary General Mr. Yoshikiyo Ono, BIMCO President Mr. John Denholm, INTERTANKO’s Managing Director Ms. Katharina Stanzel, and the Chairman of INTERTANKO’s Safety, Technical and Environmental Committee, Mr. Henrik von Platen. Closing remarks were made by Mr. David Koo, Chairman of INTERTANKO’s Asia Panel.

The programme covered a wide range of issues facing the industry, from piracy to the burdens of new environmental regulations. It was noteworthy that the positions taken by the respective represented organisations are aligned, with a particularly strong emphasis on the position that the shipping industry should not be seen as a cash cow that will provide disproportionate levels of funding to solve environmental initiatives.

JSA Secretary General, Mr. Yoshikiyo Ono, also drew attention to the ever-increasing tolls for transiting the Panama and Suez canals, despite a weak market, for the users of these waterways. Further describing progress with the Panama Canal Authority ACP) in the form of constructive dialogue initiated in 2012, he contrasted this with the absence of such an arrangement with the Suez Canal Authority (SCA). In order to address the sudden and irrational Suez Canal toll increases, more must be done to establish a healthy dialogue and relationship between the SCA and Canal users.

The seminar discussion will be described in more detail in BIMCO Bulletin No. 6.
Source: BIMCO