Adjusting to business environment changes, Faroe Agency pushes for improved contingency planning in the Faroe Islands, awaiting new legislation on marine pollution and liability in cases of accidents.
When it comes to shipping and related safety measures, environmental protection, contingency planning, and emergency management, Faroe Agency partner Karl-Erik Reynheim is exceedingly clear about his views: the Faroe Islands urgently needs to upgrade.
Together with officials from the Faroese Government, Mr. Reynheim is pushing for a series of maritime regulations, the first of which are forthcoming as pollution incidents occurring in connection with bunkering become subject to more clearly defined rules.
Mr. Reynheim said that as a professional working for the country’s leading shipping agency, he sees it as his obligation to try to help improve the situation.
In a bid to reform the current legislation on marine pollution, the Ministry of the Interior submitted a new directive proposal to hearing in early March.
Said Mr. Reynheim: “I worked for many years in international shipping for a major oil company and it was a serious learning experience when the Amoco Cadiz oil spill happened. They then introduced a safety management policy which since resulted in the best accident statistics among the top international oil companies in the world. They would never be associated with disasters without being able to prove afterwards that they had done everything in their power to prevent it from happening.
“This mentality has long been setting the agenda in the world of shipping and it’s very important for the Faroe Islands to upgrade its maritime regulations accordingly. We want a competitive maritime sector and no disasters, so it’s our responsibility to take all possible preventive measures and at the same time be prepared in case, God forbid, the worst should happen.”
Referring to arrangements in e.g. Shetland and Norway, Mr. Reynheim said that specific routes for large marine vessels must be mapped out with access to remaining areas restricted.
“The combination of bad weather and large ships close to shore is dangerous, whether it’s laden tankers or cruise liners carrying passengers. We need to set limits regarding how close to the coastline such vessels are allowed and along which routes they may sail. Also, we need legal provisions and an adequate rescue infrastructure to be able to seize control of a vessel should that be necessary in the face of potential danger.”
As for regulation of emissions, Mr. Reynheim said the Faroes should consider ratifying EU Directive 2005/33/EC to limit the amount of sulfur content in marine fuel. Standard requirements regarding pilotage and towage likewise need to be formulated, he added.
“We’ve already had a few minor incidents and these should be seen as lessons. It’s time we take action now.”
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