A coalition of stakeholders engaged in maritime industry, comprising of both, the U.S. and international vessel owners and operators, including relevant labor unions, has sent a letter to the U.S. Senate asking for support to uniform national standard for the regulation of ballast water and other vessel discharges.
The letter, addressed to Hon. John D. Rockefeller IV Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, highlights the importance of introducing S. 3332, the Vessel Incidental Discharges Act.
Accordingly, the said Act has been set forth before the Committee due to the efforts undertaken by Senator Begich, Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Hutchison.
With the adoption of this document the U.S. would get a consistent national standard for the management of vessel discharges, eliminating the need for state regulations and agencies which tend to have contradictory practices.
Given that such discrepancies could jeopardize normal business operation of U.S. maritime commerce, order must be restored in this area.
S. 3332, built on a scientifically deliberated platform, would impose stringent provisions on vessel owners, ensuring that vessel owners install the most effective, commercially available ballast water treatment technologies to protect the marine environment of all the nation’s waterways, reads the letter.
[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, July 30, 2012