Italy urged to set up own marine environment protection body
Chairmen of NAMEPA and CYMEPA say Italian shipowners should help to clean up the country's seas
Liz McCarthy - Monday 23 May 2011
PROTECTING the marine environment has become a major priority for the maritime industry during the last decade, with ballast water management being a key focus for regulators and ship operators.
What is being done, though, about general litter in the world's seas and oceans?
Over the past few years, environmentalists have drawn attention to the ever-growing 'plastic continent' found in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with the shipping industry allegedly a major contributor.
Yet most people will never see this man-made mass of rubbish floating in the sea and truly realise its significance.
However, if anyone wants to address environmental issues, looking closer to home is a good place to start.
That's why Clay Maitland, founding chairman of the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, has urged Italian shipowners to set up a similar organisation to promote safer and cleaner seas in and around the Mediterranean country.
Speaking at the Mare Forum Italy in Sorrento, an Amalfi coast holiday hot spot, Mr Maitland recalled the wonderful time he'd had the previous day, on a corporate trip hosted by Giuseppe Bottiglieri to visit the stunning, privately-owned Li Galli islands.
"I do, however, have a controversial issue to raise," he said.
Mr Maitland revealed how most guests had arrived for the day trip carrying swimwear and towels, with the aim of taking a dip in the sea after a long lunch.
Some may have decided against the idea of a swim because the water was too cold; but others were put off when they saw what was floating along the shoreline.
"Along with some other people, I couldn't help but notice, on the way there, that the water was full of plastic trash and garbage," Mr Maitland said.
One of the potential causes of this could be rubbish being thrown overboard from the high number of passenger vessels transporting both Italians and tourists along the coastline and elsewhere in the Mediterranean.
This image of a lack of cleanliness in the region is not helped by the fact that Naples, a 40-minute hydrofoil journey from Sorrento and Capri, has suffered a waste collection crisis that has seen huge numbers of rubbish bags piled up on the city's pavements.
There is no reason why Italians cannot clean up its seas, though, Mr Maitland said.
"This is a universal problem and I would propose an Italian Marine Environment Protection Association — ITALMEPA."
His idea was supported by George Tsavliris, chairman of CYMEPAof Cyprus and principal of Tsavliris Salvage Group. He told Lloyd's List that Italy's status as a hub of international shipowners with a modern fleet would make it an ideal country to form such an organisation.
"Why not do a MEPA?" he asked. "It would be very well placed and we could help set it up through the International Marine Environment Protection Association."
Italian shipowners who want to promote the maritime industry could also take advantage of the large number of foreigners flocking to its sunny coastline.
"With MEPA, you link up with the tourist industry," Mr Tsavliris said. "CYMEPA helped develop Cyprus' blue flag beach concept that sets certain standards of cleanliness for shipping and ensures beaches are clean and safe.
"Remember that shipping includes coastal boats — and if you get hotels and the rest of the tourist industry on board, it not only helps promote the message, but also increases the economies of scale and reduces administration costs for MEPAs."
With MEPAs in Cyprus, Turkey and the first organisation in Greece, an Italian set-up would continue to add to a cleaner Mediterranean, he added.
InterMEPA, set up in 2006, has seven member countries so far and includes associations from Greece, Cyprus, Australia, Turkey, North America, Ukraine and Uruguay — but it would like to see this number grow.
"There are lots of European MEPAs, but it's not enough," said Mr Maitland.
"The shipping industry often talks about its image, about how there's a lot that shipping does actually do for the environment, but for which it gets little credit.
"It's time the industry was recognised for cleaning the seas — and that's what we're trying to do around the world: show we are, in fact, committed to cleaner seas."
He also pointed out the benefits of being a member of a MEPA. A major advantage is corporate social responsibility; the message this sends out to customers is becoming an increasing priority for international companies.
A shipowner established in an environmental association is likely to be more professional than others, which reflects well on a company's image.
"If you support a certain standard for the environment, it can indirectly reflect high standards in other elements of your business," Mr Tsavliris said.
The Danish maritime community is already notorious for promoting cleaner shipping. But big names such as Maersk and Torm — who insist other companies with which they work follow environmental practices — certainly add weight to the argument that supporting environmental organisations is a good idea.
According to Mr Maitland, the worst situations occur when "financial types" in companies push the environment down the priority list.
"The problem with this industry is that generally it is not anticipatory, but instead is reactive," he said.
He highlighted the extent of cost cutting on environmental measures with the example of energy giant BP. Last year, it suffered catastrophic financial losses and damage to its reputation when Deepwater Horizon, the Transocean rig it was chartering in the Gulf of Mexico to extract oil, exploded and caused the worst ever pollution of US waters.
The multibillion-dollar company had ironically been a founding member of NAMEPA but resigned its membership eight months before the disaster for "budgetary reasons". The membership price is just $1,500 per annum.
Examples like this should drive home the message to members of the shipping community that they need to make an effort, Mr Tsavliris said.
"We have to show we are not just operating for profit, but we also have a conscience. I would feel ashamed and upset if I was working in the shipping sector but was not involved with the environment," he added.
Both he and Mr Maitland are ready and waiting to help the Italian shipowning community clean up their seas — so hopefully it will just be a matter of time before they come forward and create ITALMEPA, promoting a greater public image of shipping.