Can quality shipping lead reforms? John Lyras, president of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) is blunt in his assessment of the situation: ‘Quality shipping has a future, but the focus should be on all fronts, not just the owners and their ships.’

Among the issues he suggests concerned owners pursue is greater accountability by both yards and port state authorities. The quality of the ships turned out by some yards is a matter of grave concern to the industry. This problem is exacerbated by the yards bearing virtually no responsibility for the quality of their product. The 12-month guarantee they give is less than that for a kitchen toaster.

Lyras acknowledges that a higher building specification will normally result in a higher price, and emphasises that overcapacity in the shipbuilding industry worldwide is giving rise to stiff competition not only between shipbuilders and suppliers but also between shipowners which is having a negative impact on the market.

Quality should be rewarded
Another item that concerns Lyras is the inconsistency of flag state and port state control processes. The failure of flag states to carry out their responsibilities is not new. Flag states need to do more to reward good-quality shipping that flies their flags, not merely leave the policing of the industry to the superficial inspections of port state inspectors. Ports should be evaluated in terms of their services and contingency plans. There should be an international safety management code for ports, not just for owners and their ships.

It is important to be open and direct when talking about the real issues facing our industry, rather than just going along with the common perceptions. Admittedly, shipowners do have a certain responsibility regarding quality issues in shipping, but so do the yards and port state controls. Quality issues are certainly among their interests.

Collective stance
Lyras calls on responsible owners to promote best practices through the informed, directed and widespread advocacy of quality shipping. Most quality shipowners have access to shipping organisations that have media resources. Some shipping organisations, such as Intertanko and Intercargo, are speaking out and providing leadership in the campaign to eradicate sub-standard shipping.

Lyras insists that, if these major shipping organisations could work together to publicise the benefits that quality shipping brings to the world, and to highlight the dangers of substandard shipping practices, great progress could be made in eliminating substandard shipping and its users.

Together, they could present the case for quality shipping to governments, and call on them to implement their port-state control and flag-state responsibilities without fear or favour, concludes Lyras. In that way, quality shipping would achieve greater credibility with the public and governments.