World Shipping Council

Programs: Maritime safety and security issues =================================== the council addressed various maritime security policies and concerns for the international liner shipping industry, and provided analysis and advice to the u. S. Government on various security policy issues and programs. The following are some of the specific issues in which the council is involved: a. Maritime container plant pest prevention -------------------------------------------- in response to concerns about the spread of certain plant pests in or on international shipping containers, the council has worked through the administrative body of the international plant protection convention, through the councils members, and with the u. S. And canadian governments to develop and disseminate best practices for avoiding, detecting, and responding to pest contamination. B. Customs and border protection (cbp) automation initiatives and security partnership ----------------------------------------------------------------- the council continued to work with u. S. Cbp in addressing technical and programming issues associated with automating the electronic filing of export manifests. The council has also worked with the u. S. Census bureau to assist in planning for parallel implementation of new regulations from both customs and census on changes to export documentation processes. The council continues to identify situations in which paper forms can be replaced with electronic filing systems and to pilot and implement those transitions from paper to electronic systems. The council has also participated in a cbp process to update minimum security criteria for participation in cbps customs-trade partnership against terrorism (c-tpat). C. Cyber security ----------------- the council monitored and participated in discussions with cbp, the coast guard, and the international maritime organization (imo) about ways to detect, reduce, and respond to cyber security threats. D. European commission container security regulation and union customs code implementation --------------------------------------------------------------- the council worked with the european commission on the revision of the european unions advance cargo information filing, including detailed technical discussions regarding the form, content, and filing methods for entry and exit summary declarations. The council is working with the commission, european governments, and other industry groups to encourage the development of efficient and effective systems for processing trade data that is required to be submitted to governments.

environmental issues ==================== a. Vessel air emissions ----------------------- the council worked on the following government initiatives dealing with vessel air emissions: 1) participation at the international maritime organization (imo) in work preparing for implementation of a global cap on marine fuel sulphur content that will become effective in 2020; 2) consultation with california state government officials about plans to revise regulations and practices to reduce air emissions from vessels at berth; 3) participation in european commission work groups preparing implementing regulations for european union legislation requiring reporting of carbon emissions from ships and related information; 4) various proposals at the imo to address carbon emissions from ships. B. Ballast water regulation --------------------------- the council worked with the imo as it prepares to implement a new international convention on ballast water treatment. The council also provided input to the u. S. Congress on proposals to simplify and clarify federal agency programs regulating ballast water and other vessel discharges. C. California vessel biofouling regulations ------------------------------------------- the council provided technical information and formal comments to the california state lands commission as the commission finalized regulations to regulate hull fouling on vessels operating in california state waters.

liner shipping regulatory system ================================ the council followed the various regulatory activities of the federal maritime commission under the shipping act regulatory regime, and submitted comments to the commission about a petition seeking regulatory guidance on practices designed to optimize the flow of cargo, containers, and related equipment through u. S. Ports. The council also testified before congress at a public hearing on potential changes to u. S. Laws regulating international ocean transportation.