01 Sept 2008

Our Ref.: AGO-333013/1000008

AGENDA

Chemical Tanker Sub-Committee, Americas (CTSCA)

Meeting #11

Seaport Hotel

Boston,

USA.

24 September 2008

0930~1700hrs

  1. ANTI-TRUST/COMPETITION LAW COMPLIANCE

INTERTANKO’s Anti-Trust/Competition law Compliance Statement INTERTANKO’s policy is to be firmly committed to maintaining a fair and competitive environment in the world tanker trade, and to adhering to all applicable laws which regulate INTERTANKO’s and its members’ activities in these markets. These laws include the anti-trust/competition laws which theUnited States, the European Union and many nations of the world have adopted to preserve the free enterprise system, promote competition and protect the public from monopolistic and other restrictive trade practices. INTERTANKO’s activities will be conducted in compliance with its Anti-trust/Competition Law Guidelines.

2.  MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING

The minutes from the last meeting (combined CTC #31 & CTSCA #10), were approved by the committee via correspondence, and have been circulated in the weekly news, and as a chemical bulletin as well as being placed on the members’ area of the INTERTANKO web site. A copy of the minutes is attached for reference in Appendix 1 to this agenda.

The committee is invited to take note.

3.  ACTION POINT STATUS REVIEW - FROM CTSCA #10.

A copy of the CTSCA action points arising from the last meeting together with their status are included in Appendix 2 to this agenda.

4.  WORKING GROUP REPORTS

4.1.  Working Group on BMP for Ship Emissions during tank cleaning.

Phase 2 of this project has been completed and has been forwarded to OCIMF for their comments/thoughts.

OCIMF has been very positive about this work. We will discuss the contents of the paper and provide a verbal report when the committee meets

A draft copy of Phase 2 will be circulated under separate cover to the committee members.

The committee is invited to note of the paper and comment accordingly.

4.2.  INTERTANKO/FOSFA Working Group on Stainless Steel Project

INTERTANKO proposed, (in February 2004) to introduce a testing regime which would facilitate the loading of edible oils into stainless steel tanks following a FOSFA banned list cargo on the basis that if such a scheme were feasible as a result of the availability of more robust testing methods, it would be possible to effectively increase the size and flexibility in the shipping fleet available to the oil and fats industry, while continuing to meet the shippers demands for uncontaminated cargoes. This study is concluded and has been investigated in depth by the FOSFA/INTERTANKO Working Group

A copy of the Formal letter/Reportfrom FOSFA will be made available at the meeting.

4.3.  Working Group on Cleaning Standard Terminology for Cargo Tanks.

Further to the presentation to CTC#31/CTSCA#10 in Panama, where the reasons behind the efforts in creating a set of cleaning standards were explained, the secretariat presented a set of graphs (Appendix 3) to illustrate the different standards of cleaning that exist for each cargo. For example Isopropyl Alcohol was lifted 15 times and subjected to a standard of wall wash testing where a standard of clean/dry/odour free was asked for 8 times and a “yes” standard was asked for 6 times with a “not applicable” for one lift.

In light of these varying standards it was the opinion of the committees to create a generic set of cleaning standards which would apply to most cargoes carried by sea and their end usage. This would greatly streamline operations onboard the vessels and ease the burden on crew who more often than not clean tanks to specifications which are far higher than those actually required.

Appendix 4 contains a draft set of such standards which are being trialled in some companies and need to be upgraded with standards and terminology for “odour-free”

The committee is invited to take note and comment.

4.4.  Working Group on BMP for Carriage/blending of Bio-fuels. (Onboard Blending, B/Ls)

As the committee will be aware, following our discussions at our last meeting in Panama, INTERTANKO received requests for clarification and advice regarding the recording of the carriage and blending of Bio-fuels. The number of such requests for guidance steadily continue to grows, and whilst it is noted that the IMO will/has been asked for guidance on this matter we note that this will probably not be forthcoming until 2009 due to the meeting schedule.

Bearing this in mind it was suggested that it would be beneficial for members to issue a best practice guideline booklet to guide the industry, pending issuance of formal guidelines by IMO.

As an initial step in this process, it was suggested that a small working group within the CTC should address this matter and be formed with a view to producing such an INTERTANKO guidance booklet,

As this needs only be a small working group, a group consisting of the following was formed following a circulation to members on 11 July 08.

Chairman: Mr. Svend Foyn-Bruun (Odfjell)

Participants: Capt. Soren Ibsen (Eitzen)

Mr. Ragnar Gronseth (Odfjell)

Mr. Leif Gunnar Alvaer (Odfjell)

Secretariat: Mr. Ajay Gour/Capt. Howard Snaith

The attached document in Appendix 5 provides background information on this subject and also a proposal and the Working Group Terms of Reference.

Presently the WG is coordinating its efforts with INTERTANKO’s Insurance Committee and Documentary and Legal Committee to cover areas such as record keeping and commercial paperwork as well as working together to produce a set of definitive guidelines on operational and safety aspects of the carriage and blending of bio-fuels.

The committee will be invited to comment.

5.  Presentations

5.1.  USCG Update

Mr. Tom Felleisen of the USCG has kindly agreed to attend the meeting and provide the committee with a presentation on “How the USCG will treat Bio-fuels and bio-fuel blends under OPA 90”.

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session where Mr. Felleisen will respond to members’ queries.

5.2.  Carriage of Antidotes during the transport of Nitriles Products at Sea

Following a request by the secretariat, Mr. Jeff Denson, Emergency Response Crisis Manager for INEOS Nitriles, USA has kindly agreed to attend the meeting and will make a presentation to the committee members on “INEOS Nitriles position on the placement of antidotes onboard Chemical Tankers when carrying Nitriles products”

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session where Mr. Denson will respond to members’ queries.

6.  IG FSA Study on the application of InertGas

Following a shift of the principle of application of Inert Gas from being ship based to being product based and of the subsequent strengthening of INTERTANKO’s IG position, INTERTANKO together with industry partners is conducting an FSA on the application of inert gas taking into consideration the wider operational and commercial implications of such an application.

INTERTANKO is assisting in the study with the gathering of information on accidents related to the installation and operational use of Inert Gas on board vessels.

All members are invited to read through the detailed project proposal in Appendix 6 and are urged to contribute to the study.

The committee will be invited to comment.

7.  IMO Update

7.1.  The Annex I-vs-II categorization (15% threshold)

As a reminder to the ongoing debate on the above topic the committee is invited to review and note the Extracts (Appendices 7 & 8) from the Report of ESPH 13 (01 Nov 2007) and from the Report of the Working Group on the EVALUATION OF SAFETY AND POLLUTION HAZARDS OF CHEMICALS AND PREPARATION OF CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS to BLG 12 (07 Feb 2008)

These extracts summarise the extent of the discussion within the IMO on this subject and also summarises the timescale set for the completion of these discussions.

8.  US OFFSHORE CHEMICAL LIGHTERING REGULATIONS:

A verbal update/discussion will take place at the meeting on the following topics:

o  ODMEs

US OFFSHORE WASHING REQUIRMENTS (P&A)

o  TRIPARTITES

o  AMPD

9.  OTHER MATTERS & NEXT MEETING

In light of the location of the last two meetings the committee is invited to discuss the choice of the next venue and select a date accordingly. The secretariat recommends that the next and possibly all future meetings be conducted at a central, more accessible, location such as Houston, Texas.

It is to be noted that the CTC will meet on 12 Nov 2008 in Singapore.


Appendix 1

14 April 2008

Our Ref.: AGO-22713/999999

MINUTES

Chemical Tanker Committee #32

&

CTSCA #10

Sheraton Panama Hotel & Convention Centre,

Israel Avenue, at 77th Street,

San Francisco,

Panama City

PANAMA

09 April 2008

0930hrs ~ 1700hrs


ATTENDEES:

No. / Name / Committee / Organisation
1.  / Mr. Svend Foyn-Bruun / CTC – Chairman / Odfjell
2.  / Mr. John Salveson / CTSCA – Chairman / Odfjell
3.  / Mr. Roel Vermeulen / CTC / Broere Shipping
4.  / Capt. George Vasilakis / CTC / OSG Ship Management Ltd
5.  / Capt. Soren Ibsen / CTC/CTSCA / Eitzen Chemical
6.  / Mr. Bruno Caillard / CTC / Brostrom Tankers SAS
7.  / Mr. Roger Restaino / CTSCA / Stolt-Nielson USA Inc.
8.  / Capt. Michihisa Moriya / CTC / IINO Lines
9.  / Mr. Mitsuhiro Makino / Observer / IINO Lines
10.  / Mr. Hans Erik Saether / Observer / Odfjell
11.  / Mr. Harry Vordokas / Observer / Germanisher Lloyd
12.  / Capt. Howard Snaith / CTC/CTSCA Secretariat / INTERTANKO
13.  / Mr. Ajay Gour / CTC/CTSCA Secretariat / INTERTANKO

APOLOGIES:

No. / Name / Committee / Organisation
1.  / Mr. Bertil Anderson / CTC / Larin Maritime AB
2.  / Mr. Luciano Casella / CTC / Finbeta SpA
3.  / Capt. Alaisdair Campbell / CTC / MOL Tankship Management(Europe) Ltd
4.  / Capt. John Pocklington / CTC / Norbulk UK Ltd
5.  / Mr. Harald Nesse / CTC / Jo Tankers Ltd
6.  / Capt. Amit Jain / CTC / Unix Line PTE Ltd
7.  / Capt. Anuj Chopra / CTC / Anglo Eastern Ship Management
8.  / Capt. Steve Hardy / CTC / Interorient Marine Services
9.  / Mr. Steffen Tunge / CTC / B&H Equimar Singapore Ltd
10.  / Mr. Bill Millar / CTC / Stolt Tankers B.V.
11.  / Capt. Ozgur Asik / CTC / Dunya Denizcilik Ve Ticaret AS
12.  / Mr. Torben Hertel / CTC / Eitzen Chemical AS
13.  / Mr. Jin Sato / CTSCA / IINO Lines
14.  / Mr. Phil Rynn / CTSCA / American Bureau of Shipping
15.  / Mr. James Prazak / CTSCA / DOW Chemical
16.  / Mr. Chris Mantooth / CTSCA / Chevron Shipping
17.  / Mr. Alistair Bilsland / CTSCA / Lloyds Register Americas
18.  / Capt. Amarjit Singh / CTSCA / Aurora Tankers Sdn Bhd.
19.  / Mr. Sam Ball / CTSCA / Laurin Maritime (Americas)
20.  / Mr. Hattori Tsuyoshi / CTSCA / Tokyo Marine Co. Ltd

1.  ANTI-TRUST/COMPETITION LAW COMPLIANCE

The Chairman brought to the attention of all those present, the INTERTANKO anti-trust/competition law compliance statement as included in the agenda as follows:

“INTERTANKO’s policy is to be firmly committed to maintaining a fair and competitive environment in the world tanker trade, and to adhering to all applicable laws which regulate INTERTANKO’s and its members’ activities in these markets. These laws include the anti-trust/competition laws which theUnited States, the European Union and many nations of the world have adopted to preserve the free enterprise system, promote competition and protect the public from monopolistic and other restrictive trade practices. INTERTANKO’s activities will be conducted in compliance with its Anti-trust/Competition Law Guidelines.”

2.  MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING

The minutes from the last meeting were approved via correspondence in the usual manner and had subsequently been circulated in the INTERTANKO weekly news, placed on the INTERTANKO website and circulated as a chemical Bulletin.

No further changes were noted.

3.  ISSUES, GOALS & OBJECTIVES

The committee reviewed the current issues goals and objectives of the committee and agreed that these remained reflective of the committees work programme.

4.  ACTION POINT STATUS REVIEWS FROM CTC #31.

4.1  Action Point #1: MFAG Guidance.

It was noted by the committee that the recommended MFAG antidotes (in particular for phenol and nitrile poisoning) carried onboard were considered to be too little in quantity to be of any benefit in use against poisoning. It was noted that there have been cases of death at sea due to poisoning which could have been prevented had there been the correct quantities of antidote onboard. Due to worldwide reporting standards the scope of the problem is difficult to quantify, but these incidents are probably under-reported.

It was also noted by the committee that the MFAG’s stand is based on the view that the wrongful administration of antidotes can do much more harm than the provision of full antidote supplies onboard and that mainly cargo incidents occur when the vessel is within easy reach of shore based assistance.


It was recommended by the committee that an MFAG representative should be invited to attend the next CTC meeting in Europe.

It was noted that more data on the wrongful administration of and the instructions (or lack thereof) in the administration of antidotes be furnished to support this case.

This would provide an opportunity to MFAG to explain the reasoning behind the carriage of reduced quantities of antidotes onboard.

It was also recommended that if possible a representative from INEOS

should be invited to attend the next CTSCA meeting.

It was also noted that there are experts on this subject working in Houston who could be a good information resource in this area.

4.2  Action Point #2: Electronic Shipping Document.

It was noted by the committee that the shipping document feedback currently appears to be working well and information is flowing and the situation has now improved.

It was noted that most charterers now provide this information but would be much better much better provided on the BL as used to be the case.

4.3  Action Point #3: Line Draining Submission

The submission on Line Draining back to the vessel was reviewed by and it was noted that more data be made available regarding the scale of the problem (as this was not made apparent with the first submission) before the document can be resubmitted. Also refer point 6.1 of the minutes.