Representation of Spain in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Legal CommitteeIt called for the consequences and concerns of the events, which closed in London last Friday. increase in transfer transactions Oil ship to ship on the high seasbetter known HR (“ship to ship”).
Spain, this proposal, sanctions Russia by European Union with war in ukraine, STS operations of Russian crude oil tankers from Russia increase Outside the Spanish maritime area, but in waters close to Spain Ceuta.
Current international regulation requires that whenever a ship undertakes a cargo transshipment operation (oil tankers regardless of cargo and origin), the State must always notify the State whose sovereign waters the STS is to be conducted, and that the State expressly authorizes it.
For this reason, Spain Will offer IMO an increase in this regulationtaking into account that this transport of cargo poses a “high potential risk of causing an accident posing a pollution or pollution threat” that could seriously damage the coasts or interests of neighboring States.
“All this without ignoring the existence of illegal practices to evade international sanctions, as with Russian oil, or the use of ships, which sometimes lack adequate guarantees in terms of safety and pollution prevention.” Ministry of TransportMobility and the Urban Agenda.
The proposal gained the support of a large part of IMO after extensive discussion. about 25 delegations intervened. Until the next meeting in December this year, Spain will intensify its international contacts to work on the proposal in collaboration with other IMO member states such as Australia, Canada or the United States.