The Spanish representation in the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)which was closed last Friday in London, has called for the consequences and concerns about the increase in transfer operations Petroleum ship to ship on the high seasbetter known as STS (‘ship to ship’).
Spain has presented this proposal in a context in which, due to the sanctions to Russia by the European Union by war in Ukraine, STS operations of Russian tankers of crude oil from Russia are increasing outside the Spanish maritime space, but in waters close to Ceuta.
The current international regulation establishes that when a ship is going to carry out a cargo transshipment operation (oil tankers, whatever their cargo and origin) it must always notify the State in whose sovereign waters the STS is going to be carried out and the State must authorize it. expressly.
So, spain will propose to the IMO an increase in this regulationconsidering that this transshipment of cargo represents “a high potential risk of causing an accident that generates pollution or threat of pollution”, which could cause serious damage to the coasts or interests of neighboring States.
“All of this, without ignoring the existence of illegal practices to evade international sanctions, as is happening in the case of Russian oil, or the use of ships that sometimes lack sufficient guarantees in terms of safety and pollution prevention. “, has argued the Ministry of TransportMobility and Urban Agenda.
The proposal had the support of a large part of the IMO, after an extensive debate in which about 25 delegations intervened. Until the next assembly is held, in December of 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.