1、国际经济与贸易 外文翻译 英文文献 国际海运业国际产业的国际规则INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:GLOBAL REGULATION FOR A GLOBAL INDUSTRYSource:1Krishna Prasad,Changing Role of Ship-Brokers,Journal of Information Technology,20042European Community,Overview of the International Commercial Shipbuilding Industry,First Marine International Limit
2、ed.2003 3ICS,IMO,International shipping:Global Regulation For a Global Industry,International Chamber of Shipping,2007Conclusions from Modal Workshop 4at the 2009 International Transport ForumStatement by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and theInternational Maritime Organization (IMO)The
3、 following statement reflects the discussion during Modal Workshop 4,International Shipping: Global Regulation for a Global Industry, which took place at the 2009 International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany, on 27 May 2009.Following several years of incredibly buoyant shipping markets, for man
4、y trades the best in living memory, much of the international shipping industry has fallen prey to the worldwide economic downturn. Shipping is inherently the servant of the economy, so the contraction in trade, following the beginning of the credit crunch in late 2008, has translated into a dramati
5、c and abrupt reduction in demand for shipping.Initially worst hurt were the containership trades. By the spring of 2009 some10% of the fleet was already laid up, much of it too modern and expensive to go to recycling yards. However, the dry bulk trades have also been severelyaffected, particularly b
6、y the reduction in demand for raw materials from China,with spot market freight rates for some bulk carriers being a fraction of the peak prices achieved in 2008. By April 2009, rates for crude, product and chemical tankers had also fallen very sharply. In general most shipping markets present a rat
7、her bleak picture.A major concern of ICS national shipowners associations therefore is todiscourage governments from responding to the crisis with protectionistmeasures, which will only damage world trade further. More particularly,governments must avoid measures that restrict fair and open access t
8、o shipping markets. Although most shipping today enjoys relatively liberalised trading conditions compared to the days of national cargo reservation in the 1980s,shipping is unusual in that it is one of the few major industries not yet covered by a global multilateral trade agreement. However, the p
9、rospect of a new agreement under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO) looks increasingly uncertain. The industry must therefore be extremely vigilant inreacting to any moves towards protectionism in maritime trades, especially those using safety and security as a pretext.The shipping i
10、ndustry does not expect special treatment, or the billions of dollars of support being granted by some governments to the likes of the banking and automobile industries. However, to operate competitively and efficiently in very difficult circumstances, shipping requires the maintenance of a regulato
11、ry level playing field, and continuation of the certainty now provided by the tonnage tax regimes that apply to shipowners in many countries.Shipping is notoriously volatile, and its more experienced practitioners are familiar with the cyclical boom and bust nature of maritime freight rates.However,
12、 the contraction resulting from the general global downturn could well be exacerbated by the large number of new buildings due to come into service during the next few years, notwithstanding efforts by many shipowners to cancel or renegotiate contracts. Many of these ships were ordered at high price
13、s at the top of the market.In the face of this two-way pressure, there is likely to be a considerable increase in the number of older vessels that will be sent for dismantling and recycling. In view of the adoption, in May 2009, of a new IMO Convention to address concerns about working and environme
14、ntal conditions in ship recycling yards, the need for governments to identify facilities that are acceptable for use will become all the more pressing.As the IMO Secretary-General has forcefully identified, financial pressures on the industry must not be allowed to result in any reduction in standar
15、ds. Much has been achieved in the last 20 years with regard to safety and environmental performance, and no one is suggesting a moratorium on new regulations that genuinely improve safety, which is always the industrys overriding priority. However, governments need to understand that any immediate r
16、egulatory and policy decisions they take must avoid impacting negatively on shipping as it struggles to deal with the current economic situation.Notwithstanding the current gloom and doom, the longer term outlook for the industry remains very good. The worlds population continues to expand, and emerging economies will continue to increase their requirements for the goods and raw materials that shipping transports so safely and effic
