MSC 70/11/17
5 SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 8(a) highlights
the fact that“ships routing systems contribute to safety of
life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation, and/or
protection of the marine environment”,while Regulation 8(d)
states that “the initiation of action for establishing a
ships' routeing system is the responsibility of the
Government or Governments concerned”
6 Turkey did not agree with the findings of the
NAV Working Group on Ships' Routeing and objected to its
report in its entirety. The report did not, in Turkey's view,
reflect the real situation in the Turkish Straits, as it
focussed mainly on how maritime traffic could be accelerated
without due regard to safety and the protection of the
environment.
7 It will be recalled that MSC 69 decided to
take no action on the relevant parts of the NAV 43 report
and, in view of the information provided by Turkey,
instructed the Navigation Sub-Committee (NAV) to prepare a
new report covering all aspects of safety and environmental
protection in the Straits.
8 The document (MSC 70/11/12) submitted by
Greece is nothing short of a repetition of the relevant parts
of NAV 43/15 and, in the light of the above, should not be
considered by the Committee, In fact, the contents of this
document are not compatible with the relevant decisions taken
by MSC 69, paragraph 5.49 of MSC 69/22.
9 During the NAV 44 meeting in July 1998,
Turkey initiated a new discussion on this matter. Turkey will
continue to actively participate in this exercise with a view
to preparing a new report, which would accurately reflect the
conditions in the Straits and address possible shortcomings.
Turkey is aware that this exercise will take time, and only
when the planned VTS system is operational, can the situation
be properly assessed.
10 Turkey, therefore, strongly objects to
proposals and initiatives, which artificially speed up this
process for economic and other considerations, disregarding
the safety of millions of people and the city of Istanbul,
which was declared by UNESCO as“common heritage of mankind”with
its 3000 years of history .
11 The terms“Bosphorus”and“Dardanelles”are
used In the paper submitted by Greece. It should be recalled
that the language agreed on at IMO is“The Strait of
Istanbul”and“The Strait of Canakkale”(SN/Circ. 166) for
these geographical areas, In this regard, it should also be
recalled that a UN Conference was convened in Athens between
17 August and 7 September 1977 on the Standardization of
Geographical Names. It was emphasized in Resolution 16 of
that Conference that UN Member States should not use any
other names than the geographical names given and used by a
State to emphasize its sovereignty for its geographical
location.
Action requested of the Committee
12 The MSC Is requested not to consider document
MSC 70/11/12.
I:/MSC/70/11-17.WPD
