Speaking at the launch of Green ISSA, Jens Olsen, President of the International Shipsuppliers & Services Association (ISSA) said suppliers needed to be fully aware of the complexities of international as well as regional and national legislation governing the disposal of hazardous and noxious substances.

ISSA has launched ‘Green ISSA’ to emphasise the ship supply industry’s acknowledgement of the importance that the environment plays in the global shipping industry.

He said: “Suppliers can find themselves caught up in a legal and legislative nightmare if they are pressurised to dispose of what they believe is harmless shipboard waste. In some instances, such waste can contain more than the suppliers bargained for. By agreeing to handle the waste they are then responsible for it and can face hefty fines or legal action. By that time the ship will have gone.”

“We want to make all our members, and the industry in general, aware of the importance of the environment and we encourage them all to start thinking green in everything they do. Whether it is the type and amount of packaging they use or the extent of their own carbon footprint. But it is the issue of garbage disposal that throws up the most complications, especially when suppliers are put under pressure to assist by their owning and management principals,” Mr Olsen said.

So concerned is ISSA about the issue that it is working on plans to include the environment as part of its ISSA Quality Plus programme.

ISSA President Jens Olsen has already gone on record saying that he wants to encourage membership growth of ISSA through the development of ISSAʹs Quality Standard so that it becomes a beacon for quality and an example to other sectors as to how to work with regulators to gain maximum benefit for member companies.

“ISSA’s global membership is already being assessed according to the Quality Standards as will any new members wishing to join. In this age of self assessment and service transparency, ISSA has taken it upon itself to ensure that only those ship suppliers that carry the ISSA logo can be assured of the quality standards necessary to trade and to supply as demanded by our clients – the ship owners and the ship managers,” he added.