CDSA and ITOPF Held Meeting to Promote SPRO Work in China

CDSA and ITOPF held meeting to promote SPRO work in China

The delegation of International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF) visited China Diving and Salvage Association (CDSA) in Beijing on March 14, when both sides reiterated commitment to jointly promote the performance of Chinese ship pollution response organizations (SPRO) and the market as a whole after three-hour of thorough discussion in the afternoon.

The delegation, consisted of ITOPF Technical Director Richard H. Johnson and ITOPF Singapore Office Manager Marie Lee, was met with CDSA president Song Jiahui along with Mr. Huang Zhentang, CDSA International Cooperation Consultant as well as Mr. Tan Rui and Ms. Lu Yan of the Department of International Cooperation and Maritime Commerce. It was the second time for both sides to meet up again after president Song led a CDSA delegation to firstly visit ITOPF headquarter in London last June.

President Song welcomed the delegation and gave an introduction to CDSA’s work. He particularly furnished the delegation with the background of SPRO management in China and the context, in which CDSA was mandated by China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) to launch the accreditation of SPROs in China following the change of administrative requirements by the government.

 “With ITOPF’s involvement and support, we are confident to bring out the customized tariff and contract wording that are coordinated with international practice and adaptive to SPROs in China,” said Mr. Song. “We have set up a SPRO Working Group to proceed and deliver as scheduled.”

Mr. Johnson recalled the meeting in London that nailed down the mutual cooperation between CDSA and ITOPS, reaffirming ITOPF’s provision of necessary assistance to promote SPRO work in China. “ITOPF is hoping to put back on track its business in China that was interrupted by the COVID-19 over past three years,” he said. “We’d like to continue to improve the communication and cooperation with CDSA and other partners to build a better pricing system for SPROs in China.”

Both sides also conducted thorough discussion regarding how ITOPF could explore more means of contact to improve its communication with local authorities. Mr. Johnson expressed ITOPF’s willingness to organize SPRO workshops with CDSA and other local partners in China, revealing that ITOPF is in interested in participating the international expo and forum jointly held by CDSA, IMCA and ADCI in Xiamen in November. The meeting was completed by a small ceremony at which both formally signed the minutes of their meeting in last June.