OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2012. The annual Assembly of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) took place in Singapore. The participants considered the new strategy of the organization and the guidelines for the 5-year period. The event was attended by Igor Tonkovidov, Novoship President and SCF Executive Board member. Last May he was elected member of the INTERTANKO Executive Committee.

Commenting on the results of the Assembly, Igor Tonkovidov said: “By today INTERTANKO is one of the most effective and influential organizations in the shipping community, which is capable of conducting constructive dialogue and of developing cooperation with the industry regulators. It is a kind of bridge between the industry players on one side and maritime authorities on the other side. Owning to INTERTANKO’s activities, shipowners can not only independently consider new initiatives and work out the common vision of the most acute problems, but also to participate in developing the sound and feasible requirements for tanker operators on the basis of their experience in practical activities. I think, this way leads to equal terms of competition for all the players in the market.

The organization’s new strategy, which we considered during our last meeting in Singapore, envisages a number of priority directions of our activity: industry’s steady development, safety of navigation and ships’ security, protection of marine environment and the upgrading of the seafarers’ professional level. INTERTANKO will also remain an important source of information offering the tanker companies innovation guidance and legal norms and regulations entering into force. This is actually the Association’s contribution to the enhancing of safety and reliability of services in the sphere of energy and chemical cargoes transportation.”