US Secretary for Transportation Ray LaHood opened the third Dialogue under Danish chairmanship of the group. Discussions were then led by co-chairs David Matsuda, US Maritime Administrator, and Andreas Nordseth, Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority. The talks included a wide range of shipping policy issues where participants shared mutual concerns and practices, such as US ballast water regulations, security of the global supply chain as well as new environmental demands to shipping such as the “Emission Control Areas” in both the EU and the US. Countries also exchanged updates on efforts to implement the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the newer “Rotterdam Rules”. It was clear that today’s challenges for the maritime industry are very diverse and needs careful consideration. Presentations and discussions centered around how to best achieve shared goals of e.g. protecting the air and the sea in partnership with the private stakeholders involved. The CSG maritime policy objectives are about free and fair competition in open markets, competitiveness of the merchant fleet, the safety and security for seafarers and ships as well as prevention of pollution of the environment. The maritime nations of the CSG represent more than half of the world’s registered tonnage and the biannual meetings with the US maritime authorities are amongst the key activities of the group.
Chairman of the Cotton Club of maritime attachées, Pex Langenberg (left), Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority (Andreas Nordseth) and Maritime Advisor at the Danish embassy Henrik Juhl Madsen.
For further information: Contact Maritime Policy Advisor Henrik Juhl Madsen at hemads@um.dk