CSC November’s Members Meeting

23.11.2018

CSC November’s Members Meeting

On November 21, 2018. Mr Adam Barecki took apart in November’s monthly members meeting of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber. The meeting was chaired by the Vice-President of the Chamber, Mr. Dieter Rohdenburg. By default, a report from the November activities of the Chamber was presented.

The second part of the meeting started with a presentation by Ms. Cecilia Muller Torbrand, Program Director of the Maritime Anti-Corruption Netwrk (MACN) entitled: „Maritime Corruption – what is it and can we tackle it?”. During the presentation, Ms. Cecilia Muller Torbrand provided information on the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network. It is a global business network working towards the vision of a maritime industry free of corruption that enables fair trade to the benefit of society at large. MACN was established in 2011, it comprises shipping companies and other companies in the maritime industry.

She said that maritime corruption has become a workplace issue. Demands for petty corruption are common globally and the consequences for rejecting corrupt demands can be severe. Many Masters experience that they first get support from the company, but if something happens the Masters get blamed for not „give them what they want”. It is mostly stressfull when the port officials demand cash or when there is a gebiune error onboard and if the Master is expected „to solve the situation”. Seafarers are more stressed when calling countries prone to corruption.

Afterthat Ms. Muller Torbrant present some statistics. MACN has collected over 25,000 incidents of corrupt demands globally. Close to 500 of these cases are directly linked to safety of crew of vessel. She described few examples:

a) companies are refraining doing business in some parts of the world,

b) in one country it was reported that it took over 140 signatures to have the vessel cleared,

c) unclear procedures for certain port operations can cost business over USD 50,000 per day (in pure operational costs),

d) corrupt behavior is becoming sophisticated and penetrates the legal framework.

Next point of her address was focused on MACN’s strategy – she called it: three Cs. In MACN they achieve their ambition throught goals and objectives devided into three pillars:

1. Collective Action; driving and leading sustainable change in the operating enviroment. At this stage of her speech Ms. Cecilia Muller Torbrand present few samples of MACN activities:

a) Egypt – Anti-corruption „Say no” campaign ongoing in the canal.

b) Argentna – Anti-corruption project addressing integrity issues in the vessel clearance process and customs declarations process – with support from UKFCO and maritime foundations.

c) Nigeria – Anti-corruption project under implementation in six ports with support from UNDP

2. Capability Building; providing industry – leading innovative soluctions to its members. MACN members created the MACN Anti-Corruption Pronciples, which guide their activities internally and should be implemented as part of eavch member’s compliance program. Its members submit annual self assessments. MACN supports the membership with tools e.g. integrity training toolkit, risk assessments, quidance on incentives and frequent webinars.

3. Culture of Integrity; a recognized contributor to integrrity standards in the industry and society. MACN has formed an industry group with prominent maritime associations. The group has jointly submitted an paper to IMO addressing the issuance of maritime corruption. MACN launched its MACN Inregrity Champion Training in 2016 – a tailor-made training for port officials that has been rolled-out in Nigeria and Indonesia. Ms. Cecilia ended that MAN is in the proccess of establishing partnerships e.g. cadet schools, education for port officials, and anti-corruption academies.

Through this strategy, MACN aims at becoming a game changing initiative.

The presentation was ended with MACN plans for the future. The institution will gathers its activities in Ukraine and Russia.