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Port Safety, Security & Environment Group

Legal Committee

<Chair>

Frans van Zoelen
Director
Legal Department
Port of Rotterdam
Netherlands

<Vice Chair>

Mr. Wilko J.F. Tijsse Claase
Director
Legal Affairs
Port of Amsterdam

<Mission>

1. Initiate, follow-up, study and recommend proposed action to be taken on behalf of IAPH concerning any issues in which the collective interests of port authorities are brought into question from the legal point of view.
2. Follow and if necessary intervene in international arena’s which produce legal instruments relevant for IAPH, especially the Legal Committee of IMO.
3. Assist other technical committees of IAPH with respect to relevant legal matters and to international legal instruments promoted by international organizations.

<Work Plan 2007/2009>

1. Make updating of Legal Database through assistance of Erasmus University, considering measures to increase usage of Legal Database among members
2. Monitor developments of "Places of Refuge" not only in IMO but also in other organizations, such as, EU's proposed legislation "Maritime Safety Package Ⅲ" and CMI's "Instrument on Places of Refuge"
3. Continue to monitor developments made in International organizations including UNCITRAL
4. Monitor developments and analyze possible impacts of to-be-ratified conventions, such as Draft Wreck Removal Convention, HNS Convention
5. Produce comments or reports to assist other technical committees and members to properly understand requirements of international legal frameworks
6. Evaluate the Ballast Water Convention on question if there is an obligation for ports to have ballast water facilities available
7. Collect and review national or regional legal issues or legal developments relevant to port authorities