British shipping minister calls for ban on polluters

British shipping minister Glenda Jackson has called for domestic waters to become a no-go area for polluters, insisting that fines should be a real deterrent.
"We have a duty to those who come afterwards," Ms Jackson said, "to ensure that the sea did not become the great sewer of the world."
She was speaking at an Institute of Petroleum conference to discuss the National Contingency Plan to deal with marine pollution through shipping and offshore installations.
She described the plan as a vital document and, citing the Sea Empress and Braer incidents, said: "The UK has had more than its fair share of oil spills."
Ms Jackson said that while the plan dealt with large scale pollution accidents it also covered small scale, pervasive pollution incidents.
The plan provided a framework from which to track down and prosecute polluters. A recent beach water survey had shown that 14 % of all litter came from shipping sources.

The minister said it was unacceptable that there was nointernational regime covering bunker spills, and said the government would be working with other members of the International Maritime Organisation for action on the issue.
With the accession of the UK to the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, the government was seeking to make pollution control more effective, Ms Jackson said. This had been enforced by the designation of north-west Europe as a "special area" to prohibit discharge of oil in European waters.
Disposal of port waste was also on the government's agenda.
The minister said she was in favour of the highest fines being levied against polluters. Fines in the lower courts had been increased to a maximum of GBP 250,000 ($ 411,600) for oil spillages and GBP 25,000 for garbage pollution.
"I am determined that fines should be a real deterrent," she said.
She referred to the case of J H Whitaker Tankers which was fined GBP 40,000 for two oil pollution incidents last year and said she "hoped the fine will send a strong message that anti-pollution offences will be enforced and offenders will be named".
The need for a national contingency plan was first recognised following the Torrey Canyon spill in 1967. After the Sea Empress spill in January 1997, a review of the plan was announced.
This takes account of new legislation, including the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990, lessons learned from spills and Lord Donaldson's recommendations in "Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas".
Results of the study being conducted by Lord Donaldson on salvage and intervention and their associated command and control structure are expected to be released in May.