Vela invited to join maritime task force

Vela International Marine, the shipping arm of Saudi Aramco, has been invited by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to join an industry task force, the Global Industry Alliance (GIA), to help promote marine bio-safety initiatives and ballast-water management.

IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos launched the GIA at the IMO offices in London and presented the agreement papers.

"The Global Industry Alliance will see leading shipping companies and international organisations working together within the GloBallast Partnerships Project to promote ballast-water management and marine bio-security initiatives," said Mitropoulos.

"Some of the world's leading maritime companies that have always taken a proactive approach to marine environmental issues and to the development of innovative and appropriate solutions are teaming up with us to take the project forward. Together we can create a far broader awareness that a healthy and successful shipping industry has ramifications that reach far beyond the industry itself."

GIA was launched by the IMO with a dual purpose: To provide a platform where the shipping industry, legislatures and policy makers as well as solution vendors can get together to develop practical solutions on environmental policies.

The second purpose includes the development of alternative ballast-water management solutions other than active treatment of the water onboard the ship.

GIA partners include the IMO, UNDP, Vela, Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, BP Shipping and APL Shipping. Vela has become a pioneer in the technology designed to reduce the spread of harmful water-born organisms with its patented "Flow Through" systems, and the company is committed to minimising its footprint on the environment.