THE International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko) has urged all players in the market to give premiums to shipping lines which invest in upgrading their ships and operations.
Intertanko chairman Andreas Ugland said the process to improve standards in shipping involved the entire industry.
''However, as often is the case with change, it begins with ideas, then everybody starts to talk about it, then action comes,'' he said, adding that this process appeared to be at the end of the second phase.
Changes taking place included a self-auditing system being set up by classification societies, the introduction of an Enhanced Survey Programme by the International Maritime Organisation, and agreement on new pollution compensation rules, he said.
Others were the acceleration of scrapping of obsolete tonnage and the rejection by the oil industry of sub-standard tankers, although almost the entire fleet seemed to be able to find employment, he added.
''Some governments have stopped discriminating against environmentally friendly tankers by deciding to exclude the segregated ballast tank volumes when assessing port charges. We hope other governments and port authorities will follow this example,'' Mr Ugland said.