February 1977 - Maritime Reporter and Engineering News

Liberian Shipping Council Elects Liang Chairman, Presses Safety Program

The Liberian Shipping Council, an organization of owners and operators of Liberian-flag ships, has announced the election of M.H. Liang, an executive with Island Navigation Corp., Hong Kong, as chairman for 1977.

Hugh J. Spicer, an official of Mobil Shipping & Transportation Co., New York, is vice chairman.

Nicholas Lyras, Kalmibes Management Corp., New York, was named assistant vice chairman.

The Liberian Shipping Council was formed in 1974 to advance the interests of owners and operators of vessels registered under the Liberian flag and of shipping in general. It is a member of the International Chamber of Shipping and has observer status at United Nations deliberations on the Law of the Sea and related issues.

The Council's membership consists of 62 shipping companies representing slightly over 25 percent of Liberian-registered tonnage.

Members include a number of major U.S.-based international oil companies and leading worldwide independent shipping concerns.

The West African country of Liberia is the world's largest maritime nation, with 2,600 ships representing over 76 million gross tons registered under its flag.

Tankers account for almost 70 percent of Liberia's ship tonnage.

Mr. Liang said the Council this year will continue to press for further upgrading in safety, inspection, crew certification and related maritime standards by the Liberian government. Liberia, he noted, is the only maritime nation with a worldwide inspection system; 150 inspectors are charged with making annual inspections of Liberian-registered vessels. Tracking down and taking appropriate action against substandard vessels continues to be the government's most serious problem, he said.

"The principal goal of the Liberian Shipping Council since its inception has been to improve performance of vessels registered under the Liberian flag," Mr.

Liang said. "The Council has no intention of supporting anything less than the highest internationally recognized safety standards, but to make international safety standards work requires the cooperation of all maritime nations."

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