[Greens-Media] Who will pay for Pasha Bulker operation?

[Susie Gemmell]

MEDIA RELEASE
26 June 2007


Who will pay for Pasha Bulker operation?

Greens MP and ports and waterways spokesperson Lee Rhiannon is calling
on Premier Morris Iemma to declare who will pay the full cost of the
salvage and resuce and any possible clean up costs of the Pasha Bulker.

“Premier Iemma must tell the public who will foot the bill for the
Pasha Bulker operation,” said Ms Rhiannon. 

“Owners of ships like the Pasha Bulker, known as ‘flag of
convenience’ vessels, regularly refuse to pay for such costs.

“Premier Iemma has to be tough with the owners of Pasha Bulker. If
they do not pay the full costs of the rescue, salvage and clean up, all
their vessels should be banned from operating out of NSW ports.

“Damage from the wreck of the Pasha Bulker could run into hundreds of
millions of dollars. It is essential that the real owners, those that
profit from the cost cutting of flag of convenience operations, pay the
full cost of this operation.

“The Pasha Bulker is owned by a Japanese shipping company and
registered in Panama.

“Flag of convenience ships register in nations like Panama so they
can maximise profits for their owners by avoiding local labour, safety
and environmental laws. 

“The cost of the clean up when two oil tankers sank off the European
coast - the Erika in 1999 and the Prestige in 2002 - ran into billions
of dollars.  

“Both these ships were flag of convenience vessels. Their owners
refused to pay any clean up costs.

“I have asked questions in Parliament about who will pay for the
salvage and clean up operation in Newcastle Harbour.  The Premier should
come clean today and declare who will foot the bill.

“The Greens are also calling for the inquiry into the incidents
surrounding the Pasha Bulker and the other ships that ran into problems
off Newcastle to also cover how their flag of convenience status impacts
on their response in these crises.


For background on ownership of the Pasha Bulker, contact Lee
Rhiannon’s office.

For more information:  Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551 or 0427 861 568


--------------------------------------------------
Susie Gemmell
Adviser, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon (p/t Mon-Wed)
Macquarie St, Sydney 2000
Mobile:  0431 458 102
Ph: (02) 9230 3551 
Fax: (02) 9230 3550
susie.gemmell at parliament.nsw.gov.au
www.leerhiannon.org.au