Safety, staff training, and pollution control are priorities for Bermuda's shipping community over the next five years as steps are taken to ensure compliance with recent changes to an international convention.

And legislation that will establish a national framework -- the Merchant Shipping (Certification, Manning and Watch keeping) Regulations 1998 -- is expected to come before Parliament soon.

This legislation will help the local shipping fraternity to conform with the amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers, 1995.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations.

It amends conventions and keeps abreast of the latest developments in the marine industry.

Once the amendments are made, each country executes the changes through legislation which sets out the duties and responsibilities required.

Last Monday 40 members and representatives from the shipping community -- owners, managers, lawyers and Marine and Ports Services -- attended a seminar which explained the changes.

Captain Fazlur Chowdhury of the United Kingdom's department of transport, conducted the seminar. He said: "It is a matter of pride that Bermuda keeps the ships registered under its flag up to world standards.

"Bermuda's flag is expanding as more and more ships come in. The five million (gross tonnes) mark has already been exceeded.'' Capt. Chowdhury said he was impressed with the willingness of the local shipping community to embrace and fulfil the requirements of the amended convention.

"I came here to help Bermuda to comply with the requirements of the amended convention,'' he explained. "Bermuda must maintain good standards which means that the ships must be manned by qualified people.

"Safe shipping practices and the protection of the marine environment requires good equipment design and construction, but that is not enough.

"There must also be staff who are properly trained so that we can get the best and most efficient use of the equipment that we have.'' Capt. Pedrick Nawaratne, principal marine surveyor with the Bermuda Government, said the aim of the seminar was to reeducate the total community about the changes.

He said that Bermuda had until 21 January 2002 to effect the changes.

"We are using this period as a transitional phase. Conventions themselves are international in their scope and have no power,'' he said. "It is through the legislation that is enacted that the requirements of the convention come into effect and become something of value.'' Meanwhile, Capt. Chowdhury said the standards, while exacting, were important for the industry as a whole.

"Shipping is the most international of businesses. No country can have its own unique rules. They must all apply and conform to commonly agreed principles and ethics.'' Captain Chowdhury