The role of the industry in promoting quality and safety in marine transport is at the heart of the Quality Shipping Campaign, launched by the European Commission and the UK Government in November 1997. The Campaign’s aim was to bring together all players involved in the various various fields of marine business in an effort to improve marine safety. It was based upon dialogue between all the marine industry and public authorities and its tools are, primarily, voluntary measures.
While much relevant information is collected and available, it is scattered and often difficult to access. One of the main conclusions of the Quality Shipping Conference in Lisbon in June 1998, was an unanimous call from the participants representing the whole range of industry professionals (including ship-owners, cargo owners, insurers, brokers, classification societies, agents, ports and terminals), to make such information more accessible.