Hellenic Mediterranean Panel

Terms of Reference

1. Aims and Objectives

1.1  The overall aim of INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel is to provide an open forum for the INTERTANKO Members from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Hellas, Italy, Monaco, Malta, Romania, Spain and Turkey and to enhance their understanding of, and their participation and involvement in, the activities of the Association, including the work of the Association’s Committees.

More specific aims are as follows:

• To facilitate better communication, and to promote the sharing of experiences between regional Members and with the Association.
• To promote the activities, priorities and concerns of the members relative to the overall activities of INTERTANKO’s governing bodies and committees.
• To address those tanker issues peculiar to a region and to its regional members.
• To provide a conduit for regional members to provide input to INTERTANKO’s work programme and to examine and review issues that may be submitted to the Council.
• To act as a resource for INTERTANKO, providing feedback, information and advice for its Committees and Secretariat.
• To promote interaction between INTERTANKO and the tanker industry in the region, and to assist the Association’s cooperation with industry, governmental and environmental bodies in the region.
• To examine and review national, regional and international legislative proposals and activities affecting the whole membership and make proposals as required.

2. Constitution

2.1   Members

INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel is an open forum for the Association’s Croatian, Cypriot, French, Hellenic, Italian, Monegasque, Maltese, Romanian, Spanish and Turkish Members. It is an INTERTANKO Panel constituted by and responsible to INTERTANKO. A country should be registered with only one INTERTANKO Regional Panel. The Panel Chairman and INTERTANKO’s Secretariat may agree to invite as guests members from other countries in the general geographic region.

2.2   Chairman and Vice Chairmen

The Chairman will be elected by the Panel, and must be an INTERTANKO Council Member, registered with the Association through a country which is part of the Hellenic Mediterranean Panel. The Chairman’s term of office is two years, which may be extended for one two-year period. The Chairman may, on the invitation of the Association's Executive Committee, attend Executive Committee meetings, but without a vote.

Three Vice Chairmen will be elected by the Panel. The Vice Chairmen’s term of office is two years which may be extended for one two-year period.

At least two out of four Panel officers will be from companies registered with the Association through Hellas.

2.3   Meetings

INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel is to meet as necessary, but not less than twice a year, sufficiently in advance of INTERTANKO Council meetings, at venues to be decided by the Chairman and the INTERTANKO Secretariat. The meeting place for the Panel will be in Hellas.

The travel expenses of its membership should be paid for by each parent company.

INTERTANKO’s Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, Executive Committee Members, Managing Director and Secretariat may also attend the meetings of INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel. A representative from the INTERTANKO Secretariat, usually the Secretary of the Hellenic Mediterranean Panel, shall attend each meeting.

3. Terms of Reference

The Terms of the Reference for INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel, and any revisions thereto, shall be approved by INTERTANKO’s Council.

4. Secretarial work

The INTERTANKO Secretariat will undertake the secretarial and administrative tasks for INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel.

5. Reporting

INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel will report to the Council of INTERTANKO. Any follow-up actions will be forwarded to the appropriate Committees or Secretariat staff by the Secretary of the Hellenic Mediterranean Panel.

6. Duties and responsibilities

6.1 INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel will pay due regard in its work to relevant work being done by INTERTANKO’s Committees and in other bodies outside INTERTANKO.  The Secretariat will bring work issues to the attention of the Panel..

6.2 INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel may suggest regional representation for INTERTANKO’s bodies.

6.3 INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel should guide its activities in line with the policies endorsed by the Association’s Council.

6.4 INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel shall not release public statements without the explicit approval of the Association’s Managing Director.

6.5 INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel Chairman will participate in INTERTANKO’s Detention Review Board as appropriate if the member under review is from that region.

6.6 INTERTANKO’s Hellenic Mediterranean Panel will assist INTERTANKO’s Council by performing an initial screening of applications from the region for INTERTANKO membership.

(approved HMP 10.08 and Council 11.08)
(amended HMP 3.11 and Council 5.11)

Download the Hellenic Mediterranean Panel Terms of Reference (PDF file).