Opposition MPs yesterday called for Bermuda to ensure ships registered here maintain the highest possible standards.Shadow Government Estates Minister Cole Simons asked for an update from the Transport Minister on an incident in April when a Bermuda-registered cruise ship was accused of ignoring a fishing boat in distress.Two Panamanian fishermen died in the incident off the Pacific coast of Panama, when it was alleged that passengers on a Star Princess cruise alerted staff to the disabled boat but the ship didn’t stop to help.Transport Minister Walter Roban responded that the matter is still being investigated, and as a result he is unable to delve further into the details of the matter.“That incident, I have been advised, is sub judice,” Mr Roban said.“Once things are completed, efforts will be made to inform the House of Assembly.”One Bermuda Alliance MP Mr Simons told the House of Assembly the Island needed to manage its shipping inventory well, including “any risk that will result in liability”.He said: “We welcome these ships to our jurisdiction but we need to know that, like our business standards, our shipping standards are second to none.”Shadow Transport Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin asked Transport Minister Walter Roban to give a statement on the Star Princess incident, asking: “Is Bermuda exonerated in that investigation?”Charlie Swan, who was elected as a United Bermuda Party MP, said: “Some things are not enshrined in law but rescuing people who are in distress at sea is.”He said the Island had a great reputation for international business standards and needed to ensure its shipping standards were as high.Former Transport Minister and Progressive Labour Party MP Terry Lister said: “The standards of the Bermuda register are first-class. We have been placed at the top level in terms of ‘flagging’ for a number of years. This is something we can be very, very proud of.”The MPs were taking part in a debate on the Merchant Shipping (ILO) Amendment Act 2012, which was approved.Mr Roban explained the legislation would give effect to the International Labour Organisation’s Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.He said the convention was concerned with the safety and welfare of all seafarers serving on board ships engaged on international voyages.“In addition to seafarers and ship owners, the implementation of MLC 2006 involves the participation of the flag state, port state and coastal state authorities of a country. The convention is expected to come into force globally in September 2012.”The Minister said the UK would ratify the convention for itself and its Overseas Territories but legislation also needed to be passed in the House.He said the requirements of the convention would have a “considerable impact on new ships and large yachts, in regards to crew accommodation and service facilities on board”.“Most of the new ships under construction have already started to adopt the new standards,” said Mr Roban.He said apart from training for inspectors and support staff, there would be no additional costs for Bermuda but “substantial revenue” from ship inspection charges, maritime labour certificates and seafarers’ documentation fees.Mr Roban noted that “some of the most prestigious ships in the world” were on the Island’s register, including Cunard’s Queen Victoria, Queen Mary II and Queen Elizabeth and the passenger ship fleet of Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises.He added: “Bermuda also has a large fleet of modern gas carriers, bulk carriers, tankers and cargo ships. Therefore it is imperative for Bermuda to have this landmark legislation in place.”Mr Roban also told the House that further regulations will be brought forward soon, tackling elements not present in the amended Act.Useful websites: www.ilo.org and www.parliament.bm.