Transcript Dia 1
How the IMO is meeting the challenges of dealing with maritime safety and security – an overview Neil Frank R. Ferrer Ocean Concerns Office Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines 2010 Year of the Seafarer Forum 26 June 2010, Manila, Philippines Preliminary remarks • The role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) – development of comprehensive regulatory framework for international shipping • Pillars of international maritime regulation: SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW (plus ILO’s new International Maritime Labour Convention) • Jurisdiction of flag/port State Preliminary remarks • Work of the Maritime Safety Committee – Proactive approach – Highest practicable standards – Wide acceptance – Proper and effective implementation – Consideration of capacity building – Consensus decision-making Preliminary remarks • Cooperation with other international organizations – e.g. ILO, IHO, ITU, ICAO, IMSO • Participation of the industry and nongovernmental organizations • Success of IMO regulations – decline of ship losses and oil spills for the past four decades Backdrop – Global economic slowdown in 2009 • Contraction of world trade (about 10 percent) • Low demand, excess tonnage – dramatic collapse in freight rates; drop in ship values • All sectors affected – containerships, bulk carriers, tankers Backdrop – Global economic slowdown in 2009 • Containerships have lost about USD20 billion • Expected economic recovery from 2010 • Maritime safety and security should not be sacrificed MSC 87 – major outcomes • Adoption of amendments to SOLAS and mandatory Codes • Measures to enhance maritime security • Goal-based new ship construction standards • Long-range identification and tracking of ships • Various decisions in relation to SubCommittees’ reports MSC 87 – major outcomes • Role of the human element • Formal safety assessment • Piracy and armed robbery against ships • Work programme – endorsement of unplanned outputs • IMO/IACS Quality System Certification Scheme Goal-based standards (GBS) • Adoption of GBS for the construction of bulk carriers and oil tankers and SOLAS amendments to make GBS mandatory • GBS Verification Guidelines • Guidelines for information to be included in a Ship Construction File • GBS Trust Fund Goal-based standards (GBS) • Implementation of the verification scheme • Timetable for implementation • Generic GBS Guidelines 2010: Year of the seafarer • Comprehensive revisions to the STCW Convention and Code • Go to sea campaign • Shore leave for seafarers • Incorporation of human element principles into the Committee’s Guidelines • Post-piracy care of seafarers Piracy and armed robbery against ships • Revised Guidance for Governments and industry • Revised Code of practice for investigation • Promulgation of BMP and IRTC • Djibouti Code of Conduct • International cooperation – UNSC, CGPCS Long-range identification and tracking of ships (LRIT) • Completion of the LRIT system – need to accelerate the establishment of LRIT data centres • Establishment of the International LRIT data exchange • Establishment of a distribution facility for the provision of LRIT information to security forces in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean Concluding notes • IMO’s continuing relevance; growth in membership • Strong commitment and active participation of Member States • Challenges remain; need to maintain effective and consistent global regulations (as opposed to unilateral or regional measures) Concluding notes • IMO Member State Audit Scheme • Ensure effective application/enforcement of IMO regulations • Ratification of key IMO Conventions • Marine casualty investigations • Cooperation at various levels: sharing best practices/lessons learned; information exchanges THANK YOU! [email protected] [email protected] T: +63 (0)2 834 3134 +63 (0)2 834 4052 F: +63 (0)2 831 4767