The IMO treaties covering fishing vessel safety and training of fishing vessel personnel have been acceded to by Belgium.
The Cape Town Agreement involves measures to increase fishing vessel safety and now has 10 contracting States. Once fully ratified, in force and implemented, it will be an internationally binding agreement which will facilitate better control of fishing vessel safety by flag, port and coastal States. It will also contribute to the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) now has 23 contracting States. It sets the certification and minimum training requirements for crews of seagoing fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and above.
H.E. Mr. Rudolf Huygelen, Ambassador of Belgium to the United Kingdom, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, London, to deposit the instruments of accession (10 May).