First stop: the Dalian Maritime University. IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim marked the start of the Master's degree programme on Maritime Safety and Environmental Management – a joint programme with the World Maritime University (WMU) during a busy visit to China (10-11 July). Mr. Lim told students the course will help to equip them to make their own contribution towards achieving key IMO objectives: helping ensure shipping can continue to serve the global population in a safe and sustainable manner.
Mr. Lim went on to attend the China Maritime Day and Global Green Maritime forums, and IMO 70th Aniversary celebrations in Shanghai (photos). Here he outlined IMO’s achievement in the 70 years since the Organization was formed and 60 since it became operational. During that time, IMO has produced a long record of achievement, developing and adopting more than 50 international instruments on many different aspects of shipping.
He highlighted the theme for the anniversary celebrations "Our Heritage: Better Shipping for a Better Future" and how it looks to both the past and into the years that lie ahead, providing an opportunity to reflect and showcase how the Organization has developed and adapted while staying true to its overall mission – to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping.
Finally, Mr. Lim toured the Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre for Asia (MTCC Asia), which was launched at the end of 2016 as part of the global network for energy-efficient shipping under the GMN project, funded by the European Union and run by IMO. The network of five regional centres are promoting technologies and operations to improve energy efficiency in the maritime sector.