Whats New 2015
Maritime English training in Africa
Fifteen participants from Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and the Gambia are attending an IMO-funded regional “Maritime English Instructors Training Course” in Accra, Ghana (4-8 May), in order to enhance their capacity to deliver high-quality training to seafarers, in accordance with the language requirements under the STCW Convention.
Security training in Oman
A 10-day International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code workshop (3-14 May) is taking place in the Sultanate of Oman, for 25 Designated Authority officials and port facility security personnel, aimed at improving the implementation of IMO's maritime security measures, with particular focus on planning and conducting maritime security exercises as well as on testing the effectiveness of the measures taken by carrying out security audits.
IMO informs on sea migration
IMO’s Alper Keceli brought INTERTANKO up to date on the latest developments regarding unsafe, mixed migration by sea, during the INTERTANKO European panel meeting in Barcelona, Spain (29-30 April), including the outcome of the high-level United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on Unsafe Mixed Migration by Sea held at IMO in March and the Legal Committee 102nd session (14-16 April). (Photo: UNHCR) (Click to read more)
Slovenia visits
His Excellency Mr Tadej Rupel, the new Ambassador for Slovenia to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative of Slovenia to IMO, paid a courtesy call to IMO Headquarters today (5 May) and presented his letter of credentials to Secretary-General Sekimizu. Slovenia has been a Member of IMO since 1993.
Goal-based standards audit
Team leaders from the five audit teams set up to verify rules of construction of recognized organizations, for oil tankers and bulk carriers, are meeting this week at IMO (7-8 May) to discuss the finalization of harmonized reports, for submission to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 96) in May 2016. The goal based standards meeting was opened by IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu.
Navigation in Straits of Malacca and Singapore
IMO’s Ashok Mahapatra participated in the 14th meeting on Aids to Navigation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (28-29 April), in Singapore, representing IMO as an observer to the meeting, which was attended by the littoral States (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore) along with user States (China, India, Japan and Republic of Korea). The IMO Malacca and Singapore Trust Fund supports various projects related to safety of navigation in the Straits.
Global summit discusses ballast water
Ballast water management (BWM) has been on the agenda at the Global Water Summit 2015
in Athens, Greece (27-28 April). At a session entitled “2015: the year
for ballast water?” IMO’s Antoine Blonce presented latest updates on the
IMO BWM Convention and GloBallast
Partnerships Programme, which aim to address the transfer of harmful
aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water, thereby
reducing the negative impact on marine ecosystems.
in Athens, Greece (27-28 April). At a session entitled “2015: the year
for ballast water?” IMO’s Antoine Blonce presented latest updates on the
IMO BWM Convention and GloBallast
Partnerships Programme, which aim to address the transfer of harmful
aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water, thereby
reducing the negative impact on marine ecosystems.
Indonesia pledges ferry safety support
During a visit to IMO today (28 April) HE Mr Ignasius Jonan, Minister for Transportation of Indonesia, confirmed his country’s support for IMO’s initiative to establish effective, global safety standards for domestic ferries. This follows the adoption in Manila, Philippines, last week of guidelines to address the topic. The Minister also told IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu of his country’s plans to expand and modernise its maritime sector, prioritizing maritime education and training, and promised continued support for IMO’s Sweden-based World Maritime University.
Rebuilding Somalia's maritime sector
A three-day Stakeholders Forum (27-29 April) to review draft guidelines for the establishment of a Somalia Maritime Administration. Coordinated and funded by IMO, the forum is being hosted by the Kenya Maritime Authority in Mombasa, Kenya, with the aim of developing a framework for establishing a Somalia Maritime Administration to provide governance and oversight within which to develop a sustainable maritime sector. (click to read more)