IMO Assembly, 33rd session, 27 November – 6 December 2023 - opening speech
33rd regular session of the IMO Assembly
27 November 2023
Speech by Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO
President, honourable ministers, excellencies, distinguished delegates and observers, ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honour to welcome you to the thirty-third session of the IMO Assembly, both in person and attending remotely, following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic had a profound impact on all of us – and especially seafarers. While we have made strides but there are still lessons to be learned.
Our planet, oceans, and humanity face critical threats from pollution, climate change, geopolitical instability, and the economic challenges posed by high inflation.
Despite these obstacles, the importance of shipping in facilitating global trade and transporting essential goods across continents cannot be overstated. However, our focus must shift towards a future that's both decarbonized and digitalized, leaving no one behind.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
This Assembly will be invited to review the Organization's work over the past two years. Your participation will be crucial in approving the upcoming work program, budget, and Strategic Plan for 2024-2029, electing a new Council, as well as the appointment of the next Secretary-General, and adopting various vital resolutions.
During the first half of 2022, IMO adeptly continued its operations through remote meetings, a testament to our adaptability and resilience. We transitioned back to in-person sessions in September 2022, incorporating hybrid remote modalities on a trial basis.
I again express my heartfelt appreciation to all Member States and IMO delegates – and the IMO Secretariat – for the support and cooperation that allowed IMO's work to continue.
During the last biennium, the Maritime Safety Committee achieved significant milestones, including adopting the modernized Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS); initiating the development of a goal-based instrument for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), in cooperation with the Legal and Facilitation Committees and a comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code; and commencing work on the development of a framework for the safe operation of new technologies and alternative fuels aimed at reducing GHG emissions from ships, to support the safe delivery of 2023 IMO's GHG Strategy.
Turning to the Marine Environment Committee, in July 2023 the MEPC unanimously adopted the ambitious 2023 Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships.
The strategy sets a common vision and an ambitious goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by or around, i.e. close to, 2050.
The strategy represents the result of years of negotiations. I am deeply grateful to the unwavering cooperation, collaboration, and patience of you, the IMO Member States – and all stakeholders.
To achieve the net-zero goal, we must implement comprehensive measures in accordance with the adopted timetable.
1 January 2023 marked the entry into force of MARPOL amendments to reduce carbon intensity of ships, including a rating system – following completion of the related impact assessment.
A further milestone for the shipping sector was 26 June 2023, when the criteria of entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships were met with the Bangladesh and Liberia becoming Contracting States. It is now set to enter into force on 26 June 2025.
I would like to thank all IMO Member States for their support and I invite other Member States, who have not yet become a party to the Hong Kong Convention, to do so as soon as possible.
In the Legal Committee, you continued to address important issues, including threats posed by fraudulent registries and fraudulent registration of ships; and abandonment of seafarers, working in tandem with our colleagues at the International Labour Organization (ILO) and in cooperation with industry and workers' bodies.
The Facilitation Committee moved to push the efficient digitalization of shipping, adopting amendments to the FAL Convention to make the maritime single window mandatory, from 1 January 2024, for straightforward electronic exchange of data through a single portal.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
You will be invited to adopt a resolution on recommendations related to lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, derived from the work of a joint United Nations and industry sector action group, which was established in December 2021 to review the impact of the pandemic on the world's transport workers and the global supply chain.
Once again, I would like to acknowledge seafarers' outstanding contribution to shipping. Seafarer well-being is paramount. I express my gratitude to all seafarers.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
IMO's work to develop capacity in States to implement and enforce IMO measures continued throughout the biennium.
The challenges posed by the pandemic and the shift to remote learning have created valuable opportunities to leverage the advantages of e-learning. Notably, the IMO e-learning platform, developed in collaboration with the World Maritime University, was successfully launched in 2022.
IMO has continued to grow a multi-million-dollar portfolio of global projects aimed at fostering a culture of collaboration, partnerships and innovation.
These projects encompass various domains such as decarbonization, addressing marine litter, and managing biofouling. They actively contribute to bolstering national action plans, nurturing innovation, and aligning with our core mission of safeguarding the oceans and our planet.
I extend my gratitude to the Member States, donors, and all supporters who contribute to our capacity-building efforts.
It is our responsibility to dismantle barriers, ensuring inclusivity for all. Embracing diversity is key to attracting top-tier talent, irrespective of gender.
I am delighted that IMO introduced the International Day for Women in Maritime, which successfully took place in 2022 and 2023. Looking ahead, in 2024, we eagerly anticipate presenting the inaugural IMO Gender Equality Award.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Looking forward to the next biennium, there is significant work ahead, driven by the imperative to decarbonize and digitalize shipping.
Throughout centuries, the shipping industry has adeptly navigated transitions. IMO's pivotal role lies in safeguarding this process, ensuring the protection of seafarers, ships, and the well-being of our oceans and planet.
This year commemorates the 75th anniversary since the adoption of the Convention establishing IMO. I am delighted to share that the IMO Secretariat has produced a book celebrating this milestone, encapsulating 75 years of IMO's journey and offering insights into the chapters yet to unfold. More details about this book will be shared with you soon.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
This is my last Assembly. As I look back on my tenure, I have been inspired by the remarkable spirit of cooperation that defines IMO. I am confident in your commitment to persist in working together towards accomplishing IMO's objectives.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your collaboration and wish you a highly productive Assembly.
Thank you for your kind attention.