UNCLOS 40th anniversary event

IMO UNCLOS 40th anniversary event

28 November 2022,

Opening remarks by Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO

Chair, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you all today to mark 40 years since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982.

You will shortly hear from our esteemed panelists, who will guide us through the past 40 years and look ahead to future challenges.

Over the past four decades, many of us have participated in work that implements the linkages between UNCLOS - which is rightly described as the Constitution for the Oceans - and the treaty regime of the International Maritime Organization, which sets a legal framework for the ships that ply those oceans.

UNCLOS established a framework for how we relate to our oceans by regulating the rights and duties of States over their use of the oceans. UNCLOS enshrines the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation and obliges flag States to ensure that navigation is conducted safely and conforms to generally accepted international regulations and practices.

IMO, of course, was established some years earlier, in 1948, as the global standard-setting authority for shipping. By 1982 IMO had adopted a comprehensive body of international conventions covering safety, efficiency and environmental performance of international shipping, as well as search and rescue and liability and compensation. Later, mandatory maritime security measures were adopted.

That is why many articles in UNCLOS refer to legal frameworks developed by a competent international organization. States negotiating the Constitution for the Oceans recognized IMO's role and experience in these areas. IMO treaties are referred to in many provisions of UNCLOS.

Ensuring the safety of ships, navigation as well as seafarers and passengers through global standards for ship design, construction, equipment, operation and crewing, but also seafarers' qualification and training, safety management and operation remains our top priority and we are constantly enhancing our safety related instruments.

IMO is guiding the future of shipping by addressing new challenges. IMO is supporting sustainable development by enhancing shipping's contribution to the global mission to combat climate change as well as to move towards a digital future by enhancing the automation and digitalization of shipping.

Of the more than 50 conventions adopted by IMO, over half directly relate to environmental issues. Part 12 of UNCLOS imposes on States the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment by cooperating on a global basis, including through competent international organizations such as IMO.

IMO measures have been enhanced over the years, contributing to the continuous and further greening of the shipping industry. In fact, many of IMO's regulatory advances have paved the way for, and catalyzed, technological developments and innovation to tackle today's challenges, from ballast water management and preserving biodiversity to energy efficiency.

IMO is committed to ensuring the maritime sector plays its part in meeting global ambitions and goals tackling the climate crisis. A comprehensive set of mandatory measures have been adopted to improve the world fleet's energy efficiency.

The initial IMO GHG strategy will be upgraded by 2023. IMO Member States are already discussing incentivization of alternative fuels and innovative technologies. Decarbonization will require innovation, R&D, financing and infrastructure to deliver low- and zero-carbon fuels to ships.

By embracing innovation and technological development, shipping will remain unchallenged as the main carrier of global trade. Shipping needs to be supported by a regulatory framework that facilitates the highest possible standards.

A greener, innovative and more efficient maritime sector is essential if we are to meet our global ambitions and goals to secure the needs of future generations.

Most of IMO's 175 Member States are also Parties to UNCLOS.  

IMO will ensure that the harmonious coexistence between the Law of the Sea and the maritime legal framework continues, for the benefit of oceans and the whole of humankind.

I am very personally pleased to organize this event.

There is a strong connection between IMO and UNCLOS.

I look forward to the discussions ahead.

Thank you.