During the Seventh session of the Sub-Committee on the Implementation of IMO Instruments, which started on 12th July, Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO gave an opening remark.
As informed, shipping moves ahead with important changes to regulations, but has also to respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its serious impact on global trade and travel, and particularly on seafarers.
We continue to work tirelessly together with UN sister organizations and industry partners to encourage Member States to recognize seafarers as “key workers”, as also advocated by the UN General Assembly Resolution adopted in 2020, and to prioritize their vaccination, thereby facilitating seafarers’ safe movement across borders.
…IMO Secretary-General noted.
What is more, the Sub-Committee is expected to finalize the preparation of a series of draft Assembly resolutions, on matters related to casualty analysis, port State control, survey and certification, and obligations under instruments relevant to the IMO Instruments Implementation Code.
On casualty-related matters, while having the pleasure to announce the release of the new taxonomy of the GISIS module on marine casualties and incidents, I am certain that your discussions will facilitate progress on the timeliness and the rate of reporting following the investigation of casualties.
…he added.
Turning to the IMO Member State Audit Scheme, Mr. Kitack Lim welcomed the implementation of the agreed methodology for analysis of consolidated audit summary reports, developed by your Sub-Committee in 2018.
As explained, the review of the analysis of four consolidated audit summary reports (CASRs) should provide input to the regulatory process of the Organization through the established process for reporting to the committees and their onward reporting, for the first time, to the Council.
The outcome of the analysis of four CASRs should also provide feedback from audits for further development of technical assistance to Member States.
In addition to the expected finalization of two Assembly resolutions on the Surveys Guidelines under the HSSC and the updating of the non-exhaustive list of obligations, the sub-Committee is expected to complete the updating of the list of certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships and achieve the preparation of the draft Model agreement for the authorization of recognized organizations acting on behalf of the Administration for approval of an MSC MEPC.5 circular by the committees.
Finally, IMO Secretary General welcomed the importance of the Sub-Committee as a forum that reflects the strong spirit of cooperation among FAO, ILO and IMO, as demonstrated by the fourth session of the Joint FAO/ILO/IMO Ad Hoc Working Group on IUU fishing and related matters and the Ministerial Conference on Fishing Vessel Safety and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.
The clock is ticking, and I very much hope for the fulfilment of the entry into force criteria of the Cape Town Agreement by 11 October 2022, the tenth anniversary of its adoption, and its entry into force by 2023.
…he concluded.