Tag: IMO Assembly

The IMO Assembly has unanimously endorsed the appointment of Mr. Kitack Lim (Republic of Korea) as the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), with effect from 1 January 2016, for an initial term of four years.

The 29th session of the IMO Assembly opened on Monday 23 November at IMO Headquarters in London.

IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has delivered his New Year Address outlining some of the targets, challenges and priorities the Organization will face this year at the opening of the first sub-committee meeting of 2014.

The IMO has just finalized its 28th Assembly, which is held every second year

From November 25 to December 4, 2013 IMO Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the organisation. It consists of all Member States (170) and meets once every two years where it approves the work programme, votes the budget and determines IMO's financial arrangements. The Assembly also elects a Council for a two year term as is the case for 2014 and 2015.By way of explanation, the Council is the Executive Body of the IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the IMO's work. Between the two-yearly sessions of the Assembly the Council performs a majority of all Assembly functions most notable of which is that of appointing the Secretary-General, though subject to approval by the Assembly.Council members are elected in three categories as follows:Category (a) 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping servicesCategory (b) 10 other States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade, andCategory (c) 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above which have special interest in maritime transport or navigation and, importantly, whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic interests of the world.A great deal of the first week was spent by relevant ...

At present 38 countries , 30.3% of the worlds registered tonnage have ratified the Convention INTERTANKO welcomes the agreement reached this week by the IMO's Member States in revising the implementation schedule for the Ballast Water Management Convention and urges all Governments to adhere to this new schedule.The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) governing body, the Assembly, adopted a Resolution this week in London that pins the application dates of the Ballast Water Management Convention to the entry into force date.This in effect makes all vessels constructed before the entry into force date 'existing' vessels, and allows for the installation of a ballast water management system (BWMS) on such vessels at the first renewal survey following entry into force.At present 38 countries representing 30.3% of the world's registered tonnage have ratified the Convention. The Convention will enter into force 12 months after the ratification by more than 35 countries representing more than 35% of the world's tonnage.The adoption of this Assembly Resolution is a major step in making the implementation of the international Convention workable once it comes into force. In 2012, INTERTANKO had led the submission of a paper to the IMO's Marine Environment and Protection Committee (MEPC), drawing the ...

From 25 November to 4 December 2013 MO Secretary-General, Mr Koji Sekimizu, addresses delegates and attendees at the opening of the 28th regular session of the IMO Assembly.(Image Credit: IMO Flickr)The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), meeting for its 28th session in London, has adopted key resolutions and amendments relating to the Organization's mandatory audit scheme, paving the way for the scheme to come into effect by 2016 once amendments to mandatory instruments have entered into force.Election of the IMO CouncilThe Assembly elected the 40-Member IMO Council for the next biennium 2014 to 2015 (See Briefing 53/2013)IMO Member State audit schemeThe mandatory audit scheme is seen as a key tool for assessing Member States' performance in meeting their obligations and responsibilities as flag, port and coastal States under the relevant IMO treaties and then offering the necessary assistance, where required, for them to meet their obligations fully and effectively.The Assembly adopted the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), which provides a global standard to enable States to meet their obligations as flag, port and/or coastal States; the Framework and Procedures for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme; the 2013 non-exhaustive list of obligations under instruments relevant to the ...

Assembly: 28th session, 26 November to 4 December 2013 The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has elected the following States to be Members of its Council for the 2014-2015 biennium:Category (a) 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services:China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.Category (b) 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade:Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden.Category (c) 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world:Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey.The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.The newly elected Council will meet, following the conclusion of the 28th Assembly, for its 111th session (on 5 ...

From 26 November to 4 December 2013 ​International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu on Monday(26 November) opened the 28th session of the Organization's highest governing body, the Assembly. Mr. Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, United Kingdom, welcomed delegates to the Assembly on behalf of the host Government.The meeting is being attended by more than 1,000 delegates from IMO Member States as well as from international governmental and non-governmental organizations.In his opening address, Mr. Sekimizu outlined the achievements of the Organization during the 2012 to 2013 biennium, stressing the work on passenger ship safety, following the January 2012 Costa Concordia accident; preparation for the introduction of the mandatory IMO audit scheme; the adoption of the Cape Town Agreement to implement fishing vessel safety regulations; work on maritime security and anti-piracy measures; and progress in the preparation of the Polar Code. In the environmental field he emphasised the implementation of the energy efficiency requirements; promotion of technical cooperation and transfer of technology relating to improvement of energy efficiency of ships; the designation of Saba Bank as a new particularly sensitive sea area; the Ballast Water Management Convention implementation plan; and the adoption of six guidelines for the Hong ...

The 28th Assembly of IMO will meet in London at IMO Headquarters from 25 November to 4 December 2013