AT THE first step OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH SESSION OF
THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE 21 to 25 November 2016 good dawn, Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates,
It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to the ninety-seventh seance of the Maritime Safety Committee. I extend a especial welcome to those of you who are attending the Committee for the first fourth dimension. Allow me first to comment concisely on general matters of importance to the work of this Organization. Our traditional World Maritime Day celebration took identify here, in our headquarters construct, on 29 September. We have used every opportunity throughout this year to widen awareness of the choose root “ shipping : indispensable to the earth ”, and the annual latitude consequence, held in Istanbul, Turkey from 4 to 6 November. For 2017, we will build on this root by focussing on the linkage between ships, ports and people. Shipping today transports more than 80 per cent of global trade to peoples and communities all over the earth. It provides a dependable, low-cost means of transporting goods globally, facilitating commerce and helping to create prosperity among nations and peoples. A safe, dependable and efficient external embark diligence is indispensable to the modern world – and this is provided by the measures and standards developed and maintained by this Organization. But today I besides want to look beyond IMO ’ s daily functions and talk to you about what the future might hold for the Organization – in detail, about its place in a more cohesive and plug in scheme of ball-shaped ocean administration. today, we live in a global society which is supported by a ball-shaped economy. The potential benefits are clear up : growth can be accelerated and prosperity more far-flung ; skills and engineering can be more evenly dispersed, and both individuals and countries can take advantage of previously undreamed economic opportunities. The broader challenge we all face is how to ensure future growth can be achieved sustainably ; how to ensure that globalization becomes a convinced force for all the world ’ randomness people, and not for equitable a privileged few. so, beyond its traditional regulative function, how does IMO fit into this broader painting ? As part of the United Nations family, IMO is actively supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that populace leaders pledged to support end year. I have said many times that shipping and associate maritime activities are substantive components of future sustainable growth for the earth ’ s 7 billion-plus inhabitants. But the search for growth in this sector – amobarbital sodium increase – is a balancing act. The overall health of the seas and oceans themselves is intelligibly a lawsuit for concern. As a nautical community, we need to ensure that growth is coordinated and planned, with remark from all relevant stakeholders, and that opportunities for synergies are identified and taken, while at the like meter act proactively to ensure that safety, security and auspices of the environment. In the meanwhile, IMO Member States must strive to better implement the measures that we have already agreed. At a time of economic downturn and instability, it is critical that Member Governments and industry resist the enticement to cut corners to save money at the expense of base hit, security and the marine environment. Looking at the progress made so far in the Organization, we have to be gallant. ***
In the course of the weekend, some newsworthiness came to my attention on the collision, in the English Channel, between the Hong Kong, China flagged cosmopolitan cargo ship Saga Sky and a barge. I would like to express my deep sense of respite concerning the rather fortunate ending of this event. The professionalism of the seafarers and the rescue services involved are highly applaudable. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates,
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once again, I am addressing a jammed meet that will see intense action over the next five days. A sum of 111 documents have been submitted under the 22 items on the agenda for this session. Mr. Chair, Distinguished Delegates, I would like to highlight, some key issues amongst the assorted agenda items of MSC 97. As regards the execution of the goal-based standards for new ship construction of majority carriers and vegetable oil tankers, it is fundamental to emphasize that your Committee ’ s solid ratification that the data provided by the submitters ( 12 IACS penis recognized organizations ) demonstrated that their rules conform to the GBS standards. The completion of this initial confirmation action now provides a actual link between the categorization and statutory processes and this is a significant development in the IMO convention making process which is the culmination of huge efforts by all stakeholders of the Organization over a menstruation of more than a decade. After this significant accomplishment, your Committee has immediately to focus on developing amendments to the GBS Verification Guidelines based on the experience gained during the initial confirmation audits, not forgetting that the Secretariat is arranging the confirmation audit for the correction of non-conformities stemming from the initial verification audited account for submission and retainer at MSC 98. With esteem to the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board vessels engaged on international voyages, your Committee at its last session, charge in mind an pressing need to ensure the safe and effective transfer of technicians serving and servicing installations in the growing offshore option energy sectors, agreed that a newly chapter to SOLAS, supported by a new code, should be developed to address this issue. Furthermore, MSC 96 recognizing that until the proposed new code was developed there was a need for an interim solution. After taking into bill the complex nature of the legal issues involved, MSC 96 requested the Secretariat to provide legal advice on this matter. To this end, your Committee will consider the legal advice with a view to finalize the interim solution along with the detailed roadmap for developing the proposed code and I am confident that your Committee will resolve this significant topic to the atonement of all the stakeholders involved. Turning to maritime security and relate matters, we note with concern recent reports of attacks on warships and the m.v. Galicia Spirit in the Bab Al Mandab. We appreciate that an investigation is under way but I must stress that it is authoritative that the facts be established ampere cursorily as possible so that the ongoing terror to embark can be by rights assessed and proportionate responses taken. In the meanwhile, I would remind masthead States of their obligations to conduct threat assessments and set security levels for ships in accord with SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code. Both the m.v. Galicia Spirit incident and the holocene undertake piracy fire on the m.v. CPO Korea off the coast of Somalia are potent reminders of the need for diligent application of IMO guidance and best management practices ; and for the presence of warships to protect ship. Your Committee will continue its exploit on progressing the important and timely topic of protecting the nautical conveyance network from cyber threats, consider implications of floating armouries deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as receiving updates on piracy and armed robbery against ships, and insecure blend migration by sea. I would once again take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of analyzing statistics related to maritime casualties and incidents, caused by versatile factors. To this end, I feel that it is allow that the Organization deals proactively with safety issues, based on the analysis of nautical casualties and incidents statistics.
Furthermore, at your concluding session, the Committee broadly agreed to improve the dissemination of lessons learned from marine casualties, with a view of establishing an effective linkage between casualty investigation and seafarers aim, and instructed the III and HTW sub-committees to far consider the matter. At this seance, you will besides consider the marriage proposal on enhancement of the function of the GISIS module on marine casualties and incidents which I am sure that will get its due consideration. Your Committee will besides consider the reports of four sub-committees. These sub-committees have worked in accordance with your instructions and the results of their deliberations are the result of their hard exercise. To this end, I would like to convey my admiration to all the delegates who attend these meetings. furthermore, you have many more important issues before you this week, such as the Amendments to mandate instruments ; and Formal safety judgment. It remains for me to give my best wishes to your Chair, Mr. Brad Groves of Australia, for the tax ahead in tackling the agenda of this school term and finding the allow remainder between competing demands therefore that the Committee may reach the best and most wide acceptable outcomes. The Secretariat, including Mr. Mahapatra, Director of the Maritime Safety Division and the relevant staff, will discharge our duties and responsibilities in supporting both the Chair and the workplace of the meet to the best of our abilities. Mr. Chair, distinguished delegates, Before I conclude, I regret to inform your Committee of the death of Captain John Briggs of Australia. Capt. Briggs was a retentive stand delegate and the Chair of the Drafting Committee during the 1995 STCW Conference. He was besides the Chair of the first panel of competent persons established to evaluate the information communicated by a STCW Party to demonstrate submission with the relevant provisions of the STCW Convention. I would request the deputation of Australia to convey the condolences of the Committee and the Secretariat to his bereaved syndicate.
With this, I wish you every success in your deliberations and look forth to welcoming you all to the Bravery Awards ceremony and to the drinks reception after close of clientele today. Thank you. __________
