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102nd session of the IMO Council: Denmark proposes ways of making IMO’s work more effective.
The Council of the International Maritime Organization held its 102nd session in London from 29 June to 3 July 2009.
Among the most important items on the agenda were the following:
2010-2011 budget
The Secretary-General had proposed a budget that would lead to an increase in the member States’ contributions of 22 per cent. In connection with the discussion of the budget proposal, Denmark proposed the drafting of a long-term strategy in order to make the organization of the work and the holding of meetings more effective and identify budget savings.
Denmark stated that it should be considered cutting the number of meeting days, and the way in which reports are made should also be considered. Finally, the need for translations could be considered since this has a great impact on the budget.
The Danish proposal enjoyed support, and the working group of the Council would be asked to consider this as well as a number of other proposals in more detail. Denmark will follow this work closely in order to ensure that the work of the IMO is made more effective.
The Secretary-General will propose an adjusted budget for the next Council session to be held in November this year.
IMO Member State Audit Scheme
50 of the 168 IMO member States as well as one associated member had volunteered for the voluntary member state audit scheme, which Denmark underwent as the first member State in September 2006. So far, 31 audits had been completed. More information about Denmark’s audit is available here.
The Council had a rather long debate of the possibilities of making the international member state audit scheme mandatory. In this connection, Denmark had submitted a paper giving an account of the positive aspects of being subjected to the audit, including the advantages of one’s own procedures being looked at by “other eyes”.
A number of countries were, among other things, concerned about the financing of a mandatory audit scheme, and a number of countries considered the voluntary scheme sufficient.
The majority supported a mandatory audit scheme to ensure the widest possible scope of the scheme so as to bring about a general lift in quality for the benefit of safety, health and environmental protection.
The conclusion was that the Secretary-General was to draw up a timeframe in consideration of the concerns expressed with the purpose of making the scheme mandatory. This timeframe is to be adopted by the Assembly later this year.
Piracy
The Council expressed its unanimous and deep concern about the continued problem of piracy, especially off the Somali Coast. Increased cooperation between states was requested and Denmark, among others, stressed the need for coastal States to act and become able to prosecute pirates.
Finally, it was decided to award the international navy ships combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden a special recognition in connection with the IMO Award for Bravery at Sea.
World Maritime Day 2010
The Council decided to make the theme of the World Maritime Day “2010: Year of the Seafarer”. This should be considered an appreciation of seafarers’ contribution to the international community, including an appreciation of the important but often dangerous work carried out. Furthermore, the IMO is expected to adopt comprehensive amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers.
15. July 2009
by
Anne Skov Strüver
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