Guardians,
As promised earlier, here is the text of Secretary General Mitropoulus' opening speech at IMO's 26th Assemby. It is lengthy but worth the read.
ADM A
Mr. President, honourable representative of the host Government and honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers, your Excellencies, Coast Guard Commandants, distinguished delegates and observers, ladies and gentlemen,
Welcome back! – by which, of course, I mean to welcome you back to our familiar and much-loved, fully refurbished, Headquarters’ building, here on Albert Embankment to which we returned five months after the last Assembly.
I am sure you will agree that the state-of-the-art premises, worthy of the 21st century, that we were promised have indeed been delivered – and, I should add: on time and to budget.
I am pleased to report that the link between this building and all that it represents and our host nation’s Royal family, which commenced with the laying of the foundation stone by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, thirty years ago and was cemented at the official opening by Her Majesty the Queen 26 years ago, was reaffirmed with the official re-opening, in June 2008, being conducted by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester.
This was a fitting occasion as it coincided with the Organization celebrating two key milestones in its history: the 60th anniversary of the adoption of its constitutive Convention in 1948; and the 50th anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force. In the context of those celebrations, we were honoured by the presence here of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The celebrations concluded with a World Maritime Day Parallel Event organized in Greece, which included the unveiling of an International Memorial to the Wife of the Seafarer – to complement that for the Seafarer, which adorns the entrance to our Headquarters here in London.
I feel sure that the Assembly will readily wish to endorse the sentiments of the Council in acknowledging the contribution of all those involved in the successful completion of the refurbishment project and to the equally successful running of the Organization’s business during the twenty months it lasted; in particular, its deep and sincere appreciation to the Host Government for its generous financial support – in the region of £60 million – and for supervising the successful execution of the project.
And, as I did two years ago, I reiterate my own appreciation to all delegates and observers for their forbearance, understanding and co operation, under the challenging circumstances experienced during the refurbishment period – in particular, at meetings held abroad, for which my appreciation goes, once again, to all the Governments and international organizations, which hosted such meetings, for their collaboration, generous support and warm hospitality. And also to thank the Secretariat, which, through hard work and sheer dedication, ensured that the high quality of its services was maintained despite the changing and very demanding conditions and circumstances that put us all to the test.
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Distinguished delegates,
I cannot speak about the challenges and achievements of our Organization over the past two years without placing them firmly within the context of the global financial crisis, which has left few, if any, immune from its consequences. Having touched most people, the crisis has provided a sombre backdrop for shipping as well, with VLCC rates dropping from Worldscale 170 to 81 and the Baltic Dry Bulk Index plummeting by more than 11,000 points from an all-time high of 11,793 in just a few months. With the container ship market claiming its own casualties, those that survived were put under enormous stresses.
For my part, I have tried, whenever possible, to urge that financial difficulties should not lead to a lowering of safety standards through cutting corners and skimping on key items such as maintenance, repair and training. If safety and the marine environment were themselves to fall victim to the financial crisis, we would all be the losers. Besides, it is my firm belief that those who are prepared not to compromise on standards and who maintain their determination to provide a quality service to their customers, will be best placed to emerge from the slump unscathed and take advantage of the better times that will certainly follow.
Later, I shall speak in more detail about some of the initiatives we took to address the challenges we faced during the past biennium. What I am going to do now, through a chronological resumé, is to outline those of the highlights from the biennium, which demonstrate that not only has the Organization as a whole worked diligently and thoroughly towards the goals and objectives identified in our Strategic and High-Level Action Plans, but that it has also been able to react swiftly and decisively to whatever new problems and unforeseen challenges have emerged in its course.
And also to demonstrate that, in spite of the inherent difficulties of a continuously and rapidly changing landscape, we were able to display a commendable quality of grip: an ability to master situations, as they emerge and come our way, rather than allowing ourselves to be mastered by them.
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In January 2008, a SOLAS regulation to introduce the multi-objective orientated long-range identification and tracking of ships system entered into force and, as I speak, the system architecture and infrastructure are in place; IMSO has been appointed as LRIT Coordinator; and suitable transitional arrangements have been established. The development of a unique project with the novel aims, ambitious scope and unprecedented complexity of the LRIT system should be acknowledged not only as a technological feat of the highest standard but also as a demonstration of the undiminished determination of the maritime community to keep the industry in the forefront of technology and protect it against the unlawful acts with which it may be threatened.
In September 2008, the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships also entered into force. This Convention, another in IMO’s impressive portfolio of measures designed to protect and preserve the marine environment against pollution, bans the use of harmful substances in anti-fouling paints applied on ships’ hulls and is expected, when fully implemented, to make a real difference in keeping the seas clean and healthy.
A month later, in October 2008, the Marine Environment Protection Committee unanimously adopted amendments to MARPOL Annex VI that will significantly reduce harmful emissions from ships. The main changes will see a progressive reduction in sulphur and nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions when, together with the associated Technical Code, they enter into force in July 2010. This was a landmark achievement, a monumental decision in IMO’ s history that proved, once again, the Organization’s ability to set global standards to serve a global industry operating in a global environment.
The fact that, when the measures to prevent air pollution from ships were deliberated, representatives of some 100 Governments were able to reach decisions by consensus on complicated issues of great importance and significance to the environment, as well as to the shipping, refining and ancillary industries, not only bears testimony to the responsible manner with which the IMO Members address environmental matters nowadays but also to the great results that can be achieved when States, with the same concerns and the determination to produce effective solutions to global issues, work together under the auspices of this Organization.
In December 2008, we heralded the institutionalization of the Facilitation Committee, which is now on a par with the other IMO Committees. This means that, in addition to its traditional role of cutting the red tape in ship/port interface operations, the FAL Committee can now complement, from a stronger position, the work of other Committees by ensuring an appropriate balance between their regulatory tasks and the maintenance of the desired efficiency and security in shipping operations, for example.
In April of this year, the Legal Committee approved a draft Protocol to the 1996 HNS Convention designed to address the practical problems that have prevented many States from ratifying the original Convention, which, despite being adopted in 1996, is some way from meeting the level of ratification that would trigger its entry into force. A diplomatic conference will be held in April next year to adopt the new Protocol.
In May 2009, the eyes of the Organization, the shipping and ship-recycling industries and environmental groups were focused on Hong Kong, China, where another IMO conference succeeded in adopting an international convention for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. Aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose unnecessary risks to human health and safety or to the environment, this Convention strikes a finely worked-out balance between the respective responsibilities and obligations of shipowners, ship recycling facilities and flag and recycling States. I hope it will not take long before it enters into force.
To bring this brief chronological tour of the current biennium highlights up to date, June 2009 saw the MSC revising its guidance on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships, including specific guidance to prevent attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. And, in July, the MEPC progressed work on a package of technical and operational measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping, which, together with our parallel consideration of market-based instruments, will be refined in the coming year with a view to facilitating decisions on their scope of application and enactment. I am confident that, through a combination of carefully crafted measures and instruments, shipping can enhance its energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint to the benefit of the environment.
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Distinguished delegates,
The two issues I just mentioned – GHG emissions and piracy – have been dominant themes on the Organization’s agenda over the last two years. I will briefly elaborate on both.
As you will be aware, this year’s theme for World Maritime Day is “Climate Change – a challenge for IMO, too!” – which gave us the opportunity, both here in London and at the now well-established Parallel Event (this year held, with great success, in New York) to highlight the contribution the Organization is making to what is perhaps the biggest challenge ever to face humanity as a whole.
In two weeks time, Copenhagen will open its gates to receive Heads of State or Government, national delegates and observers from international organizations, scientists, environmental experts, media representatives and a myriad of other interested persons, who will flow into the Danish capital to take part in one of the largest conferences the global community has ever staged. Their aim? To put it simply: to save the planet – and I do hope, for the sake of this and future generations, that, once there, they will show the strong political will required to do just that. It is imperative that they agree not only to ambitious emission cuts but also on the mechanisms required to achieve them in the most cost-effective manner and on how to divide the burden the decisions will imply in a way everyone can live with. Such decisions must be original, bold and commensurate with the gravity of the situation and the expectations of humankind that turns to them and us demanding action, now! So, let us go to Copenhagen with an open mind and with the only option available: to succeed in all that is realistically politically achievable in the circumstances – and, thus, pave the way for the adoption of a legally binding instrument there – or, as soon as possible, thereafter.
Mr. President, we live in, and share, the same planet and our responsibilities vis-à-vis it go beyond those we have within our borders. We should, therefore, think globally and act globally. And, above all, show the strong leadership the current circumstances demand. This applies equally to industrialized countries, emerging economies and developing countries. We are all in it together and, together, we should overcome the enormous difficulties that our past behaviour has amassed causing climatic phenomena and changes to the oceans never seen before and threatening with extinction entire States.
For IMO’s part, not only have we concrete action to stand us in good stead in Copenhagen, we will seek to actively participate in the conference to ensure that actions already taken by the Organization do not go unnoticed and that those planned receive international endorsement. And all these, against the main conclusion of a recent IMO study that international shipping is responsible for only 2.7% of all anthropogenic CO2 emissions – which, however, has not acted as an excuse for us not to redouble our efforts to further lower that percentage.
It is my hope that, when transport emissions are discussed in Copenhagen, the peculiarities of shipping (as an industry uniquely international in character, which is, to its great extent, registered in developing countries) are taken fully into account – and also that, against IMO’s excellent track record on environmental issues, the Organization continues to be entrusted with the regulation of shipping while pursuing, with consistency and an admirable sense of responsibility, its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping operations.
It is for this reason that, taking advantage of the presence here today of so many Ministers, I would ask them and all delegations here present to ensure that all the competent Ministries involved (of Transport or Shipping, Environment and Foreign Affairs) are properly briefed, before they depart for Copenhagen, on all the aspects of the conference pertaining to shipping, and that the complexities of this most international of all industries are duly taken into account when shaping their countries’ official policies and determining their respective positions.
And, once there, they, and all the leaders attending the Conference, should, in the words of Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen, “focus on what is possible and not let themselves be distracted by what is not possible”. They should aim for a politically binding Agreement, which should be “global, comprehensive and substantial – yet, flexible enough to accommodate countries with very different national circumstances” Unquote.
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Mr. President, distinguished delegates,
The alarming escalation in incidents of piracy and armed attacks on merchant ships has been a dominant and unwelcome theme throughout the past biennium. No-one in shipping, and few in the wider world, is unaware of this problem, the threat of which has been plaguing innocent seafarers and fishing vessels personnel for far too long. Since the early 1980s, IMO has, with the invaluable support and co-operation of littoral States and industry, been addressing piracy with considerable success, most notably in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore and the South China Sea.
However, it is the recent upsurge in pirate activity off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, and now beyond the Horn of Africa and in the wider expanses of the western Indian Ocean, that has turned this phenomenon into a global issue. Pirates have become bolder, better armed and better equipped, and their attacks have grown dramatically in number and ferocity, culminating in hijacking ships and holding their crews hostage. At present, 10 ships with a total of 236 seafarers held hostage, are in their hands in various parts of the Somali coastline.
To galvanize appropriate action to stem this modern scourge, we have worked closely with the United Nations (including the Security Council, the World Food Programme and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime) and with various intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (both global and regional, such as the African Union and the League of Arab States), as well as with political and defence entities (such as the European Union, NATO and the Combined Maritime Forces). The response has been one of the greatest examples of international co operation ever demonstrated, as will be highlighted this evening, when, following the ceremony to present this year’s Awards for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, we shall honour the commanding officers and crews of those countries that have deployed naval vessels to participate in the anti-piracy campaign off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
Mr. President,
Piracy is not a problem to which a single approach will bring the desired solution. That is why the co-operation and co-ordination of all parties concerned (such as those I just mentioned) is of great value. While, however, their efforts and initiatives to bring about substantive results in the overall campaign are commendable, it should not be forgotten that the initiative to address the issue stems from this Organization. It was this Organization that identified the magnitude of the problem; assessed the seriousness of its nature; generated work to eliminate it; brought it to the attention of the United Nations; sensitized entities in a position to tackle it head on; worked together with others to coordinate a common approach to its solution; triggered action at various fora and levels; and succeeded in prompting a positive response from various sources. And, while it would be fair to say that much has been achieved so far, there is much more to be done were we to succeed in our common objective; and a lot of what needs to be done should be done by this Organization, if we want the community to continue entrusting us with the pivotal role we have played so far.
Fundamentally, Mr. President, the root cause of the piracy problem off Somalia is the political instability that has torn the country apart since 1991. Our thoughts and prayers are with those, both within and outside Somalia, who have the future of the country in their hands. While I was re-assured of the determination of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to tackle piracy, as expressed by its Prime Minister during his visit to IMO last month, I consider it imperative that we, in the maritime community, re-double our efforts to combat piracy in all its forms, bearing in mind that it is not a cause, but a symptom.
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Mr. President, distinguished delegates,
The emphasis I placed, while dwelling, at some length, on piracy and climate change issues, should not detract from the excellent progress we were able to make on other important topics on our agenda, such as on goal-based standards; on the development of e-navigation; the Marine Electronic Highway project; and the Globallast Partnerships project with its associated global industry alliance for marine biosecurity, all of which will be reported in detail later on.
Our work in the field of technical co-operation has been equally impressive – and, as ever, it has been pursued with a vast amount of enthusiasm and energy and delivered with a great deal of success.
Although the final details of TC expenditure incurred this year will not be determined until early 2010, I am pleased to report that, in our unrelenting efforts to enhance the maritime capability of developing regions, we have achieved a significant level of success under regional and global programmes. In terms of delivery at the field level, the results to date translate into the implementation of 91.5% of planned activities under the ITCP with a further 70 activities being delivered over and above the original plan.
The Assembly will recall that, when, two years ago, it adopted a resolution on “The Linkage between the Integrated Technical Co operation Programme and the Millennium Development Goals”, it requested the Technical Co-operation Committee to give high priority to activities, which would not only promote the early ratification and effective implementation of IMO instruments, but also contribute to the attainment of the MDGs.
To give effect to that resolution, we designed, and started implementing, several programmes (such as support for Africa’s maritime development; protection of the marine environment; integration of women in the maritime sector; and development and improvement of partnerships for technical co-operation) along with a new global programme to address the special needs of Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.
One of our most ambitious projects in Africa concerns the establishment of an adequate search and rescue infrastructure off its coasts facing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Four of the five planned regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres are now in place, two of which (in Lagos and Monrovia) I had the privilege to commission in 2008 and 2009, respectively. They join those established in Mombasa and Cape Town in 2006 and 2007, so that, with the establishment of the fifth, and last centre, in Morocco, we will complete the network of regional centres recommended by the 2000 Florence Conference.
Turning now to maritime training, another key part of IMO’s technical co-operation portfolio, this biennium has seen our two major affiliated training institutions, the World Maritime University in Malmö and the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta, reach milestones in their respective histories.
In June 2008, WMU celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a series of events, including the hosting of two international conferences on the Impact of climate change on the maritime industry and on Empowering women in the maritime world, while, in May 2009, IMLI celebrated its 20th anniversary with a commemorative seminar on the Rule of international maritime law. These fine maritime institutions now have an ever-expanding global network of graduates, whose professional success bears testimony to the excellent achievements of both.
In 2008, we signed an agreement of co-operation with the Italian Government for the delivery of courses on safety and environment-related subjects, at the International Maritime Safety, Security and Environment Academy established in Genoa that year.
Still on maritime training, the Assembly will be pleased with the progress we made intersessionally on the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code, to ensure that both meet the challenges facing the shipping industry today and those anticipated in the foreseeable future. This review is expected to be completed in the coming January to enable a Diplomatic Conference, which is scheduled to be convened in Manila in June 2010, to adopt the resultant text.
Appropriately, “2010: Year of the Seafarer” has been chosen as the theme for next year’s World Maritime Day, to provide, first and foremost, an opportunity for us all to pay tribute to seafarers for their unique contribution to society; to show them what good care the Organization takes of them; and bring home the message that they should be treated fairly in the event of an accident. The theme will also complement the “Go to Sea!” campaign, which we launched in November 2008, in association with ILO, the “Round Table” of shipping industry organizations and ITF, to help address the industry’s looming labour supply crisis. Our specific aim is to promote seafaring as an attractive option for young people of the right calibre, one which can provide them with rewarding, stimulating and long-term prospects, not only at sea but also in the broader maritime industry.
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Distinguished delegates,
During this Assembly you will consider a draft resolution on the further development of the Organization’s audit scheme, principally aiming at moving the Scheme from its current voluntary form to an institutionalized process within the respective IMO treaty instruments, thus providing an opportunity for all Members to enhance their capacity to implement and enforce all the relevant IMO treaties.
So far, the audit scheme has proven its worth in many ways and I am convinced that a decision to make it universally applicable to all Member States will enhance safety and environmental protection, while contributing substantially to their improving their performance as flag, port and coastal States and to the Organization attaining its objectives.
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I will turn now to matters pertaining to the Organization’s governance and management. Our key resource here is the staff and, over the last year, we overhauled our Staff Rules to align them further with the UN common system, incorporating in them the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service. There is no doubt that the demands arising from Members can only be effectively met if we have sufficient human and financial resources to do so. This biennium has been a particularly challenging one in this regard as the Organization, in common with our Member Governments, has not been immune from the upheavals in the world’s financial markets. I can, however, advise that none of our investments were adversely affected, thanks to our prudent and risk-averse investment strategy, which is reflected in our risk management framework. And, despite the economic turmoil, I am pleased to report that the level of contribution receipts last year was 98.02 per cent and this year, to date, has reached 99.25 per cent – a record performance, which, I believe, is a clear demonstration of your support for the Organization and the value you place on our work.
While on resource matters, I wish to thank the Organization’s External Auditors for their constructive approach in discharging their responsibilities. You will be pleased to know that they have issued unqualified opinions for the two financial years since the Assembly’s last session. We have sought and welcomed their recommendations for further enhancing accountability and strengthening controls, particularly in relation to our work to introduce new, UN system-wide, accounting standards. And this Assembly will be invited to approve revised Financial Regulations so that we start implementing the new standards as from January 2010 – rendering IMO one of the few UN system organizations to do so.
On the budgeting side, the challenges that have arisen, due to the global economic and financial crises, have been compounded by the impact on our budgets of increases in professional salaries decided by the UN International Civil Service Commission, following its regular review of the London duty station. These have resulted in unbudgeted cost increases that we have had to absorb and I wish to thank all concerned for their contribution in ensuring that we could do so.
In this respect, I appreciate not only the Council’s recognition of our efforts to provide clear, transparent, user-friendly and thorough ‘results-based’ budgetary proposals in support of the Organization’s Strategic and High-level Action Plans for the forthcoming biennium, but also its understanding of the difficulties we face and the hard choices we have to make to deliver within our set budgets.
As the work of the Organization intensifies, the burden on some of the “unsung heroes” on which we have all come to rely, becomes even heavier. I mentioned earlier the tribulations of the period ‘in exile’, all of which the Secretariat as a whole took in its stride with calm, efficiency and a sense of humour. The Conference Division was, of course, particularly affected, providing logistical support to a total of 38.4 meeting weeks and numerous intersessional group meetings during the biennium, at external venues both in London and abroad. As if that were not enough, the volume of documentation processed has, of late, increased considerably, as a result of the very high volume of documents submitted to our meetings. In spite of that, the response of our processing units and translators has been exemplary – and I wish to express my deep appreciation to all concerned.
Distinguished delegates,
I trust that my report thus far has reassured you that, as an organization, we continue to work diligently and conscientiously not only to respond to the increasing demands placed upon us but also to make certain that we are well prepared to meet future challenges and expectations. I should like to thank all staff members equally for their hard work and dedication, without which we simply would not be able to function. A special expression of thanks goes to all the Directors for their painstaking efforts to ensure that all six Divisions fire on all cylinders.
As ever, there have been, during the biennium, several departures, arrivals and transfers among the staff and I trust you will join me in offering thanks to those who have left and welcome those who have either joined us for the first time or who have taken on new responsibilities.
The same applies to those among you who you choose to lead the various IMO bodies. And, although I should not discriminate among the excellent chairmen, vice-chairmen and other officers who serve committees, sub-committees and groups of any sort, I am sure you will all agree that one of them, Johan Franson of Sweden, the Chairman of the Council, deserves a very special mention here. Mr. Franson is due to retire soon and, last week, he bid farewell to the body he chaired, with unique distinction and unparalleled success, over the last four years. During a very demanding time, he shrewdly led the Council to making the right, well-balanced decisions that were needed for the Organization to move forward successfully. He was straightforward, honest and correct in all his undertakings. With him, you knew where you stood and his stewardship of the Council will make it a hard act for his successor to follow. For me, our working relationship has been one of the most harmonious and pleasant I have ever experienced – and would have been ideal were I able to always understand his Swedish sense of humour!... I know the Assembly would wish to thank him most sincerely and warmly wish him a long and happy retirement.
Mr. President,
It is a customary, yet sad, duty on occasions like this to turn our thoughts to those, who having served this Organization well, passed away during the interim period. Among them, I would, in particular, mention Mr. Joachim Jens of Germany, who served in the Maritime Safety Division between 1966 and 1985; Ambassador George Dove-Edwin of Nigeria, who presided over the IMO Assembly in the early 1990s; Mr. Urban Hallberg of Sweden, a former Chairman of the COMSAR Sub-Committee; and Mr. Jim Smith, a former Permanent Secretary of IACS. We are saddened by their passing and will remember them all with affection.
Distinguished delegates,
As the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close, the world faces an uncertain and difficult future. As we look around us today, what we see is but a world beset with problems: climate change and global warming, the faltering global economy, insecurity over food and energy supplies, armed conflicts, declining ecosystems, extreme poverty and the threat of pandemics are among several 21st century realities – most of them inter-connected, and all of which conspire to make the need for concerted action on all fronts stronger than perhaps ever before.
What really pleases me enormously is that, in a world such as this, our Organization remains a beacon of stability, displaying virtues of calmness, self-confidence and, above all, a strong determination to move on and succeed. Our foundations are strong and solid and we feel confident that we will be able to withstand the impact of any storm that may come our way in the period ahead, although we cannot possibly predict all of the challenges that will face us between now and the next time we meet. As if to prove the point, I looked back at the speech I gave to this Assembly two years ago. It was a time when the world markets were thriving and shipping was doing extremely well. I did not, therefore, make then any mention whatsoever of the impending but as yet unforeseen global financial crisis, and just a single, brief mention of Somalia – yet, both went on to be major and recurrent themes for all of us during the biennium that is to come to a close soon. So, who knows what we will be faced with as the next biennium unfolds?
Mr. President, distinguished delegates,
It now remains only for me to say that I look forward with great interest, indeed with excitement, to the deliberations that will take place during the next two weeks. I feel confident that you will sanction the work of the Organization over the reporting period and that you will provide the direction and resources we need to continue rendering good services to the causes of safety, security, efficiency and environmental protection.
I would, therefore, ask that you give favourable consideration to all the resolutions before the Assembly and, in particular:
• those on the Audit Scheme, piracy and the financial sustainability of the World Maritime University; and, of course,
• the one on the results-based budget.
Let me now conclude by thanking you, Mr. President, for your valuable services to the Organization and assuring you all, distinguished delegates, that we, in the Secretariat, will spare no effort to provide any assistance needed to ensure the smooth running of this Assembly, to which I wish every success.
Thank you.
