How the IMO is meeting the How the IMO is meeting the challenges of dealing with challenges of dealing with

maritime safety and security – an maritime safety and security – an overviewoverview

Neil Frank R. FerrerNeil Frank R. FerrerOcean Concerns OfficeOcean Concerns Office

Department of Foreign AffairsDepartment of Foreign AffairsPhilippinesPhilippines

2010 Year of the Seafarer Forum2010 Year of the Seafarer Forum26 June 2010, Manila, Philippines26 June 2010, Manila, Philippines

Preliminary remarksPreliminary remarks• The role of the International Maritime The role of the International Maritime

Organization (IMO) – development of Organization (IMO) – development of comprehensive regulatory framework comprehensive regulatory framework for international shippingfor international shipping

• Pillars of international maritime Pillars of international maritime regulation: SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW regulation: SOLAS, MARPOL and STCW (plus ILO’s new International Maritime (plus ILO’s new International Maritime Labour Convention)Labour Convention)

• Jurisdiction of flag/port StateJurisdiction of flag/port State

Preliminary remarksPreliminary remarks• Work of the Maritime Safety CommitteeWork of the Maritime Safety Committee

– Proactive approachProactive approach– Highest practicable standardsHighest practicable standards– Wide acceptanceWide acceptance– Proper and effective implementation Proper and effective implementation – Consideration of capacity buildingConsideration of capacity building– Consensus decision-makingConsensus decision-making

Preliminary remarksPreliminary remarks• Cooperation with other international Cooperation with other international

organizations – e.g. ILO, IHO, ITU, organizations – e.g. ILO, IHO, ITU, ICAO, IMSOICAO, IMSO

• Participation of the industry and non-Participation of the industry and non-governmental organizationsgovernmental organizations

• Success of IMO regulations – decline Success of IMO regulations – decline of ship losses and oil spills for the of ship losses and oil spills for the past four decadespast four decades

Backdrop – Global economic Backdrop – Global economic slowdown in 2009slowdown in 2009

• Contraction of world trade (about 10 Contraction of world trade (about 10 percent)percent)

• Low demand, excess tonnage – Low demand, excess tonnage – dramatic collapse in freight rates; drop dramatic collapse in freight rates; drop in ship valuesin ship values

• All sectors affected – containerships, All sectors affected – containerships, bulk carriers, tankersbulk carriers, tankers

Backdrop – Global economic Backdrop – Global economic slowdown in 2009slowdown in 2009

• Containerships have lost about Containerships have lost about USD20 billionUSD20 billion

• Expected economic recovery from Expected economic recovery from 20102010

• Maritime safety and security should Maritime safety and security should not be sacrificednot be sacrificed

MSC 87 – major outcomesMSC 87 – major outcomes• Adoption of amendments to SOLAS and Adoption of amendments to SOLAS and

mandatory Codesmandatory Codes• Measures to enhance maritime securityMeasures to enhance maritime security• Goal-based new ship construction Goal-based new ship construction

standardsstandards• Long-range identification and tracking of Long-range identification and tracking of

shipsships• Various decisions in relation to Sub-Various decisions in relation to Sub-

Committees’ reports Committees’ reports

MSC 87 – major outcomesMSC 87 – major outcomes• Role of the human elementRole of the human element• Formal safety assessmentFormal safety assessment• Piracy and armed robbery against Piracy and armed robbery against

shipsships• Work programme – endorsement of Work programme – endorsement of

unplanned outputsunplanned outputs• IMO/IACS Quality System IMO/IACS Quality System

Certification SchemeCertification Scheme

Goal-based standards (GBS)Goal-based standards (GBS)• Adoption of GBS for the construction of Adoption of GBS for the construction of

bulk carriers and oil tankers and SOLAS bulk carriers and oil tankers and SOLAS amendments to make GBS mandatoryamendments to make GBS mandatory

• GBS Verification Guidelines GBS Verification Guidelines • Guidelines for information to be Guidelines for information to be

included in a Ship Construction Fileincluded in a Ship Construction File•   GBS Trust Fund GBS Trust Fund

Goal-based standards (GBS)Goal-based standards (GBS)• Implementation of the verification Implementation of the verification

schemescheme

• Timetable for implementationTimetable for implementation

• Generic GBS GuidelinesGeneric GBS Guidelines

2010: Year of the seafarer2010: Year of the seafarer• Comprehensive revisions to the STCW Comprehensive revisions to the STCW

Convention and CodeConvention and Code• Go to sea campaignGo to sea campaign• Shore leave for seafarersShore leave for seafarers• Incorporation of human element Incorporation of human element

principles into the Committee’s principles into the Committee’s GuidelinesGuidelines

• Post-piracy care of seafarersPost-piracy care of seafarers

Piracy and armed robbery Piracy and armed robbery against shipsagainst ships

• Revised Guidance for Governments and Revised Guidance for Governments and industryindustry

• Revised Code of practice for Revised Code of practice for investigationinvestigation

• Promulgation of BMP and IRTCPromulgation of BMP and IRTC• Djibouti Code of ConductDjibouti Code of Conduct• International cooperation – UNSC, International cooperation – UNSC,

CGPCSCGPCS

Long-range identification Long-range identification and tracking of ships (LRIT)and tracking of ships (LRIT)

• Completion of the LRIT system – need to Completion of the LRIT system – need to accelerate the establishment of LRIT data accelerate the establishment of LRIT data centrescentres

• Establishment of the International LRIT Establishment of the International LRIT data exchangedata exchange

• Establishment of a distribution facility for Establishment of a distribution facility for the provision of LRIT information to the provision of LRIT information to security forces in the Gulf of Aden and the security forces in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Oceanwestern Indian Ocean

Concluding notesConcluding notes• IMO’s continuing relevance; growth in IMO’s continuing relevance; growth in

membershipmembership• Strong commitment and active Strong commitment and active

participation of Member States participation of Member States • Challenges remain; need to maintain Challenges remain; need to maintain

effective and consistent global effective and consistent global regulations (as opposed to unilateral regulations (as opposed to unilateral or regional measures)or regional measures)

Concluding notesConcluding notes• IMO Member State Audit SchemeIMO Member State Audit Scheme• Ensure effective application/enforcement Ensure effective application/enforcement

of IMO regulationsof IMO regulations• Ratification of key IMO ConventionsRatification of key IMO Conventions• Marine casualty investigationsMarine casualty investigations• Cooperation at various levels: sharing Cooperation at various levels: sharing

best practices/lessons learned; best practices/lessons learned; information exchangesinformation exchanges

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!neil.ferrer@gmail.comneil.ferrer@gmail.comneil.ferrer@dfa.gov.phneil.ferrer@dfa.gov.phT: +63 (0)2 834 3134T: +63 (0)2 834 3134

+63 (0)2 834 4052+63 (0)2 834 4052F: +63 (0)2 831 4767F: +63 (0)2 831 4767