Login

Weather in Malta

16.3°C dust

dust

Time Zones:

New York

Malta

Shanghai

International Maritime Organisation - 24th Session

24 / 11 / 05

Share Article on 

The 24th regular session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation is currently being held in London, UK. The Hon Censu Galea, Minister for Competitiveness and Communications, who is leading the Maltese delegation addressed the delegates present on the 21st November 2005.

 

 

In his speech he stated that Malta cannot help being a maritime nation and that the development of a maritime industry that it is run economically, safely, securely and environmentally friendly is vital to Malta.  Therefore it is only natural that the Maltese government reiterates its continuing support for the work of IMO.

 


Mr Galea voiced his appreciation at the work undertaken by the Secretary-General, ably supported by a dedicated staff at the Secretariat. The essence of democracy, in his opinion, is that all members and associate members work collectively and take account the common good without sacrificing unnecessarily the individual needs. There is a great need to work collectively, always however, within the framework of international law.

 


Malta hosts both the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute, which Malta will continue to support, Mr Galea said.

 


In 2006 the new amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea and the Search and Rescue conventions relating to the treatment of persons rescued at sea are expected to come into force. Malta has some difficulty in accepting some of these amendments, Mr Galea stated. He also continued that it is extremely difficult for Malta to accept the responsibility of having to take under its custody all the persons who might have been rescued at sea within its search and rescue region even when this happens many miles away.

 


The minister emphasized that states must substantially increase their efforts to address at source the problem of smuggling and trafficking of human beings that costs the lives of so many people including innocent children, and poses a heavy burden on States, a burden that they might not be able to carry.

 


Furthermore, Mr Galea said that piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea is scourge that is raising its head in alarming proportions. He agrees that there is a need for the Organisation to review, from its own perspective, the current situation particularly in certain areas and, for the Organisation to provide the leadership expected by the maritime community. Malta urges the Assembly to authorise the Secretary General to bring the issue to the attention of the UN Secretary General for him to take appropriate action, including referring the matter to the Security Council. Malta fully supports the adoption of a relative Assembly resolution that proposes concrete action to combat this scourge.

 


The number of young people taking up a career at sea is decreasing despite the fact that the IMO and other specialized agencies (eg ILO) have made life at sea safer, explained the Minister. There are a number of reasons for this but, certain actions where seafarers have been put under severe pressure, detained for lengthy periods far outstretching normal requirements, certainly act to give the maritime industry an unfavourable image. Many Administrations have taken concrete action in this respect and to encourage young people to take a career at sea. IMO should seek to gather and collate all this information and, using modern communications media, such as the internet, make this information available publicly in a structured and effective manner. This would also serve as a guide for other Administrations to help them further improve their own schemes. Sharing of information is yet another form of technical co-operation.

 


“The Organisation must be sensitive to needs of the shipping industry. To refer to one particular initiative, Malta fully supports the work carried out in IMO to develop international facilitation standards. Facilitation measures reduce the idle time of vessels in ports and reduce the time masters and seafarers spend to follow public authorities’ administrative procedures, allowing them more time to concentrate on the safe management and navigation of their ships.”

 


At the end of his speech, Mr Galea thanked the former and current Secretary General as well as the UK government for their vision in respect to the IMO headquarters buildings. Whilst acknowledging that there will be some difficulties to the Secretariat and to the delegates because of the temporary move he has no doubt that this measure will serve as a good purpose of giving more exposure to the work of the IMO.

International Maritime Organisation - 24th Session

24 / 11 / 05

Share Article on 

The 24th regular session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation is currently being held in London, UK. The Hon Censu Galea, Minister for Competitiveness and Communications, who is leading the Maltese delegation addressed the delegates present on the 21st November 2005.

 

 

In his speech he stated that Malta cannot help being a maritime nation and that the development of a maritime industry that it is run economically, safely, securely and environmentally friendly is vital to Malta.  Therefore it is only natural that the Maltese government reiterates its continuing support for the work of IMO.

 


Mr Galea voiced his appreciation at the work undertaken by the Secretary-General, ably supported by a dedicated staff at the Secretariat. The essence of democracy, in his opinion, is that all members and associate members work collectively and take account the common good without sacrificing unnecessarily the individual needs. There is a great need to work collectively, always however, within the framework of international law.

 


Malta hosts both the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute, which Malta will continue to support, Mr Galea said.

 


In 2006 the new amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea and the Search and Rescue conventions relating to the treatment of persons rescued at sea are expected to come into force. Malta has some difficulty in accepting some of these amendments, Mr Galea stated. He also continued that it is extremely difficult for Malta to accept the responsibility of having to take under its custody all the persons who might have been rescued at sea within its search and rescue region even when this happens many miles away.

 


The minister emphasized that states must substantially increase their efforts to address at source the problem of smuggling and trafficking of human beings that costs the lives of so many people including innocent children, and poses a heavy burden on States, a burden that they might not be able to carry.

 


Furthermore, Mr Galea said that piracy and armed robbery against ships at sea is scourge that is raising its head in alarming proportions. He agrees that there is a need for the Organisation to review, from its own perspective, the current situation particularly in certain areas and, for the Organisation to provide the leadership expected by the maritime community. Malta urges the Assembly to authorise the Secretary General to bring the issue to the attention of the UN Secretary General for him to take appropriate action, including referring the matter to the Security Council. Malta fully supports the adoption of a relative Assembly resolution that proposes concrete action to combat this scourge.

 


The number of young people taking up a career at sea is decreasing despite the fact that the IMO and other specialized agencies (eg ILO) have made life at sea safer, explained the Minister. There are a number of reasons for this but, certain actions where seafarers have been put under severe pressure, detained for lengthy periods far outstretching normal requirements, certainly act to give the maritime industry an unfavourable image. Many Administrations have taken concrete action in this respect and to encourage young people to take a career at sea. IMO should seek to gather and collate all this information and, using modern communications media, such as the internet, make this information available publicly in a structured and effective manner. This would also serve as a guide for other Administrations to help them further improve their own schemes. Sharing of information is yet another form of technical co-operation.

 


“The Organisation must be sensitive to needs of the shipping industry. To refer to one particular initiative, Malta fully supports the work carried out in IMO to develop international facilitation standards. Facilitation measures reduce the idle time of vessels in ports and reduce the time masters and seafarers spend to follow public authorities’ administrative procedures, allowing them more time to concentrate on the safe management and navigation of their ships.”

 


At the end of his speech, Mr Galea thanked the former and current Secretary General as well as the UK government for their vision in respect to the IMO headquarters buildings. Whilst acknowledging that there will be some difficulties to the Secretariat and to the delegates because of the temporary move he has no doubt that this measure will serve as a good purpose of giving more exposure to the work of the IMO.