IMO EXTERNAL RELATIONS. (e) World Maritime Day. Note by the Secretary-General

Transcription

1 INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION E IMO COUNCIL 96th session Agenda item 14(e) C 96/14(e) 7 April 2006 Original: ENGLISH EXTERNAL RELATIONS (e) World Maritime Day Note by the Secretary-General Executive summary: Action to be taken: Paragraph 17 Related documents: SUMMARY This document reports on the inaugural parallel event which took place in Lisbon, Portugal, on 15 and 16 November 2005; and on the arrangements for the celebration of World Maritime Day in 2006 C 94/D, paragraphs 17(e).1, 17(e).3 and 17(e).4; C/ES.23/D, paragraphs 14(d).5, 14(d).6 and 14(d).7; and Circular letter No.2701 PARALLEL EVENT CELEBRATION IN PORTUGAL Background 1 At its ninety-fourth session in June 2005, the Council noted the Secretary-General s proposals for the revitalization of World Maritime Day and agreed, in principle, that arrangements for a parallel event to take place at a different location than London should go ahead. It requested the Secretary-General to report, in due course, on the considerations which needed to be taken into account before any concrete decisions could be made in this regard. 2 The Council also welcomed the offer, including costs, by the Portuguese Government to host a trial parallel event, as well as the interest of other Members in doing the same in the future. The Portuguese delegation, at the ninety-fourth session of the Council, expressed the view that the outcome of its own experience would assist the Council in reaching a final decision on the issue of holding parallel events and, to this end, offered to extend its annual celebrations, which were scheduled to be held on 16 November 2005, to the international maritime and shipping community. The Council requested the Secretary-General to report on the outcome of any experience gained in the implementation of the trial parallel event. For reasons of economy, this document is printed in a limited number. Delegates are kindly asked to bring their copies to meetings and not to request additional copies.

2 C 96/14(e) Organization and form of the "parallel" event 3 The parallel event assumed the form of a two-day seminar in Lisbon on 15 and 16 November The Secretary-General, two members of the Secretariat and guest panellists travelled to Lisbon and were accommodated at the expense of the Portuguese Government. Receptions hosted by the Minister for Public Works, Transport and Communications and the Secretary of State for National Defence and Sea Affairs provided the Secretary-General with the opportunity to exchange views with the Portuguese authorities and discuss current issues of common concern. 4 Day One was held at the Belem Cultural Centre. It consisted of two round-table discussions on the theme for World Maritime Day 2005 International Shipping Carrier of World Trade. Keynote speeches were delivered by Eng. Ana Paula Mendes Vitorino, Secretary of State for Transport, who opened the morning session, followed by Dr. Manuel Lobo Antunes, Secretary of State for National Defence and Sea Affairs, and the Secretary-General (programme attached at annex). 5 The keynote speeches were followed by a coffee break during which the Secretary-General took part in a radio interview with Radio Renascenca. 6 The first round-table discussion was chaired by Mr. Tom Allan, former Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to IMO, and former Chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee. The panellists, of the highest calibre from the shipping industry, included Mr. Peter Swift, Managing Director of INTERTANKO; Mr. Carsten Melchiors, Secretary General of BIMCO; Mr. João Carvalho, Chairman of the Portuguese Shipowners Association; Mr. John Bainbridge from ICFTU; and Mr. Michael Grey, MBE, of Lloyd s List. 7 The subjects included the importance of international shipping, the problem of sub-standard ships, the input by tanker operators in the work of IMO, the role of women in shipping, the role of the seafarer in world trade, the element of fatigue, domestic shipping problems and the need to raise public awareness and to educate journalists. The discussion concluded with a question and answer session with the panellists. 8 The second round-table discussion took place after a buffet lunch hosted by the Portuguese Government, the emphasis this time being on Governments and shipping administrations. Mr. Joaquim Ramos Silva, Professor at the Institute of Economics and Management in Lisbon, chaired the session and the panellists were Captain Luis Díaz-Monclus, former Chairman of the IMO Council, who also represented the Latin American region; Mr. D.T. Ntuli, Alternate Permanent Representative of South Africa to IMO, representing Africa; and Mr. Willem de Ruiter, Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). 9 The speakers addressed the problems facing shipping administrations and, again, the need for increasing public awareness of shipping and its importance for the world economy. The difficulty of recruiting young people to embark on a career at sea was also highlighted. 10 Dr. Manuel Lobo Antunes, Secretary of State for National Defence and Sea Affairs, officially closed the seminar, with a vote of thanks being made by the Secretary-General to the Portuguese Government for its warm hospitality and generosity, the panellists for their contribution, the audience for attending and to his own staff, for helping to make the first parallel event of its kind a success.

3 - 3 - C 96/14(e) 11 Day two of the event took place at the Geographical Society of Lisbon, on the occasion of Portugal s own National Day of the Sea, and featured a seminar on fishing and coastal communities. It was attended by His Excellency Dr. Jorge Sampaio, President of the Portuguese Republic and His Excellency Eng. Mário Lino Soares Correia, Minister for Public Works, Transport and Communications. A paper on fishing vessel safety was delivered on behalf of the Secretary-General, who was unable to be present due to the preparations for the twenty-third extraordinary session of the Council. The seminar was officially closed by Dr. Sampaio. Conclusions 12 There is no doubting the success of the first World Maritime Day parallel event in stimulating public interest in the importance of international shipping and in the role of IMO in promoting safety, security and marine pollution prevention in all countries and regions. Similar events in future years in other parts of the world will undoubtedly help to demonstrate the presence and commitment of the Organization in a particular country or region and will assist in making World Maritime Day a special Day. 13 There were no significant budgetary implications for the Organization in view of the generosity and hospitality of the Portuguese Government. A debt of gratitude is owed to it for having volunteered to organize and host the first parallel event and also for having gone to great lengths to ensure its success. Thanks are due also to the speakers and panellists from Governments, the industry and the specialized maritime press who gave their time generously and went to Lisbon, along with IMO staff members, to assist in this event and thereby underline its international character. PLANNED CELEBRATIONS FOR WORLD MARITIME DAY The Council, at its twenty-third extraordinary session in November 2005, approved the proposal of the Secretary-General that the theme for World Maritime Day 2006 should be TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION: IMO s Response to the 2005 World Summit to give the Organization the opportunity to enhance its technical co-operation activities in response to the World Summit, with special emphasis on its technical co-operation programme and maritime needs in Africa. 15 In accordance with the usual practice, the Secretary-General has advised, by Circular letter No.2701, dated 16 February 2006, that World Maritime Day 2006 will be observed during the week of 25 to 29 September 2006 and that IMO will celebrate the Day on 28 September This year, in view of the refurbishment of the IMO Headquarters, the traditional reception hosted by the Secretary-General will be held at the Banqueting House, Whitehall, London. Documentation and related material, based on the 2006 theme, will be circulated in due course. World Maritime Day 2006 parallel event 16 The Council will recall that, at its twenty-third extraordinary session, it approved the holding of the 2006 World Maritime Day parallel celebration in Singapore and thanked the Government of Singapore for its offer to host the event. The Secretariat is currently consulting with the appropriate authorities of Singapore regarding the organization of this event and the Council will be informed of further developments in due course.

4 C 96/14(e) ACTION REQUESTED OF THE COUNCIL 17 The Council is invited to:.1 note the report of the Secretary-General on the 2005 World Maritime Day event held in Lisbon in parallel with the celebration in London and, in the light of the outcome and experience gained, to decide as appropriate on other future events; and.2 note the arrangements made for the celebration of World Maritime Day ***

5 C 96/14(e) ANNEX

6

7