Baltic and European news
IMO Briefing 26/2008
11 June 2008
Preview: Council 100th session: 16-20 June 2008
Council 100 to celebrate IMO past, present and future
Visits from United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon and His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester will be among the highlights of a series of celebrations and events to be held next week (16-20 June 2008) to mark a number of major milestones in the history of IMO.
In addition to hosting the 100th session of the IMO Council, the week will see IMO inaugurate its newly-refurbished Headquarters, commemorate 60 years since the adoption of the IMO Convention and 50 years since that Convention entered into force, as well as mark the 25th and 20th anniversaries, respectively, of the World Maritime University (WMU) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI).
On Monday, 16 June, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will give a special address to the IMO Council. He is expected to highlight the work of IMO not just in terms of the service it provides in regulating the maritime industry, but also in the wider context of the international agenda set by the United Nations, including IMO's work to support the Millennium Development Goals, protect the environment and promote sustainable development. IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos will welcome the UN Secretary-General and Mrs. Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Transport for the United Kingdom, IMO's host Government, who will also address the Council.
On Tuesday, 17 June, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester will officially open the Organization's refurbished Headquarters, on London's Albert Embankment.
Although the building, which was purpose-built for the Organization in the 1970s and is leased from the host Government, is largely unchanged externally, the £62 million project has brought dramatic internal changes. The building now reflects the very latest technological, IT and communication facilities of the 21st century and also incorporates state-of-the-art safety, security, environmental and occupational health features. Enhanced meeting, catering and office facilities, for both delegates and staff, have created a modern workspace to meet the Organization's current and future needs.
The building was originally opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke's cousin, in 1983.
On Tuesday evening, paintings of two IMO training institutes, WMU and IMLI, will be unveiled in the presence of representatives of the two host Governments and of the two centres themselves. The paintings are the work of Robert Lloyd, a British artist who specializes in marine subjects.
WMU was established in Malmö, Sweden, 25 years ago, and has become an outstanding maritime training institution, bringing together people with various educational, cultural and social backgrounds to study for a variety of postgraduate degrees and professional courses. To date, 2463 graduates from 153 countries and territories have graduated successfully from the University.
IMLI was established in 1988 in Malta to help ensure that sufficient maritime law experts would be available, especially within developing countries, to assist in the implementation and enforcement of international maritime law, and more particularly, the vast body of rules and regulations developed under the aegis of IMO. To date, 467 nationals of 112 countries and territories have enrolled at IMLI.
On Wednesday, 18 June, shipping industry representatives will participate in a panel discussion on IMO/industry co-operation under the theme: IMO's relationship with the maritime industry.
The discussion will be moderated by Mr. Chris Horrocks, former Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and the panel will include representatives from BIMCO, IACS, ICS/ISF, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, and ITF.
At lunchtime on Thursday, 19 June, local schoolchildren, who participated in an art competition organized by IMO on the theme of Shipping in the future, will visit IMO to see their artwork on display. Three competition winners will be awarded special prizes.
Later on Thursday, distinguished speakers will discuss the theme "IMO into the future", looking ahead to the challenges the Organization will face during the 21st century. Speakers will make their presentations in the following order: IMO Secretary-General Mitropoulos; Mr. Kosuke Shibata, Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan; IMO Council Chairman Mr. Johan Franson (Sweden); Council Vice-Chairman Mr. Dumisani. Ntuli (South Africa); Maritime Safety Committee Chairman Mr. Neil Ferrer (Philippines); Marine Environment Protection Committee Chairman Mr. Andreas Chrysostomou; IMO Assembly President H.E. Mr. Gehad Madi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Egypt; and H.E. Mr. Binali Yildirim, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Turkey.
The Council itself will conclude its 100th session on Friday, 20 June 2008.
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IMO - the International Maritime Organization - is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
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