SINGAPORE – Singapore was on Dec 1 successfully re-elected to the council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for a 16th consecutive term in an IMO assembly held in London.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor led the Singapore delegation, comprising Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Maritime and Port Authority officials, at the 33rd session of the IMO assembly, said the MOT in a statement on Dec 2.
Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said Singapore was honoured to be re-elected and thanked fellow IMO member states for their support.
“The IMO plays a critical role in balancing the various needs of safety, security and environmental protection of the maritime sector. Singapore will continue to contribute actively towards the IMO’s goals,” he said.
Singapore was first elected to the IMO council in 1993 and has been re-elected at all subsequent assemblies.
The IMO is a United Nations specialised agency for shipping. Established in 1948, it is devoted exclusively to maritime matters and has a membership of more than 175 states.
Its main objective is aiding cooperation between governments on technical matters affecting international shipping, such as maritime safety and the prevention of pollution from ships. It also deals with legal matters connected with international shipping and facilitation of international maritime traffic.
In its time on the council, Singapore – which has the world’s fifth-largest ship registry – has occupied leadership positions and promoted efficient and sustainable shipping, MOT said.
The 33rd session of the IMO assembly was held from Nov 27 to Dec 1. In her speech, Dr Khor called for close and inclusive collaboration among the IMO, its member states and all maritime stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of innovation, safety and security enhancements, digitalisation and decarbonisation can be reaped by all.
Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, highlighted Singapore’s unchanging commitment to working with fellow member states to advance the IMO’s objectives, including efforts to accelerate the transition of the maritime sector towards a sustainable and digitalised future.
She said: “Singapore continues to develop and pilot innovative solutions in strong partnership with the IMO and all stakeholders. For example, Singapore and the IMO jointly initiated (the project) NextGen to facilitate information sharing and spur collaboration in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.”
Singapore will also continue to contribute to the development of human capital and to upholding the fundamentals of maritime safety and security, Dr Khor added.
At the assembly, Dr Khor met Mr Kitack Lim, secretary-general of the IMO, and Mr Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general-elect of the organisation and director of its marine environment division.
“We had meaningful discussions on how IMO member states, including Singapore, can continue supporting the work of the organisation, such as in the areas of sustainability and capacity development,” Dr Khor said in a Facebook post on Dec 1.
Other encounters on the sidelines of the assembly included meetings with transport counterparts from other countries, including Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Christos Stylianides, and Indonesian Minister for Transport Budi Karya Sumadi.
