IMO COUNCIL, 118th SESSION 24 – 28 JULY 2017

The IMO Council held its 118^th session (C118) from Monday 5 through Thursday 8 July 2017 chaired by Mr J Lantz (USA).  The meeting focussed on issues of governance and good practice in addition to Strategy, Planning and Reform, Resource Management and Budget matters.  A Working Group on the development of a new strategic framework was formed, chaired by Miss Katy Ware (UK) which subsequently reported back to Council.  Following is a short report seeking to highlight items of most relevance to InterManager members:

 

CREDENTIALS.  The Secretary General reported that the credentials of all Council delegations had been received and were in good order.

 

STRATEGY, PLANNING AND REFORM.  In considering the report submitted by the Working Group, the Council approved, for forwarding to Assembly 30 for adoption:

 

1. the proposed complete Strategic Plan for the Organisation for the 2018-2023 period, including Performance Indicators and a list of outputs, together with the associated draft Assembly resolution; and
2. the document on the Application of the Strategic Plan of the Organisation plus associated draft Assembly resolution.

 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.  The Secretary General introduced a document concerning budget considerations for 2017 following which Council noted:

 

1. the external pay and price factors review;
2. the impact of the exchange rate movement and ring-fenced results through the Working Capital Fund;
3. the forecast outturn level of the regular budget expenditure for 2017, expected to be kept within the approved appropriation for 2017;
4. the income and expenditure outturn and forecast in the Trading Fund and the consequential in-year surplus distribution;
5. the expenditure status of the Headquarters Capital Fund;
6. the expenditure status of the Termination Benefits Fund and the forecast requirement for supplementary funding for 2017, the Training and Development Fund and the Technical Cooperation Fund;
7. the various donations for extra-budgetary programmes and their expenditure status;
8. that a total of £2.4 million was recognised under all of the IMO Funds as outstanding commitments from 2016 to be delivered in 2017, for which the associated budgets and funds will be carried forward to 2017 as and when the commitments are due for liquidation;
9. that the Secretary-General would provide an update on the Voyage Together Trust Fund, including, in particular, the methodology and scope of the functional review, to the Council at C/ES.29 under the agenda item on “Strategy, planning and reform”; and
10. a summary of the Secretary-General’s conclusions and his plan to present an updated review of budgetary prospects to C/ES.29.

 

IMO MEMBER STATE AUDIT SCHEME.  Council:

 

1. noted the progress made in audits for 2016, 2017 and 2018;
2. invited Member States due for auditing after 2018, to be prepared to bring their audit forward to 2018, and inform the Secretary General accordingly;
3. encouraged Member States to provide details of designated authorised persons through GISIS as per Circular Letter No. 3587; and
4. encouraged auditors to update their profiles in E-roster, and for individuals nominated for inclusion in the roster of auditors to use the procedures set out in Circular Letter No. 3547.

 

REPORT OF THE FACILITATION COMMITTEE.  The Council noted the report of the Facilitation Committee, regarding the outcome of FAL 41 and in particular, its recommendation to create a collaborative web-based workspace.  Approval was given for FAL Circulars on:

 

1. Guidelines on maritime cyber-risk management (concurrently with MSC 98 decision);
2. Unified interpretation of Appendix 3 to the FAL Convention;
3. Reports on stowaways incidents;
4. Response to the provision of information by the master of a vessel needing to put sick or injured persons ashore;
5. Organisation and method of work by FAL; and
6. Lists of certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships (as already approved by MSC 98 and subject to that by LEG 104).

 

In consideration of FAL 41’s report, Council noted decisions on:

 

1. Issues related to reporting the place of boarding of stowaways;
2. The IMO project on development of a prototype Maritime Single Window;
3. Measures to protect the safety of persons rescued at sea;
4. Issues related to unsafe mixed migration by sea;
5. Guidelines on the facilitation aspect of protecting the maritime transport network from cyber-threats;
6. Issues related to the reduction of administrative burdens in IMO instruments including those identified by the SG-RAR; and
7. Decisions taken on the List of certificates and documents required to be carried on board.

 

With respect to the Secretary-General’s comment in document C 118/7/1, Council noted general support for the creation of a collaborative web-based workspace and taking into account comments made in plenary, requested the Secretary General to conduct further evaluation relating to:

 

1. Accessibility to the proposed IMO space;
2. Cybersecurity;
3. Additional financial and administrative resources required; and
4. Availability of alternative open-source web-based workspace.

 

REPORT OF THE LEGAL COMMITTEE.  Council approved the report of LEG 104 in general and transmitted its comments and recommendations  to the Assembly for its next session (A 30) and in particular:

 

1. noted the two draft Assembly resolutions on the implementation and entry into force of the 2010 HNS Protocol, and on the delegation of authority to issue insurance certificates required under the 1992 CLC and the 2010 HNS Convention approved by LEG for transmission to Assembly 30 for adoption;
2. noted that FAL had completed its work on measures to reduce administrative burdens in IMO instruments including those identified by the SG-RAR;
3. noted statements by several delegations regarding use of fraudulent ship registration certificates; and
4. endorsed FAL’s decisions on the status of outputs for the 2016-2017 biennium, the outputs for the 2018-2019 biennium, and the planned agenda for the 105^th session of the Committee.

 

REPORT OF THE MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE.  In consideration of the report by MSC 97, Council noted:

 

1. adoption of amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention and mandatory codes and the 1978 Convention and Code;
2. decisions taken on issues related to maritime security, particularly work on a data transfer mechanism for the Maritime Security GISIS module;
3. decisions taken with regard to goal-based new ship construction standards and implementation of the GBS verification scheme;
4. actions related to the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board vessels engaged on international voyages;
5. decisions taken on matters related to formal safety assessments;
6. decisions taken in regard to piracy and armed robbery against ships; and
7. decisions in regard to unsafe mixed migration at sea.

 

TECHNICAL COOPERATION COMMITTEE.  In considering the report of TCC 67, Council approved:

 

1. the allocation of funds (circa £5 million) to support delivery of ITCP for each of years 2018 and 2019;
2. a draft Assembly resolution linking IMO’s technical assistance and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
3. a draft Assembly resolution on the guiding principles of IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development;
4. a draft Assembly resolution on the financing and partnership arrangements for an effective and sustainable ITCP; and
5. allocation of three full meeting days with interpretation, to permit sufficient time in which to discuss all agenda items.

 

IMO INTERNATIONAL MARITIME LAW INSTITUTE (IMLI).  The IMLI Director, Professor David Attard introduced the Annual Report of the IMLI Governing Board.  Council noted the report and urged Member States to take appropriate action that will enable recognition, under respective national legislation, of the degrees conferred by the Institute.  Note was taken of IMLI’s revised Budget for 2017 together with that proposed for 2018 as also was the “unqualified” nature of the audit by the External Auditor on the Institute’s financial performance up to the end of 2016.

 

Appreciation was expressed for the prudent management of IMLLI’s financial affairs and thanks given to the many financial contributors assisting IMLI, not least the Government of Malta for its continuing generous in-kind support.

 

WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY (WMU).  The Council noted the Report of the Board of Governors of the WMU for the calendar year 2016 and urged Member States to take action that will enable recognition, under their national legislation, of the degrees conferred by the University.  Appreciation was expressed to those donors contributing to the WMU Endowment Fund whilst the University’s Revised Budget for 2017 and 2018 was duly noted and thanks were expressed to the Government of Sweden and the City of Malmö for their invaluable support.

 

PROTECTION OF VITAL SHIPPING LANES.  The Secretary-General reminded Council that reports on incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships received by the Organisation are promulgated via the Piracy and armed robbery database in GISIS and by monthly and annual summaries issued as MSC.4 circulars.  Despite the overall downward trend in global piracy, there has been a significant increase in reported attacks in West Africa during 2016 as against 2015 although current trends in that region are now decreasing.  In the first six months of 2017, 20 incidents were reported as against 33 in the equivalent period during 2016 indicating increasing effectiveness of regional actions to counter piracy.  However, off the coast of Somalia, there was an increase in pirate activity in the same period and although recent attacks are not indicative of full-scale resurgence, the threat to merchant ships from Somali pirates and others remains real, prompting continued use of IMO guidance and best management practices (BMP).

 

Development in the South East Asia region, particularly in the Sulu-Celebes Sea, are also of concern such that vessels are advised to report to the Philippine and Malaysian authorities prior to entering or passing the Sibutu Passage and Sulu-Celebes Sea.  The Secretary-General next reported that MSC had discussed aspects of “floating armouries” and the geographical limits of the High Risk Area, but it was concluded that these issues would be better discussed in other fora.

 

Having considered document C118/14 on the outcome of an IMO Sub-regional meeting on piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden area, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in January 2017, Council noted the adoption of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct 2017 (which will remain open at IMO for signing).   Appreciation was expressed to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for hosting and funding the Jeddah meeting.

 

The final issue discussed under this agenda item was that concerning the Cooperative Mechanism for the Malacca and Singapore Straits (SOMS), in particular, the report of the 18^th session of the Aids to Navigation Fund Committee (ANF 18), held in Singapore this April.   Under the Mechanism, many important Straits Projects relevant to IMO activities have progressed including those related to e-navigation and other safety and environmental issues.  Appreciation was expressed to the littoral States of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, also to those Member States and organisations which contributed to the Cooperative Mechanism and to the Malacca and Singapore Straits’ Fund, both of which are currently financially challenged  and for which further contributions were requested.

 

WORLD MARITIME DAY.  The Council noted that the theme for World Maritime Day this year will be “Connecting Ships, Ports and People”.  It will be celebrated at IMO Headquarters on Thursday, 28 September whilst the 2017 IMO World Maritime Day Parallel Event will be hosted by the Government of Panama from 1 to 3 October.

 

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME PRIZE.  This year’s prize will be awarded to Mr Koji Sekimizu on the first day of the thirtieth regular session of the Assembly, on 27 November 2017, at a special IMO Awards Ceremony.  This will be in recognition of Mr Sekimizu’s invaluable contribution over many years to the work and objectives of IMO, and also to the whole international maritime community.

 

IMO AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AT SEA.  The Council endorsed the decision of the Panel of Judges to bestow the 2017 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea on Captain Michael C McGee and Captain Michael C Phillips, members of the Houston Pilots for the display of great decisiveness, dedication and ship-handling expertise in preventing the loss of lives and averting a major marine pollution incident.  Three Certificates of Commendation and five Letters of Commendation will also be awarded at the Ceremony in IMO on 27 November 2017.

 

DAY OF THE SEAFARER.  This was celebrated on the designated annual day of 25 June.  The central theme of the campaign was to engage ports and thereby demonstrate how much seafarers matter to them, thus echoing the connection between “ships, ports and people” but from a slightly different perspective.

 

IMO MARITIME AMBASSADOR SCHEME.  As at 30 June 2017, the number of IMO Maritime Ambassadors (IMOMAs) is 49, representing 23 Member States and 7 NGOs/IGOs, a slight increase in last year’s numbers, although the rate of new designations has slowed this year.

 

STATUS OF CONVENTIONS.  The Secretary-General provided information on the Status of a few important Conventions as follows:

 

1. The Ballast Water Management Convention, 2004, now has 61 Contracting States, representing 68.46% of world fleet tonnage, an increase of 33% tonnage in under a year and it enters into force in less than seven weeks’ time on 8 September 2017;
2. The 2010 HNS Protocol now has its first Contracting State as of 21 April this year following the deposit of an instrument of ratification by NORWAY; and
3. The 2009 Hong Kong Ship Recycling Convention currently has six Contracting States following one further accession (by DENMARK) but the 2012 Cape Town Agreement remains unchanged at seven Contracting States.

 

 

Captain Paddy McKnight                                                                                            END