News from the Norwegian Maritime Unions
ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUM ON WORLD MARITIME DAY
IMO hosted a special one-day symposium on a Sustainable Maritime Transportation System, on 26 September 2013, World Maritime Day.
The symposium was arranged in order to provide Member States, industry and other stakeholders an opportunity to discuss and reflect on the theme of this year’s World Maritime Day theme: ” Sustainable Development: IMO’s contribution beyond Rio+20″.
The concept and symposium intend to provide an overview of the maritime transportation system’s contribution to the environmental , social and economic dimensions of sustainable development.
The symposium included sessions on: sustainable development in a global context; the human component of sustainable maritime development; the role of new technology and innovation in sustainable maritime development; and supporting a sustainable maritime transportation system. You may read more on IMO website: www.imo.org
EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION – Selected as World Maritime Day Theme for 2014
The IMO Council has endorsed a proposal by IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu to adopt “IMO Conventions: Effective Implementation” as the World Maritime Day theme for 2014.
Addressing the IMO Council, meeting for its 110th session in London, Mr. Sekimizu said that IMO has, over the years, built up an enviable track record for developing and adopting new international conventions. There have been 53 in all, addressing safety, environmental issues, liability and compensation, and other topics.
“Nevertheless,” he added, ” as has often been stated in the Council, adoption alone is only the first step of the treaty-making process; to be effective, adoption must be followed by entry into force and, subsequently, widespread implementation.” He added that he was particularly concerned at the slow pace of ratification and implementation of several of the environmental conventions adopted by IMO.
World Maritime Day is celebrated at IMO Headquarters and around the world in the last week of September. Since 2005, a formal parallel event has been held, hosted by an IMO Member State. In 2014, the World Maritime Day Parallel Event will be held in Morocco, and in 2015, in Japan.
WARM WELCOME TO MLC 2006
IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu welcomed the entry into force of the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC 2006), adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a sister UN agency to IMO.
“The entry into force of the MLC convention marks significant progress in the recognition of seafarer’ roles and the need to safeguard their well being and their working conditions. This is a truly important landmark for seafarers; and for shipping, on which the global economy relies , “Mr. Sekimizu said.
The MLC treaty, which has been ratified by 48 countries, aims to achieve decent work for the world’s seafarers and secure economic interests in fair competition for quality shipowners.
The MLC is considered the ‘fourth pillar’ of the most important maritime regulations covering international shipping, complmenting three major conventions adopted by IMO: the Internatinal Convention for the Safety of LIfe at Sea (SOLAS); the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL); and the International Convention on Standards on Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). These three IMO treaties were first adopted in the 1970s and have each been ratified by more than 150 countries, representing more that 99 percent of world merchant shipping.
ITF has promised to dedicate all its resources to helping MLC make real changes to the lives of all seafarers. The ITF recognizes the MLC as the first ever true bill of rights for those working at sea, and its president described its going live as “a significant leap forward”. ITF President Paddy Crumlin stated: “The MLC represents a significant leap forward in the global trade union campaign to improve the labour rights and labour standards of seafarers. It is a true watershed in international shipping, which adds the pillar of workers’ rights to existing standards of safety, security and crew standards.”