MONROVIA – Liberia is making a strong push for re-election to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Council, leveraging its impressive maritime credentials and commitment to global shipping safety and sustainability. Officials say the country’s efforts are built on a foundation of dedication and commitment to the IMO’s core mandates of safety, security, and environmental protection, which has earned it a reputation as a leader in the maritime community. With the largest shipping registry in the world and a proven track record of leadership in environmental protection initiatives, Liberia is well-positioned to secure a seat on the IMO Council. The country’s recent achievements, including hosting the 8th Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations and enhancing its institutional capacity to harness the country’s blue economy potentials, demonstrate its commitment to advancing international regulations and promoting maritime safety and security. The Analyst reports.
The Republic of Liberia has reaffirmed its dedication to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) core mandates of safety, security, and environmental protection at the 34th Session of the IMO Assembly.
In a statement delivered by H.E. Ibrahim Al-bakri Nyei (PhD), Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for International Cooperation & Economic Integration, he highlighted Liberia’s contributions to the IMO, including its financial support and active participation in the organization’s structures.
“Liberia’s dedication and commitment to the IMO’s core mandates of safety, security and environmental protection remains unwavering and continues to grow from strength to strength,” said Minister Nyei.
“We continue to demonstrate this through our financial support, as one of the highest contributors to the IMO’s operational budget over the past 15 years, and active participation in the various structures of the organization, such as the committees and working groups.”
According to him, Liberia currently boasts the largest shipping registry in the world, with over 5,000 vessels of 287 million gross registered tonnage, and has demonstrated leadership in the work of the IMO, including chairing the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and Committee 2 (Technical Committee) of the 33rd Assembly session.
He noted that under Liberia’s leadership, the IMO 2023 Greenhouse Gas Strategy was unanimously adopted by Member States, and the country has also played a key role in the entry-into-force of the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.
“We are proud to have acceded to the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006, affirming our commitment to the fair treatment and welfare of seafarers globally,” Minister Nyei said.
He also recalled significant strides that Liberia has made in promoting maritime security, education, and training, including hosting the 8th Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations and investing in national capabilities for its maritime sector.
“The Liberia Maritime Authority has enhanced its institutional capacity and developed a five-year strategic plan to harness the country’s blue economy potentials, contribute to environmental sustainability, and improve maritime safety,” he said.
“We shall continue to collaborate with countries within the region to keep this vital international shipping lane safe and secure from acts of piracy and armed robbery,” Minister Nyei further asserted, highlighting Liberia’s participation in the 2013 Yaoundé Code of Conduct.
He also expressed Liberia’s commitment to supporting the IMO’s efforts to advance international regulations and has called for support for its re-election to the IMO Council in Category A at the election of Council members during the 34th Assembly.
“I wish to assure you of Liberia’s fullest cooperation and support as we work collaboratively to advance international regulations to keep our seas and oceans safe and secure, and environmentally credible, while facilitating international trade,” Minister Nyei noted.
He highlighted Liberia’s dedication and commitment to the IMO’s core mandates of safety, security and environmental protection remains unwavering and continues to grow from strength to strength.
Nyei also indicated that Liberia continues to demonstrate this through its financial support, as the one of the highest contributors to the IMO’s operational budget over the past 15 years, and active participation in the various structures of the organization, such as the committees and working groups.
“Liberia continues to show leadership in the work of the IMO. It was under the leadership of Liberia as Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) that the IMO 2023 Greenhouse Gas Strategy was unanimously adopted by Member States of the IMO at the 80th session of MEPC. It is along similar vein that Liberia chaired Committee 2 (Technical Committee) of the 33rd Assembly session of the IMO in 2023. Liberia’s Leadership and commitment once again led to the entry-into-force of the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.”
“Liberia also acceded to the Maritime Labour Convention of 2006 immediately following its adoption by the International Labour Organisation. This further affirms our commitment to the fair treatment and welfare of seafarers globally.
“Excellencies, I am pleased to also note that our registry, the Liberia International Ship and Corporate Registry, has been actively participating in innovative ship-design-joint-industry-projects (JIPs) with specialized focus on innovative design features, new technologies and alternative fuels to advance the greening of shipping internationally, especially on Liberian-flagged vessels.”
He indicated how Liberia has also been championing the work of this noble organization in the African region.
“We successfully hosted the 8th Conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations in Monrovia this Year. This conference was attended by more than 200 international delegates from IMO Member States and international organizations, including the IMO, and at this conference, delegates explored and advanced innovative means of effectively implementing various IMO regulations.”
Minister Nyie further noted: “Excellencies, we currently host one of the five IMO Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Centres on the African continent which provides real time response to vessels in distress along the Southern Atlantic Ocean.
“On maritime security, Liberia is party to the 2013 Yaoundé Code of Conduct to combat piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea, a vital international shipping lane. Liberia shall continue to collaborate with countries within the region to keep this vital international shipping lane safe and secure from acts of piracy and armed robbery.
“In this respect, the Liberia Coast Guard, in cooperation with the Government of Sierra Leone and the French Navy, successfully rescued a fishing vessel within Liberia’s territorial waters after it was highjacked by pirates within the territorial waters of Sierra Leone in 2023.
“On maritime education and training, Distinguished Delegates, Liberia sits on the Board of the Regional Maritime University in Accra, Ghana. As a key sponsor of the Regional Maritime University, we shall continue to meet our financial obligations to ensure the provision of quality maritime education and training to seafarers from the continent of Africa, for global shipping.”
According to him, Liberia has also “invested a lot recently to develop national capabilities for our maritime sector. The Liberia Maritime Authority has enhanced its institutional capacity and has included in its five-year strategic plan actionable program for the resources and capacity needed to harness the country’s blue economy potentials, contribute to environmental sustainability and improve maritime safety. In this respect, Distinguished Delegates, the Liberia Marine Training Institute has become a post-conflict success story and is now graduating trained seafarers who are being deployed on international vessels.”