The election of Qatar in International Maritime Organi-sation (IMO) Council is the reflection of country’s com-mitment to maritime safety and security as well as State’s credibility in international organizations.The mission of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) as a United Nations specialised agency is “to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping through cooperation.
This will be accomplished by adopting the highest practicable standards of maritime safety and security, efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of pollution from ships, as well as through consideration of the related legal matters and effective implementation of IMO’s instruments with a view to their universal and uniform application.”The 32nd Assembly of IMO is meeting in London at IMO Headquarters from December 6 -15, 2021. All 175 member states and three associate members are entitled to attend the Assembly, which is IMO’s highest governing body.
The Assembly normally meets once every two years in regular session. It is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the Organisation. It also elects the Organization’s 40-Member Council.No doubt, Qatar’s presence in the IMO Council will enhance the efforts that aim at developing global regula-tions and laws in maritime navigation realm, thus supporting the growth of world trade.
Qatar has won a Category C membership of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after recording good results amongst all the candidacies alongside 40 IMO Council Member States.Minister of Transport H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti said that Qatar winning the IMO Council membership affirms the country’s ranking and appreciation at interna-tional forums and organisations at regional and interna-tional levels under the leadership of Amir of Qatar H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and also reflects Member States’ trust in the amount of work Qatar is doing with regard to maritime navigation’s safety and security and marine environment protection.
The said Council is for the 2022-2023 biennium which categorised into three - a, b, and c. In Category C where Qatar is included will have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
Qatar joins Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Vanuatu.
