Brunei sends delegates to conference on marine safety
Communication Minister: Pehin Dato Hj Abu Bakar. Picture: File Photo
Sunday, November 18, 2007
BRUNEI Darussalam will participate in the 25th regular session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Assembly which will be held from November 19 to 30, 2007 in London, the United Kingdom.
The delegation from Brunei will be led by the Minister of Communications, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, and consists of senior officials from the Ministry of Communications and the Marine Department.
One of the issues to be deliberated during the assembly is the Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) design for safety and marine environment protection purposes on ships.
The system is reportedly anticipated to be operational by the end of 2008, and will involve ships registered under the Brunei flag. The assembly will also deliberate on the draft amendments to the Standards of Training and Certification for Seafarers (STCW) Convention and STCW Code related to the standards of competence for ratings.
Since 2004, Brunei through its Marine Department has fully complied with the STCW Code, under which the sultanate is listed as a White List country. To date,the sultanate has signed MoU's with 13 countries, allowing seafarers from the undersigned countries to work onboard Brunei-registered vessels. The assembly will also propose future security training and courses. Brunei will also participate in the discussion on the Implementation of the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme. Audits on member states have started since September 2006 and as of today, 13 have been completed. This agenda will be considered as a top priority in order to determine to what extent member states are implementing and enforcing the IMO instruments.
As a member of the IMO since 1984, Brunei's participation in this year's assembly illustrates its commitment and support to the organisation. This is further exercised with the implementation of the IMO's Conventions, which saw amendments on several Brunei Darussalam Acts and Regulations and also Brunei's participation in IMO-organised meetings and trainings.
The assembly is held biannually to deliberate on IMO's achievements since the last assembly, and to approve IMO's work programme and budget and determine the organisation's financial arrangements.
The Brunei Times
The delegation from Brunei will be led by the Minister of Communications, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, and consists of senior officials from the Ministry of Communications and the Marine Department.
One of the issues to be deliberated during the assembly is the Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) design for safety and marine environment protection purposes on ships.
The system is reportedly anticipated to be operational by the end of 2008, and will involve ships registered under the Brunei flag. The assembly will also deliberate on the draft amendments to the Standards of Training and Certification for Seafarers (STCW) Convention and STCW Code related to the standards of competence for ratings.
Since 2004, Brunei through its Marine Department has fully complied with the STCW Code, under which the sultanate is listed as a White List country. To date,the sultanate has signed MoU's with 13 countries, allowing seafarers from the undersigned countries to work onboard Brunei-registered vessels. The assembly will also propose future security training and courses. Brunei will also participate in the discussion on the Implementation of the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme. Audits on member states have started since September 2006 and as of today, 13 have been completed. This agenda will be considered as a top priority in order to determine to what extent member states are implementing and enforcing the IMO instruments.
As a member of the IMO since 1984, Brunei's participation in this year's assembly illustrates its commitment and support to the organisation. This is further exercised with the implementation of the IMO's Conventions, which saw amendments on several Brunei Darussalam Acts and Regulations and also Brunei's participation in IMO-organised meetings and trainings.
The assembly is held biannually to deliberate on IMO's achievements since the last assembly, and to approve IMO's work programme and budget and determine the organisation's financial arrangements.
The Brunei Times
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