Transport Minister S’busiso Ndebele has welcomed the decision of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council to hold its Fishing Vessels Safety Conference in South Africa, in 2012. The ground-breaking decision was taken at the Council’s 106th session held from 27 June to 1 July 2011 in London.
“South Africa plays an important role in regulating the safety of fishing vessels internationally, this making her an appropriate venue for the Conference. Her maritime strategic interests include obligations such as providing for the safety and security of navigation and ships and ensuring the effective protection of the marine environment to the international community, said Minister Ndebele.
Making a call for the international community to invest in South Africa’s maritime sector and a more meaningful role for Africa in international maritime affairs, Ndebele said “With innovative thinking, effective partnerships, mutual cooperation and sharing of best practices with other maritime nations, we believe that much can and will be achieved for the betterment of the maritime industry.
Africa is an island. We are part of the island continent of Africa which is yet to assume its rightful place in the international maritime industry. The African continent has the lowest intra-regional trade levels compared to any other region in the world. It is time that the maritime sector in South Africa and the rest of Africa is given the necessary attention by the continent and the word.” Minister Ndebele emphasised.
The IMO Council has agreed to the convening of a diplomatic conference in South Africa, in 2012, for the purpose of adopting an Agreement on the Implementation of the 1993 Protocol relating to the 1977 Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety of Fishing Vessels. The Agreement would amend the technical provisions of the 1993 Protocol and bring them into force.
The safety of fishermen and fishing vessels forms an integral part of the IMO’s mandate but the instruments on fishing vessels safety which have previously been adopted by the Organisation have not come into force due to a variety of technical and legal obstacles whilst the fishing sector is still experiencing a large number of fatalities every year. Bringing into force a binding international safety regime is expected to play a part in helping reverse this trend.
The decision by the IMO Council to hold the 2012 Conference in South Africa follows the endorsement of the Draft Agreement by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in May 2011. The Committee had undertaken extensive work to review the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol and address impediments to its entry into force. The MSC also agreed to the proposed draft amendments to the annex to the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol, which would be attached to the Agreement.
Once the Agreement is in force, countries which are Party to it could consider implementation of the technical requirements of the 1993 Torremolinos Protocol under the terms and conditions contained in the Agreement. The Agreement would be a new, legally binding, instrument, offering a firm foundation to implement the amended technical provisions of the Torremolinos Protocol.
Minister Ndebele led a delegation to the 106th Session of the IMO Counci which included South Africa’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Zola Skweyiya. Maritime transport infrastructure has become a key enabler and catalyst for the competitiveness and development of Africa’s economy.
A comprehensive African Maritime Development Strategy for the continent would ensure Africa re-entered the global maritime world and increased its own share of the economic benefits which derive from sea-borne international trade.
Enquiries:
Thami Ngidi
Cell: 082 888 0852
E-mail: NgidiT@dot.gov.za
Ndebele welcomes International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Fishing Vessels Safety Conference to be held in South Africa in 2012
