Mr President
Secretary General
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
Ladies and gentlemen
Thank you for the opportunity to address the 26th session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Assembly. I bring you warm greetings from President Jacob Zuma. I also bring you greetings from the country that is hosting the FIFA World Cup Final Draw next Friday, 4 December 2009. From this date onwards all 32 qualified countries will know who they will play against in the first round of the World Cup in 2010.
As part of the build up South Africa hosted the Preliminary Draw in Durban in which a record number of 204 out of 208 FIFA member countries participated. The hosting and staging of the Confederations Cup (the cup of Champions) in Johannesburg in June this year was a great success. Next Friday, 4 December 2009, the Final FIFA Draw to be conducted in Cape Town is the last activity before the actual games begin.
Mr President, the IMO has sterling credentials which are reinforced by how it has responded to challenges facing it and the maritime industry. The IMO's over fifty one treaty instruments position the organisation to have influence in every aspect of the maritime sector, in particular ship design, construction and operations. The IMO is the soul of the international maritime industry, and is no doubt one of the most effective United Nations agencies.
Mr President, South Africa is a proud member of the IMO contributing in various aspects of its work, ranging from Search and Rescue and environmental protection to the initiatives to mitigate adverse impact of shipping to climate change. As a country we have massive responsibility to manage our coastal heritage for the present and future generations; be they fishing communities, seafarers, ship owners, port users, cargo owners and traders, environmental groups, scientists and many whose livelihoods depend on the sea and its environment. We can promise the world one thing and that is: South Africa shall not falter or flounder on what are our responsibilities for the best and broader interest of the maritime community and the marine environment.
Mr President, South Africa is part of the continent of Africa. More than 99% of Africa is surrounded by sea which defines us as a maritime continent. We are surrounded by the Indian Ocean on the east; the North and South Atlantic on the West and in the safe hands of the Southern Ocean. Collectively we have a responsibility to protect and preserve our maritime heritage not only for ourselves but for the entire international community who rely heavily on vital shipping lanes connecting the globalised world.
Africa is working hard to ensure that it has all the means necessary to carry out her maritime functions. Despite more than fifty years of decolonisation, Africa continues to live on a hope for a better future in our lifetime. It is that hope that inspires us to even try much harder in the face of adversity.
In this respect Mr President in October South Africa hosted African Union (AU) Ministers responsible for maritime transport. The conference held in the port city of Durban was a major success and adopted the Maritime Transport Charter. Once ratified and implemented by the members of the AU, the Charter will be a key instrument launching the much awaited maritime renaissance of the continent. The Conference adopted, amongst other important decisions, a resolution aimed at addressing the scourge of piracy in Africa, in particular, along the coast of Somali and the Gulf of Aden.
Mr President there must be no room for the further spread of piracy on international waters especially along the coast of Africa. The international community must redouble efforts to curb any further spread of this menace. Cooperation under the Djibouti Code of Conduct stands out as a true example of what is possible if the international community works together for a common good.
Equally, the experience of the littoral States in Malacca Strait should stand as a good model to draw lessons from particularly the demonstrable regional ownership of the process. In seeking to improve security along our coast I recently had the honour to launch in Cape Town South Africa's Centre for Sea Watch and Response and the Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) data centre. Similar to the regionalisation of our Search and Rescue Centre, our LRIT configuration is being expanded to serve as a Cooperative or Regional Data Centre serving not only South Africa but our region.
Mr President an urgent political solution must be found to bring about lasting stability in Somalia. The people of Somalia, our sister State, are yearning for the end to the lawlessness and a return to normality in their country so that they can enjoy life like the rest of the world. The contribution of countries in the region cannot be overemphasised. We are grateful to all nations who are playing an active role in this regard.
Mr President, the theme of IMO World Maritime day for 2009 was 'Climate change: a challenge for IMO too!' This theme is appropriate as the world moves to Copenhagen in a matter of days to make further commitments on climate change. The IMO should continue playing a critical role within its sphere including on matters related to the climate change.
The international community must rise above their differences and do what is best for the environment and the people inhabiting planet earth. Mr President, having said that, any action would have to be informed by the spirit of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities as a mechanism to ensure balance.
Specifically in our sector, this is not to say there must be different rules for the same ship, but it is about ensuring that the effect and or impact of the response we give to the challenge of climate change do not become a hindrance to the development of others.
On the IMO's decision to promote 2010 as the Year of the Seafarer, it's our considered view that 2010 must see the beginning of the end to the contradictions of the reported massive vacancies at sea existing side by side with the inability of the maritime sector to absorb aspirant seafarers from developing countries in particular. In South Africa, which is on the IMO White List, we have decided to take up the challenge of IMO's Go to Sea campaign by increasing the capacity of our training institutions to train more seafarers and maritime related professions.
Mr President, coming back to my first point let me remind you that shipping has the potential to contribute to the success of the Soccer World Cup in 2010. The World Cup is not only about sport. It is also about Transport. The cruise line industry in particular can serve as a mass mover of people from across the world. It will be my great honour to welcome you all in South Africa for the Soccer World Cup in 2010.
Thank you.
Enquiries:
Thami Ngidi
Cell: 082 888 0852
Issued by: Department of Transport
24 November 2009
