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AIDE MEMOIRE The Republic of Chile presents its candidature for re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization, Category “C”, thus confirming its interest and eagerness to continue contributing to its purposes, particularly to promote and strengthen the Safety and Security of Human Life at Sea, the Prevention and Control of Marine Pollution and the Facilitation of Maritime Transport. 1. Chile, a maritime country Chile is an oceanic country, and as such, has a significant projection to the sea, with one of the largest search and rescue areas of responsibility in the world (almost 27 million square kilometers, equivalent approximately to the total surface area of Africa) and 4,300 km of coastline in the Southeast Pacific, which makes it an international reference in matters related to the conservation of the ocean and the sustainable use of its resources. Its citizens have established a historic relationship with the sea, as the ocean plays an important role in their social, economic and cultural development. Today, maritime transport carries 96% of its foreign trade through a strong merchant marine fleet, which fly both our national flag as well as foreign flags. The new 2018 National Ocean Policy aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and constitutes an important step towards the consolidation of our commitment to the international governance of the oceans, emphasizing the conservation and sustainable use of the sea and its resources, fighting illegal fishing, marine pollution, and the effects of climate change on the oceans. 2. Chile’s commitment to maritime safety and security Chile is responsible for the fifth largest search and rescue area of responsibility in the world and provides maritime safety and security services related to meteorology, hydrography, oceanography and aids to navigation. The Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy keeps up to date more than 630 paper and electronic nautical charts and operates the National Tsunami Warning System, which transmits all the data gathered to national and international entities, such as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. The Chilean maritime authority is responsible for a network of over 1,000 lighthouses and marine radio stations, and provides pilotage service to assist navigation in inland channels, the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage. Furthermore, in 2018, Chile hosted the 19th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum (APHoMSA), achieving important agreements in matters related to the safety and security of the marine environment, regional cooperation, and response to emerging maritime events. This meeting gathered 18 Member States, 4 Observer States and 5 permanent observer organizations, including the IMO. In addition, in September this year our country hosted the 26th meeting of the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on Search and Rescue. Antarctica is a maritime area in which Chile, due to its strategic geographical position, carries out permanent activities for a safe and clean navigation. In this regard, our country has committed its efforts and dedication to fulfilling the hydrographic survey program in the Antarctica and delivering the "Operations in Polar Waters” course organized annually by our Maritime Authority, and which has trained to this date 154 foreign students from 21 countries. In order to improve safety services in the Antarctic continent, the Chilean government, as a result of the fire that affected the facilities of the Maritime Authority, have decided to rebuild without delay the new facilities of the Maritime Governor’s Office of Antarctica, starting in December 2019. 3. Chile's commitment to the marine environment The oceans have become a global priority and the entire world has also become aware that their use must not be indiscriminate. Given Chile’s geographical characteristics, the ocean plays a crucial role in its present and its future. With this in mind, our country aims its efforts to keeping and increasing its global leadership in oceanic matters. As part of its strategy to ensure the sustainable use of the ocean and its resources, and to avoid its degradation, Chile has undertaken an active role in the international agenda on the protection of the marine environment and fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. In fact, Chile has a strong commitment with the fulfilment of the 2030 agenda for the Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally, regionally and locally. Within the context of COP 21 on climate change, Chile, together with other countries, led the Because the Ocean declaration, which to date, has been signed by 35 countries. This declaration emphasizes the key role of the ocean in the implementation of the Paris Agreement regarding climate change and urges countries to include efforts related to oceanic conservation in the framework of their climate policies. This year, our country will host, organize and assume the chairmanship of the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Santiago, Chile (COP25) between 2 and 13 December. Through this conference, also called “the COP of action”, Chile wishes to demonstrate its leadership in an ambitious action to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Additionally, it’s important to mention that Chile has announced the creation of the following marine protected areas: The Nazca-Desventuradas Marine Park, which is one of the largest marine protected areas in South America, located in the area of the San Ambrosio and San Félix islands; the expansion of the protected area of the Juan Fernández archipelago; the marine protected area in Rapa Nui (Easter Island); and the marine park in Cape Horn and the Diego Ramírez Islands. Together, they account for a total surface area of over one million square kilometers of protected areas, which is more than 40% of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Chile, whose implementation will be approached from an integrating perspective. Within the IMO, Chile has contributed to the inter-sessional meetings, prior to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), working effectively in the design of the initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our country also introduced initiatives for the implementation of measures and the development of an action plan for the management of marine litter and microplastics, as an effective way to collaborate on the implementation of SDG 14 and the achievement of AICHI Target 10. An example of the above is the beach and coastal cleaning plan, an activity that has involved both private and public entities for over a decade, gathering 20,583 volunteers in 2018, who collected 106 tonnes of litter from 128 beaches. 4. Chile’s commitment to technical cooperation The universal implementation of IMO instruments is one of the main tasks of the Organization, and for that reason the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) must be a priority within the Organization. Chile supports this programme through the participation of its experts in training courses and by providing consultancy to several Maritime Administrations, where, since 1983, 30 professionals who have graduated from the World Maritime University (WMU), one of whom is currently integrating the Board of Governors, have also participated by sharing their knowledge and experience. Technical cooperation does not only benefit the State that receives the knowledge and experiences, but also the State providing the cooperation, as it creates opportunities to grow, enhance capabilities and improve constantly. To date, Chile has delivered training and technical assistance to more than three thousand officers from maritime administrations in America, the Caribbean and Africa, and during 2019 will continue to provide assistance in the fields of maritime safety and protection, and preservation of the marine environment. In order to best fulfil this task, we recently reviewed and updated the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the IMO, where new proposals were included that consider the extension of the geographical area for the provision of Technical Cooperation, particularly to the Caribbean countries, and on SAR matters globally. 5. Chile’s commitment to women in the maritime community In connection with SDG 5, Chile has promoted initiatives for the inclusion and participation of women in the maritime sector, leading the efforts for the creation of the Network of Women of the Maritime Authorities of Latin America (MAMLa Network), established in December 2017 with a view to provide a springboard for creating regional training and sustainable development opportunities for maritime women from the region. The strategic plan approved by the Technical Cooperation Committee in this year’s session is supported by four core concepts reflected in the “Valparaíso Declaration”, signed by representatives of maritime administrations and authorities of 18 countries, in the context of the regional conference “Women in Maritime Authorities of Latin and Central America”. The Conference, promoted by IMO, sponsored by the Ministry of Transport of Malaysia, and hosted by the Directorate General of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine (DIRECTEMAR), creates a space for cooperation, in synergy with the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Chile 2019-2022. 6. Chile’s contribution to the IMO Chile has contributed and is committed to continue contributing to the work of IMO. At present, the former Chilean Ambassador to the United Kingdom chairs the Assembly of the Organization; in March this year a Chilean officer was appointed Chair of the LC/LP Scientific Group, and another national delegate represents Latin America and The Caribbean in the LP Compliance Group. In order to reaffirm the commitment of Chile to IMO’s objectives, Chile’s delegation participates in all the meetings held at the IMO headquarters and has submitted papers and presented statements frequently. Over the last 5 years, Chile has restructured its National Maritime Authority and implemented an internal annual follow-up IMO audit system that allowed to establish a process of continuous improvement of its labor as State Party, flag State, coastal State and port State, with a first phase that will culminate with the IMSAS audit that IMO will conduct in our country at the end of next year. 7. Conclusion Chile seeks re-election to the IMO Council with the commitment to continue contributing with its constant work to ensure safety of life at sea, the conservation and cleaning of the oceans, and its resources. Our country firmly believes that the IMO is the most effective multilateral maritime forum in order to reach the sustainable development goals, and for this reason, it will continue providing technical cooperation to States that require it. Saatja: Zvonimir Yuras Cárdenas <[email protected]> Saadetud: 10.10.2019 15:13 Adressaat: Rene Arikas <[email protected]> Koopia: VA_eva <[email protected]> Teema: Letter from the Chilean Maritime Authority Manused: chile_omi.jpg; Letter 12600-11898 Estonia.pdf; Chile's Aide Memoire IMO.pdf Dear Mr. Rene Arikas, Please find attached letter N° 12600/11898 from the Chilean Maritime Authority in relation to the next session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization, as well as Chile’s Aide Memoire. The original letter is being sent through regular post. Best regards, Captain Zvonimir Yuras Head, International Affairs Department Directorate General of the Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine “La información contenida en el presente correo es propiedad de la Armada de Chile, por lo cual su divulgación, entrega o comunicación a personas no autorizadas puede constituir delito penado por la Ley". Si usted recibió este correo por error, avise al remitente o simplemente bórrelo.