Re-Election of Singapore to the IMO Council

AIDE-MÉMOIRE The 29th Regular Session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly is scheduled for November 2015 in London. Elections for the 40 IMO Council members will be held during this Assembly Session. 2 The Republic of Singapore is seeking re-election to the Council under Category “C” at the 29th Session of the IMO Assembly. Singapore has actively contributed to the IMO Council since 1993, and looks forward to continue doing so. As a major flag State, port State, and coastal State of a vital international shipping lane, Singapore brings a unique and balanced perspective to the IMO. 3 Singapore is a major maritime nation with a large shipping registry and one of the world’s busiest ports, situated along a key maritime trade route. With international shipping being a lifeline for Singapore, we are constantly innovating and exploring new ways to contribute to the international maritime community. 4 Our ship registry is among the ten largest in the world, with more than 4,000 vessels in our merchant fleet totalling 82.3 million gross tonnes (GT) in 2014. As a major hub port along the busy Straits of Malacca and Singapore (“the Straits”), Singapore’s vessel arrivals by tonnage reached 2.37 billion gross tonnes in 2014. Singapore is also one of the world’s busiest container ports, handling 33.9 million Twenty Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) that same year. With Singapore’s unique location in Asia, our port continues to be one of the most efficient and reliable transshipment and container ports in the world. 5 The unique circumstance of being a major flag State, port State, and coastal State of a key waterway enables Singapore to appreciate the varied interests in international shipping and bring our particular and balanced perspective to maritime issues at the IMO. Singapore has and will continue to place emphasis on an inclusive approach to decision-making and work with all IMO Member States to ensure that the views and interests of all parties are taken into account in the work of the IMO. We are strongly committed to the IMO’s aims and are contributing significantly to its capacity-building activities 6 Singapore is fully committed to advancing the IMO’s mission of promoting safe, secure, and efficient shipping on clean oceans. Since becoming an IMO Council Member in 1993, Singapore has chaired the IMO Council, the then Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases, as well as the then Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation. Singapore also served as the Vice-Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Maritime Safety Committee, as well as the then Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping. In addition, we Page 1 of 4 participated actively in the formulation of the IMO Strategic Plan, which sets out the strategic directions for the IMO for the period 2012-2017. 7 We believe in helping other States achieve their development goals, having benefited ourselves from technical assistance in the past. We advocate the universal and uniform implementation of IMO instruments, and actively support the IMO’s Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP) to build developing IMO Member States’ capacities to implement international maritime regulations and standards. As a major contributor to the IMO’s budget, Singapore has always championed funds for the ITCP. 8 As the first State to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) with the IMO, Singapore provides technical assistance to developing IMO Member States in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific. Under the TCTP, Singapore has trained over 1,600 participants from 82 IMO Member States over the last 16 years, and will continue to do so in future. 9 One of the new ways in which Singapore will deliver technical assistance to even more IMO Member States is through our MPA Academy, which will provide pertinent programmes covering key issues and challenges such as port safety, maritime security, environmental protection, and crisis management for port and maritime officials. As a full-fledged academy with dedicated premises and a focus on global maritime leadership training, the MPA Academy launched the Port Management Programme for Port Masters in December 2014 and the Advanced Maritime Leaders Programme in April 2015. We believe in safe, open, responsible, and sustainable shipping 10 Singapore is deeply committed to promoting safe and open shipping on clean oceans. The good safety record of vessels flagged under the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) is testament to this. Singapore has ratified and implemented every major IMO convention in force relating to ship safety and the prevention of pollution from ships. 11 Under the IMO’s “Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes” initiative, Singapore has, together with Indonesia and Malaysia, developed the Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (“Co-operative Mechanism”) to keep the Straits safe and open for international shipping. Launched in 2007 in Singapore, the Co-operative Mechanism continues to be an important platform for user States and major stakeholders to engage the littoral States on key issues and initiatives concerning the Straits. Singapore is the current Chair of the Aids to Navigation Fund, established under the framework of the Co-operative Mechanism to receive financial contributions for the renewal and maintenance of critical aids to navigation in the Straits. Page 2 of 4 12 As a strong supporter of safety at sea, Singapore launched a Safety@Sea campaign in 2014, an industry-wide effort to increase awareness of safe practices and inculcate a safety-first culture at sea. As part of this campaign, we organized specially-tailored workshops and forums to share experiences and promote safety practices for the international maritime community. The second run of the Safety@Sea Week will be held on 17-21 August 2015. Singapore is keen to work with like-minded countries, international organizations, and industry associations to elevate these efforts to a higher level. 13 Singapore has been an active supporter of the IMO’s Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS), now institutionalized as the IMO Member State Audit scheme, which aims to enhance compliance with IMO regulations and reduce sub- standard shipping. We participated in the Pilot Audit Project in 2004 and contributed two qualified auditors to the IMO auditor pool. Singapore was successfully audited under the VIMSAS in 2008, with results showing that we had complied with all the provisions of the conventions to which Singapore is party. With a view towards the successful institutionalization of the mandatory MSA scheme, Singapore has been conducting training courses to help prepare IMO Member States for audits since 2010. 14 In addition, Singapore is a strong advocate of the role of Port State Control (PSC) in ensuring the safety and security of international shipping, as well as protection of the marine environment. Singapore served as Chairman of the Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) PSC Committee from 2011 to 2012. 15 Singapore was also among the first countries in the world to comply fully with the IMO’s International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. As part of our continuing support of regional initiatives, Singapore participated in the 11th ASEAN- Japan Port Security Experts Meeting, held in February 2014, to share best practices in port security operations. Most recently, Singapore also hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Self- Assessment Trainer Workshop in August 2014, to assist participants to gain an in-depth knowledge on audit methodology, and strengthen networking ties for port security practitioners in the region. This workshop was held back-to-back with celebrations commemorating the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the ISPS Code. 16 Singapore strongly believes in the importance of a sustainable maritime transport system. In this vein, Singapore will be hosting and co-organising with the IMO, the inaugural Future Ready Shipping 2015 Conference in September 2015, that will address the critical issue of improving the energy efficiency of international shipping, particularly through the use of technology as a key enabler. It aims to become a platform where developed and developing States, together with the industry and other stakeholders, can come together to discuss ways to encourage a greater uptake, transfer, and utilization of technologies to facilitate international shipping’s move to a more energy-efficient and low-carbon future. Page 3 of 4 We play an active part in international efforts to tackle piracy and promote safe and secure shipping 17 The safety and security of maritime trade routes is paramount for us. Singapore is one of the founding members of the Regional Cooperation Agreement Against Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), the first regional government-to-government initiative to promote co-operation against piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. Singapore also plays host to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC), established in 2006, and is the largest financial contributor to the ReCAAP ISC. The objectives of the ReCAAP ISC include information sharing, capacity-building, and fostering greater co-operation amongst ReCAAP members to tackle piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia. In addition, Singapore continues to jointly conduct sea and air maritime security patrols of the Straits, with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. 18 Beyond Asia, as a responsible member of the international community, Singapore has contributed to the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Since 2009, Singapore has commanded the multinational Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 three times and has deployed task groups to CTF 151 annually, comprising a naval frigate and a naval helicopter. In July 2011, Singapore chaired the 9th Plenary Meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS). Singapore also supports IMO’s efforts to promote capacity-building so that regions affected by piracy can tackle the problem in the long term. In November 2011, Singapore hosted and funded a training programme conducted by the ReCAAP ISC under the IMO’s Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for representatives from the DCoC ISCs. 19 Singapore remains deeply concerned about piracy and armed robbery against ships and will continue to work through the IMO to ensure that the situation in the regions affected by piracy receives international attention. We recognize the importance of co-operation among all stakeholders in the fight against piracy. Singapore actively and regularly engages the shipping community to promulgate and encourage the use of recommended practices for merchant vessels operating in piracy- prone areas. In conjunction with the ReCAAP ISC and the industry, Singapore frequently organizes anti-piracy events that promote dialogue between governments, naval forces, relevant international organizations, and the maritime industry. The Council of the IMO: Singapore’s candidature under Category “C” 20 Singapore hopes that re-election to the IMO Council will allow us to further contribute to the IMO’s mission, and seeks Member States’ support. Page 4 of 4