AUSTRALIA was last week re-elected to to Category B of the International Maritime Organization Council for the 2022-23 biennium.
The IMO Council is responsible for supervising the work of the organisation. Category B represents countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade and is made up of only 10 IMO member states.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s chief executive officer Mick Kinley said that Australia is committed to ensuring that IMO can meet the new challenges arising from emerging technology, global trade expansion, and environmental developments and we are proud to have successfully championed a range of reforms to make the IMO more open, fair, transparent and accessible to all.
“Australia’s re-election to category b reflects our nation’s status as a significant maritime nation and ensures our interests will continue to be represented at the highest level of international maritime policy making,” Mr Kinley said.
Australia has substantial maritime claims as the world’s largest bulk commodities exporter, a search and rescue area covering 10% of the world’s surface, and the world’s third-largest exclusive economic zone.
Shipping is critical to Australia’s economic prosperity, environmental protection and standard of living, transporting 98% (by volume) of Australia’s international merchandise trade.
“We would like to thank the international community who supported us in the re-election to the IMO Council. We are committed to advocating for a sustainable shipping industry well into the future,” Mr Kinley said.
Australia is a founding member of the IMO and has been a member since 1959. Australia has been represented on the IMO Council for many years.
AMSA led Australia’s campaign for re-election to Category B of the IMO Council, supported by the Australian Government Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
