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The
secretary-general of the
International Maritime
Organisation, William O’Neil
highlighted the importance of the
mariner in the role played by
maritime transport in facilitating
the global economy.
In
his message commemorating World
Maritime Day, O’Neil said in
little more than half a century,
the social and economic structures
have been transformed.
The
secretary-general focused upon the
role of the maritime industry in
underpinning the new global
economy, suggesting that shipping
makes a direct contribution to the
alleviation of poverty and the
growth of developing countries.
With
increasing globalisation, the
responsibility of IMO to ensure
acceptable global standards in
marine safety and pollution
prevention becomes even more
important.
He
said maritime activity essential
for sustainable development,
provides an important source of
invisible income and other marine
activities in which developing
nations are able to participate.
“The
registration of ships, supply of
seagoing manpower and ship
recycling are areas where
developing nations are world
leaders, while playing a
significant role in shipowning and
operating, shipbuilding and repair
and port services.
If
the provision of efficient sea
transport is a crucial component
in world manufacturing , then the
mariner is the facilitator of this
time-dependent delivery system. At
IMO, “we now place human element
considerations at the centre of
our work”. said O’Neil.
The
goal of IMO “is to make sure
that the people manning the
world’s ships today are alert,
motivated, educated, trained and
qualified to the proper standards
and in fact possess the skills
necessary to perform properly”.
The
ISM Code and the 1995 STCW
Convention, both measures which
concentrate on people rather than
technology are, points out the
secretary-general, “at the heart
of our work”, he added.
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