Date: 25/11/2009
Source: The Department of Transport
Title: SA: Ndebele: Address by the Minister of Transport, at the 26th regular session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organisation, London

Mr President
Secretary General
Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen

Thank you for the opportunity to address the 26th session of the 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, 4th 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 Organization
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.

MrPresident, South Africais 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.

MrPresident, 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.

Africais 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 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 CENTER 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/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 overemphasized. 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.