Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
More than 90 per cent of world trade is transported by sea and it is estimated that in excess of 55 per cent of South Africa's GDP is derived, in one way or another, from the maritime industry (and in particular from foreign trade). The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is celebrating its 50th anniversary on 24 September 1998. To communicate the significant contribution that the maritime industry makes to the world economy and to celebrate the IMO's achievements in the areas of improving maritime safety and preventing marine pollution, the week starting 21 September 1998 has been declared Maritime Awareness Week with the theme - shipping and the oceans.
The IMO was created by the United Nations in 1948 and the IMO Convention entered into force in 1958. The express brief of the IMO was to co-ordinate and promote measures to improve safety in maritime matters. Its primary objective is to improve the safety of shipping and to prevent and control marine pollution from shipping and related activities. At present, the IMO has 155 member- and two associate member nations.
South Africa joined the IMO in 1995 and the designated Maritime Competent Authority is the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). Since South Africa became a member of the IMO, it has already made its presence felt in this strategic international organization.
South Africa has already hosted two Surveyor Training Courses for Port State Control for IMO fellows from East and West Africa as well as a training programme for Maritime Trainers from West Africa. Another training programme on Port State Control will also be conducted by South Africa on behalf of the IMO in January 1999. The world is experiencing a shortage of qualified seafarers of all ranks and thus many opportunities exist for a career at sea. The South African maritime industry currently employs some 60 000 people and a recent survey has indicated that there are significant growth prospects in this regard. In the current employment situation in South Africa, the maritime industry is therefore of strategic importance. According to Capt. Brian Watt, CEO of SAMSA, "South Africa's Maritime Legislation is outdated in terms of IMO standards and SAMSA is continually implementing new legislation aimed at improving safety of life and property at sea and the prevention of pollution of the sea by ships." New measures include the accession to the International Oil Pollution Fund where, should a major spill occur on the South African Coast, compensation for clean-up costs may be claimed from the fund.
By setting international standards and assisting with their implementation, the IMO is playing a major role in improving countries' own capabilities to improve safety in the maritime industry and to protect the marine environment. This also impacts on the commercial sector. If ships are not built to IMO standards, it will become increasingly difficult for them to operate internationally since the IMO standards are now mandatory in so many countries. The advantage of having international standards is that safety is removed from the commercial agenda. Port state control inspections are now being carried out more rigorously and it is becoming more difficult for substandard ships to escape detection.
These initiatives are reducing the possibility of loss of life at sea and pollution which can often be ascribed to lax safety measures. Some of the proven successes of the implementation of IMO measures are:
- the accident rate has been cut from an all-time high of 0.56 % in 1979 to 0.13 % of the international fleet, in 1996 (thus a reduction of more than 75 % in the accident rate); and
- oil spills have been reduced by 70 % since 1980.
CONTACT PERSON: CAPT. BRIAN WATT CEO: SOUTH AFRICAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY (SAMSA)
PO BOX 13186 HATFIELD 0028 TEL (012) 342 3049 FAX (012) 342 3160