Henry off to Maritime Meeting in London

KINGSTON — Minister of Transport and Works, Hon Mike Henry, is currently in London, attending the 27th session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly, scheduled for November 21 – 30 at the IMO headquarters.

 At the conference, Jamaica hopes to be re-elected to Category C of the IMO Council, through the Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ). Category C of the Council includes 20 states with interests in maritime transport or navigation.

Mr. Henry was instrumental in the drive to get Jamaica elected to the international body in 2009. Membership of the IMO Council is considered advantageous for business services and technical co-operation, particularly for developing countries like Jamaica.

“Jamaica’s candidature for re-election to the IMO Council is therefore strategic and of crucial importance to both the country and the region,” a release from the Ministry of Transport and Works on Thursday (November 24) said.

As a member of the Council, Jamaica has been involved in the development and review of international maritime policies, legislations and procedures through its port service offerings, ship registry and technical maritime services, maritime training and education, bunkering, cruise ship and container services. The Ministry said Jamaica will continue to have its maritime profile considerably raised, through re-election to the Council.

Jamaica has been a member state of the IMO since 1976, and has been involved in various positions since, including as Chair of the Standards, Training and Watch-keeping (STW) Sub-Committee; Chair of the Diplomatic Conference, which amended the STW Convention in June 2010; Lead Partnering Country under the IMO supported GloBallast Partnership Programme; Chair of the Wider Caribbean Task Force on Ballast Water Management; Involvement in pedagogic activities at the World Maritime University (WMU); as well as member of the newly constituted Board of Governors of the WMU.

Mr. Henry, who left on Wednesday November 23, is due back on Sunday, November 27, 2011

By Balford Henry, JIS Reporter