By Stephen Ubanna
Kicktact Lim, Secretary General, International Maritime Organisation, IMO, is a happy man. Lim’s source of happiness is the ‘’newly adopted Ocean Oceans Treaty’’ by member States to protect marine diversity on the high seas which is expected to be opened for Signature on September 20, 2023.
Going by the content of the new legally binding instrument on conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas of national jurisdiction, BBNJ, which was said to have been adopted on June 19, 2023, at the United Nations , UN, Headquarters in NewYork, in the North American country of the United States, US, the treaty will enter force after ratification by the 60 member States of the Organisation.
An elated Lim, the IMO Secretary General of the IMO, who was said to have ‘’congratulated all the parties’’ on the successful adoption of the new legally binding instrument on marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction had said that’’ the Landmark achievement will no doubt reinforce efforts to protect biodiversity in line with the aims of the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity’’.
Given an insider information on the New Oceans Treaty, the IMO Secretary General had said that the Organisation has participated throughout the negotiations given its ‘’mandate and expertise’’ in developing universally accepted regulations for international shipping to ensure shipping’s sustainable use of the oceans ,through the more than 50 globally –binding treaties.
The UN, maritime agency, under the Leadership of Lim could do all that because ships plying their trade across the world’s oceans are subject ‘’to stringent environmental, safety and security rules’’, which maritime analyst had said apply throughout their voyage. Note that IMO regulations are enforced throughout the more than 50 member states through a well –established system of flag and coastal port state control.
Again, Lim had said that the IMO has actively operated with the, D world body Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea , DOALOS, of the office of the global body International Seabed Authority, ISA, and with other specialized agencies like the Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of United Nations Education, Scientific and Culture UNESCO, and International Labour Organisation, ILO.
This may have informed why Lim, had said that ‘’it will continue to participate in the implementation of the new legally binding instrument by member-states, the UN Family and all other stakeholders’’.
Informed sources told the online Magazine that the new ocean treaty is expected ‘’to address issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine beyond national jurisdiction, marine energetic resource, including questions on benefit sharing, MGR, Area Based Management Tools , ABMT, including marine protected areas. This is in addition to Environmental Impact Assessments, EIA, and capacity ubilding and the Transferof Marine Technology, CB and TMT.
There is no gain saying the fact that many IMO measures adopted in the past had actively contributed to the conservation of marine biological diversity in areas BBJ,, including the international Convention for Prevention of Pollution of Ships , MARPOL and the International Ballast Water Management Convention , which , according to experts aims ‘’to prevent the transfer of potentially invasive aquatic species as well as the London Convention and Protocol regulating dumping of wastes at sea’’.
There were also numerous protective measures that were said to have been adopted which all ships had adhered to, both in and outside designated sensitive sea areas , PSSAs, and in special areas and emission control areas. The Magazine learnt that the measures include strict rules on operational discharges as well as areas to be avoided and other ship routing system including those aimed at keeping away from whales’ breeding grounds.
A source confirmed that that the IMO’s Polar Code is equally mandatory for all ships operating in the Artic and Antarctic regions. Recall that the World maritime agency has issued guidance on protecting marine life and underwater ship noise.
Indeed, the urgent need to protect the world’s oceans and the habitats within them for sustainable shipping industry to ensure the essential transportation of goods and commodities across the globe and of passengers, may have informed why the IMO Leadership are after the Safety of the seafarers.
In his message for the seafarers worldwide during the International Seafarers Day , Lim was said to have outlined the part they play in ”conserving the state of the oceans , as the global maritime sector works towards making shipping more environmentally sound and sustainable”. He has told those that cares to listen that Seafarers have always played a critical role in ‘’helping to protect the health of the ocean and planet ‘’, noting that ‘’every day at sea , they help to enforce IMO’s environment related treaties by implementing rules on garbage and sewage and air pollution prevention’’.
Lim may have used opportunity of the International Maritime Day to celebrate the 50- year anniversary of the agency main environment instrument –the MARPOL Convention to celebrate its support of the global efforts to combat climate change by moving towards decarbonization , to state that ‘’Seafarers voices and actions are key to ensuring just transition to a zero-carbon at sea’’.
He may have gladdened the heart of the seafarers when he disclosed that ‘’the world sees the ocean through their eyes of the vital work they undertake which protects the ocean every day’’. He Would want the seafarers ‘’to share a picture of the marine environment surrounding them while at sea to show why the marine environment is worth protecting’’, in line with the 2023,World Maritime Day Theme ,’’MARPOL at 50- our commitment goes on’’, as ‘’they spend much time at sea’’.
Appealing to member states’ governments, shipping organisations, companies , ship owners and all other parties involved in shipping business to duly promote and celebrate the seafarers, world –wide, the IMO Secretary General had said that they have no option but to do so because ‘’the UN has recognised the Day of the Seafarer as an observable day’’.
