LONDON, England, November 29, 2019 – The Bahamas has been re-elected to Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council at the 31st session of the IMO Assembly currently taking place at IMO Headquarters in London from November 25 to December 4.
According to the IMO website, “The IMO Assembly, the Organization’s highest governing body, meets every two years. It is responsible for approving the Organization’s work programme and budget for the next two years and electing the 40-Member Council, as well as considering substantive issues emanating from the Organization’s Council and five Committees.”
The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, “for supervising the work of the Organization,” the website notes.
“Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention,” the website adds.
The Bahamas’ delegation participating in the 31st IMO Assembly session includes the Hon. Renward Wells, Minister of Transport; His Excellency Ellison Greenslade, Bahamas High Commissioner to Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Ambassador Denise Lewis Johnson, Chair of the BMA; Peter Goulandris, Deputy Chair of the BMA; and Capt. Dwain Hutchison, Head of the BMA’s London Office.
According to the website, “The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization has elected the following States to be Members of its Council for the 2020-2021 biennium:
“Category (a) –10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States.
“Category (b) — 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
“Category (c) — 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world: Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey.”
According to the website, “The newly elected Council will meet, following the conclusion of the 31st Assembly, for its 123rd session (on 5 December) and will elect its Chair and Vice-Chair for the next biennium.”
The Assembly is expected to confirm the appointment of IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim for a second four-year term in office, according to the website.
