The Netherlands has been a member of the Council almost continuously since 1959. With the re-election, our country can also help determine how the IMO addresses the major challenges facing the maritime sector in the coming two years.
These challenges are certainly present. Shipping faces a major task when it comes to sustainability, and this is a transition the sector cannot manage alone. Only through international cooperation can the sector tackle the shift to clean, sustainable shipping.
Safety is another concern. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, a shadow fleet has emerged transporting sanctioned Russian oil around the world. This usually happens on old, unsafe, and uninsured ships. Lately, we increasingly see these ships sailing under a false flag, including flags of other countries within the kingdom.
These ships pose a danger to safety at sea and the vulnerable maritime environment. Internationally, we have been working for years to address this practice, but that work is never finished.
“The Netherlands has a rich maritime history. A seat on the Council is important because it means we partly hold the helm in the daily management of the IMO. This also gives us a say in which topics are on the agenda in the coming years,” said Minister Robert Tieman (Infrastructure and Water Management).
