Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping, 40th session: 2-6 February 2009

Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping, 40th session: 2-6 February 2009

Closing remarks by the Secretary-general, 6 February 2009

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates,

We are approaching the end of another session of the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping and we can feel a sense of satisfaction shared by all that, after the hard work of the past five days, you are about to bring the Sub-Committee to a successful conclusion.

This has, indeed, been another very important session, both from the viewpoint of the huge volume of work accomplished and, more significantly, with regard to the substance of the decisions you have made.

Of your most important achievements this week, I would single out the significant progress made with the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and preparation of the preliminary draft text of:

.1 chapter II, in particular, provisions relating to celestial navigation, ARPA and radar requirements, marine environment awareness training and VTS training;

.2 chapter III, in particular, provisions relating to harmonization of near coastal requirements and marine environment awareness training;

.3 chapters IV and VII;

.4 chapter VI, in particular, requirements for maintaining professional competence in areas where training cannot be conducted on board and security training; and

.5 chapter VIII, in particular, relating to requirements for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse; provisions for maintaining a safe anchor watch; bridge and engine room resource management and harmonization of hours of rest and work,

and the significant progress with preparation of the preliminary draft text of chapters III and V.

Your work this week has ensured that the Sub-Committee remains on schedule to complete the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code with a view to adopting the amendments by a Diplomatic Conference of STCW Parties in June next year.

I think you can also be proud of the significant progress you have made on the remaining items on your agenda and, in particular, on the review of the principles for establishing the safe manning levels of ships.

I wish to pay special tribute to your Chairman, Admiral Peter Brady of Jamaica, who has again most ably chaired this session with his relentless efforts to facilitate progress in the on-going work and his determination and patience in order to achieve consensus in the Sub-Committee's decisions. His unanimous re-election yesterday for 2010 by acclamation is a clear sign of the high esteem in which he is held by the IMO family and the wider maritime community. I also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to your Vice-Chairman, Mr. Abdul Hafiz Kayssi of Lebanon and congratulate him also to his well deserved re-election.

All in all:

- congratulations to all of you on your achievements during the session;

- our sincere thanks also to the Chairmen of the working and correspondence groups and all other officers involved in this meeting;

- my appreciation also goes to the dedicated staff from the Conference Division working behind the scenes, including the interpreters and the translators.

I would also wish to record my appreciation for the work done by the Secretariat before and during the session to serve the needs of the meeting. Such work requires a collective and coordinated effort by all the players and I feel certain you will agree that the staff of the Secretariat has not failed in meeting your expectations.

While we were busy at this session developing and putting in place regulations and standards intended to improve safety and environmental protection at sea, life goes on. A number of delegates and observers who normally attend this Sub-Committee have recently relinquished their duties; have retired, or are about to do so; have been transferred to other duties, or are about to be; while still others are attending the Sub-Committee for the last time for a variety of reasons. Among them, and we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the contributions they have made to the work of this Sub-Committee, are:

- Capitain Ronald Quipildor Tito, Alternate Permanent Representative of Bolivia to IMO, on his return home;
- Captain Hugo Ricaurte Caravias, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to IMO, on his return home;
- Mr. Yun Min Jong, Deputy Permanent Representative to IMO, Minister, Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on his return home;
- Mr. Kwang Nam Ri, Second Secretary, Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on his return home; and
- Captain Jose Caetano de Oliveira Filho of Brazil, on return home.

I wish them all the very best in their new endeavours.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates,

After a successful and productive meeting, it is time to rest and to be with your family, friends and loved ones. With these words, I wish you all a safe return home and look forward to seeing you at STW 41 if not earlier.

Thank you.