UAE emphasises maritime navigation security at IMO session

The UAE has stressed the importance of strengthening maritime navigation security during its participation at the 50th session of the Facilitation Committee of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

During the meetings, Mohamed Khamis Al Kaabi, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the IMO and Vice-Chair of the Committee, also supported the IMO's reaffirmation of its council's previous declaration that condemned Iran's threats and attacks against vessels, alongside its purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The 50th session included the participation of member states and relevant international organisations, with the committee expressing concerns on the impact of attacks targeting commercial vessels, and the resulting implications for international maritime traffic and the safety of seafarers.

It also called for the adoption of a framework that enhances maritime security, while also providing regular updates to member states on developments in the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman, and the Arabian Gulf region, particularly in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The committee also approved two proposals submitted by the UAE, drawing on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, which focused on measures to facilitate ship crew changes, enhance the provision of vaccinations through national programmes, and ensure access to medical care during public health emergencies of international concern. 

The proposals also included the alignment of International Health Regulations issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with the provisions of the Facilitation Convention.

Al Kaabi also chaired the working group responsible for drafting the Committee’s resolution on guidelines to prevent stowaways from boarding ships and to define responsibilities for addressing such cases.

The representative further participated in the review of the roadmap for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), which falls within the Committee’s scope of work.

The UAE also contributed to a proposal for the development of a non-mandatory code on maritime cybersecurity, which was approved by the Committee, with the involvement of the relevant technical committees.