The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council approved the UAE’s proposals on amending the Council’s rules of procedure and method of work. The UAE also proposed expanding the working languages of the IMO and establishing a fund for reducing GHG emissions from ships.

These proposals were submitted during the participation of a high-level UAE delegation in the IMO Council meeting at its headquarters in London, UK. Her Excellency Eng Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, headed the delegation, which comprised His Excellency Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative at the IMO, and representatives of stakeholders in the UAE maritime sector.

Her Excellency Eng Al Malek said: “The UAE proposals reflect the UAE’s strategic vision of making the maritime sector climate-proof, sustainable, and resilient. The UAE is committed to supporting the IMO in its mission of enhancing international cooperation and developing the maritime sector. The UAE is keen to support initiatives and projects that enhance the sustainability of the sector and achieve the organization’s goals of reducing carbon emissions and developing the global maritime transport infrastructure.”

She said: “Next year, the UAE will host the parallel event of the World Maritime Day. It will be a valuable opportunity to drive concerted action to develop the sector and foster international collaboration in maritime innovation and sustainability. I am pleased to announce a grant towards the funding of activities under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Program and the IMO Voluntary Multi-Donor Trust Fund for the purpose of assisting developing countries, especially least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS), in attending IMO meetings.”

His Excellency Al Kaabi said: “Our active participation in the IMO meetings reflect the UAE’s steadfast commitment to developing the global maritime sector, enhancing environmental sustainability, and fostering international cooperation in the face of challenges. The UAE seeks to sustain the maritime sector through initiatives that reduce its carbon footprint and implement best environmental practices, as the country aims to reinforce its position as a leading driver of blue economy.”

As a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.