Singapore Re-elected into the Council of the International Maritime Organization for a 13th Consecutive Term

1.     Singapore has been re-elected into the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)¹ for a 13^th consecutive two-year term.  The election was held during the 30^th Session of the IMO Assembly on 1 December 2017, in London, the United Kingdom.

2.     Singapore's membership of the IMO Council over the years has allowed it to make significant contributions towards advancing the efforts of the international maritime community to enhance navigational safety, promote efficient and sustainable shipping, and protect the marine environment.

3.     Following Singapore's successful re-election, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, who led the delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), said, “Singapore is honoured to be re-elected to the IMO Council and is grateful for the support of our fellow IMO Member States. We are heartened that our contributions are valued and recognised by IMO Member States, and look forward to continued close collaboration to further the IMO's goals of safe, secure, efficient, and sustainable shipping.”

4.     Singapore was first elected to the IMO Council in 1993 and has since been re-elected to the Council at subsequent biennial IMO Assemblies.  As an IMO Council Member, Singapore has contributed to, and played an active role in the IMO.  Singapore has also had the honour of serving in various leadership positions in the IMO, such as the Chairman of the IMO Council for a two-year term between 2001 and 2003, Chairman of the then Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases, as well as the then Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation.  Singapore has also served as the Vice-Chairman of the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Maritime Safety Committee, and now serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping.

5.     Together with Indonesia and Malaysia, Singapore worked closely with the IMO to develop the Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore under the IMO's “Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes” initiative in 2007.  The Co-operative Mechanism advances international co-operation to keep the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, one of the most important waterways in the world, safe and open for international shipping.

¹ The Council serves as the IMO's governing body and comprises 40 Member States which are elected every two years.  The next election is expected to be held during the 31^st Regular Session of the IMO Assembly in November/December 2019.  For more information, please refer to http://www.imo.org