Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 10) - Opening remarks

ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE OPENING OF THE TENTH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON HUMAN ELEMENT, TRAINING AND WATCHKEEPING (HTW 10), 5 to 9 February 2024

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez on 5 February 2024

Good morning distinguished delegates and observers. I am pleased to welcome you all to the tenth session of the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping.

Before I continue, it is with deep sadness that I bring the news of the sudden passing away of one of our esteemed English/Spanish booth interpreters, Mrs. Andrea Subercaseaux-Bateman. Andrea's dedicated service to IMO extended over several years, during which she made significant contributions to numerous IMO and IOPC Funds meetings. She was an accomplished professional with a very valuable language combination for our conferences and was meant to service the PPR 11 meeting (Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response). I am sure that I speak for all of us present here when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time. I would now like to invite the Sub-Committee to observe a minute of silence to pay tribute to Mrs. Andrea Subercaseaux-Bateman.

I address you today, with a profound sense of duty and commitment to the safety and well-being of seafarers, whose resilience and sacrifice have been particularly evident during the challenges they have been going through in recent times. This Sub-Committee, in its mandate and focus on the wide notion of the human element, underscores its pivotal role in ensuring the preparedness of seafarers to navigate through an evolving landscape of maritime challenges, marked with emerging technologies, alternative energy sources and other risks and threats at sea.

Our mission to safeguard seafarers takes on particular significance against the backdrop of the situation in the Red Sea, emphasizing the imperative for collective action to fortify the safety of those who serve at sea. The entire world depends on international shipping and seafarers, and therefore ships and cargoes should not be the subject of attacks.

I reiterated my firm belief that the exercise of navigational rights and freedom by merchant vessels, in accordance with international law, must be respected. I join the calls for caution and restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the broader region and I particularly urge the immediate release of the Galaxy Leader and its crew. IMO will continue to contribute to enhancing the safety of seafarers and transit of vessels of all States through the Red Sea and will closely monitor the situation, in collaboration with Member States and partners from the industry.

This year’s World Maritime theme is: “Navigating the future: safety first!”. This theme is a pledge to uphold the highest standards of safety in every aspect of this Organization’s regulatory work while facing the challenges of a fast-changing world, in particular with respect to challenges such as climate change; developments in technology, artificial intelligence; and new threats faced by the shipping industry.

Distinguished delegates,

Let me now turn to some of the important items on the agenda for this session.

Following the approval of the aims and principles to guide the work of the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code by MSC 107, your Sub-Committee will be working on finalizing this week a road map and specific areas for the comprehensive review.

This work will pave the way for the next essential steps of revision of the Convention in order to address, among many other matters, the needs emanating from the ongoing developments in terms of technology, digitalization and alternative fuels, which of course includes re-skilling and re-educating seafarers and other marine personnel to ensure a competent workforce and a smooth and just transition into a new era of maritime transport.

Another important task of your Sub-Committee is to ensure uniform training of seafarers around the globe, through the model course training programme. 

I would encourage you to further progress the revision of Model Course 1.21 on Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities, to incorporate the competence on prevention and response to bullying and harassment, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, which is expected to be adopted at MSC 108.

I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm IMO's unwavering commitment to foster a safer and more respectful maritime industry. Evidence of this commitment is reflected in joint actions with ILO (International Labour Organization), including the second joint tripartite meeting focused on bullying and harassment in the maritime sector to be held from 27 to 29 February 2024 at the IMO Headquarters.

I would also like to encourage your participation in the joint ILO/IMO working group to finalize the draft guidelines on the medical examination of fishing vessel personnel, which will be held at the ILO Headquarters (Geneva) from 12 to 16 February 2024, for approval at MSC 108, as part of the comprehensive review of the STCW-F Convention.

There are other matters on the agenda that require urgent action by the Sub-Committee and I look forward to the outcomes of your considerations in this regard.

Distinguished delegates,

I now like to conclude my address by wishing the Sub-Committee every success in its deliberations under the expert guidance of your Chair, Mr. Storhaug of Norway, supported by the Vice-Chair, Mr. Cigarruista of Panama, as well as the staff of the Maritime Safety Division, to reach meaningful conclusions for shipping and maritime professionals.

Before I hand over to your Chair, let me also acknowledge the upcoming celebrations of the Lunar New Year. To those who will be commemorating this festive occasion, I extend my heartfelt wishes for a happy and prosperous Year of the Dragon. I look forward to the pleasure of your company, along with the Secretariat, at the welcome reception in the Delegates Lounge following the conclusion of today’s business.

Thank you.

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