Good morning, distinguished delegates,

It is a pleasure for me also to welcome you to the fortieth session of the Sub Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping, and I particularly welcome those delegates who may be attending this Sub-Committee for the first time.

At the onset, I wish to say a few words on the theme for this year's World Maritime Day, which is "Climate change: a challenge for IMO too!" - a theme chosen by the Council to give the Organization the opportunity to focus on an urgent issue of global dimensions, one that will galvanize intense action within IMO and the international maritime community throughout the year so that the contribution we will be able to make to the Conference scheduled to be held in Copenhagen in December to produce a treaty instrument to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is the appropriate one, commensurate with our degree of care, concern and sensitivity about the environment - both marine and atmospheric.

In acknowledging that climate change is a challenge for IMO too, we must seek an outcome similar to the one we achieved last year when agreeing, unanimously, a series of drastic measures to further reduce the emission of air pollutants from ships. This time round, our endeavours should aim at adding IMO's contribution to the world efforts to address the phenomena of climate change and global warming and thus demonstrate, once again, our undiminished determination to respond to our environmental responsibilities decisively, effectively and expeditiously. I am confident that your Sub-Committee will not shy away from adding, from its own perspective, any contribution needed to help stem the worrying phenomena I just mentioned.

Environmental concerns apart, I sincerely hope that, in the New Year, we will see a distinct improvement in the safety record of shipping and a substantial decline in the number and impact of marine casualties, which, last year, rose to an unacceptably high level. Except for cases of force majeure, the loss of lives at sea can hardly be justified nowadays and, therefore, even in the serious financial crisis the world is going through at the moment, adhering to safety standards lower than the highest practicable ones IMO adopts should not be an option for anyone. Compromising safety may have catastrophic consequences, both on human lives and the marine environment, which will, for certain, deal a strong blow to the image of the industry from which it will need great efforts and a long time to recover.

Distinguished delegates,

The alarming escalation, since the latter half of last year, of acts of piracy in waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden has rightly put the public spotlight on the plight of seafarers, who, regardless of nationality, have been unwittingly caught up, in large numbers, in the terrifying ordeal of hijack and hostage-taking for ransom.

To stem this modern day scourge in that particular part of the world, all the IMO bodies concerned (the MSC, Council and Assembly) have taken several substantive measures, including requesting the UN Security Council to authorize naval vessels and military aircraft to enter, with the consent of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, the country's territorial waters and use appropriate means to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships committed therein - a request that the Security Council responded to positively by adopting a series of relevant resolutions.

Last November, I personally briefed the Security Council when it was considering the situation in Somalia in the context of the UN Secretary-General's regular report.

In my briefing, I placed particular emphasis on the three areas of concern to IMO relevant to the situation off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, namely:

From the response of the Security Council and other entities concerned, including the African Union, one can be hopeful that the measures taken, and those in the process of implementation, will help to move the political process in Somalia forward; assist the country to establish stability on land; and eventually contribute to the improvement of the situation with regard to piracy off its coast and in the Gulf of Aden. It was, therefore, with satisfaction that the maritime community greeted the news of the Security Council adopting, on 2 and 16 December successively, resolutions 1846 and 1851, extending, for another year, its authorization for countries to enter, under certain conditions, Somalia's territorial waters using "all necessary means" to counter piracy and armed robbery at sea.

Our work with the United Nations aside, we continue maintaining a line of communication with alliances of Governments and regional organizations whose navies and military aircraft patrol the region protecting shipping and escorting ships carrying humanitarian aid to Somalia on behalf of the World Food Programme - and are appreciative of the positive response received. In December, we participated in the International Conference on Piracy around Somalia, which took place in Nairobi and, three weeks ago, at the inaugural meeting of the Contact Group on Piracy off Somalia held in New York. Last week, we organized a high-level meeting in Djibouti, which succeeded in adopting a Code of Conduct to assist countries in the region to build capacity to prevent, deter and suppress acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

The problem of modern piracy, because of the political connotations it has in the case of Somalia, is difficult and complex and an holistic solution may not be easy to find in the immediate future. Because the perpetrators of these unlawful acts act with complete disrespect for civil society, unashamedly provoking the rule of law, we should rise to the challenge, redoubling our efforts and taking, Governments and industry alike, all the necessary measures to eradicate the scourge. We should not cease our efforts unless and until this has been achieved - and, to such an end, you might consider including, in your revision of the STCW Convention and Code, appropriate provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly educated to face situations whereby their ship is under attack by pirates. To this effect, I have submitted a note under the symbol STW 40/7/68, to which I hope the Sub-Committee will give favourable consideration.

Distinguished delegates,

Before I move on to addressing specific matters on your agenda, I wish to refer to a subject that I consider to be closer to your sub-committee than to any other IMO body. I am referring to the anticipated disconcerting shortage of qualified merchant navy officers and, therefore, the need to attract young people to the seafaring profession.

In the face of a grave looming manpower crisis (first reported in 2005 and also last year), it is important, were we to reverse the trend, to portray shipping as an industry that can provide a career path that matches the aspirations of the ambitious and capable young people it urgently needs to attract and retain. Indeed, if the global pool of competent and efficient seafarers, who are properly trained and qualified in all respects, is to meet demand, then seafaring must be presented to young generations as a viable career choice for individuals of the right calibre.

In November, an initiative was undertaken for just the kind of urgent action the issue merits. Jointly with ILO, ICS/ISF, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and ITF, we launched the "Go to Sea!" campaign to attract new entrants to the shipping industry with the specific aim of promoting seafaring as an attractive career option for the young, providing them with rewarding, stimulating and long-term prospects, not only at sea but also in the broader maritime industry.

In informing you about the campaign, I invite you all - and, through you, Governments and industry - to contribute actively to it by promoting, among youngsters, the attractions of a career at sea and by encouraging them to consider it as a first class choice. For the campaign to be successful, we should try to achieve three objectives:

Distinguished delegates,

Undoubtedly, the most important, and urgent, item on your agenda this week is the continuation of the work you initiated in 2006 with the aim of comprehensively reviewing the STCW Convention and Code to ensure that they both meet the new challenges facing the shipping industry today and those anticipated to face it in the foreseeable future. With the blessing of the MSC, the scope of the review was agreed to include issues such as maritime security; competence-based training programmes for personnel on board tankers, including LNG carriers; hours of work; training of ratings; and innovative training methodologies, including distance- and e-learning. The set objective has been that amendments emanating from the review, once adopted, should enter into force early in the 2010s and that they should provide global standards for the training and certification of seafarers that would apply for a considerable time thereafter.

To that effect, in May of last year, the MSC endorsed, at your recommendation, a road map leading to a Diplomatic Conference in mid-2010 and the holding of an intersessional meeting of the ad hoc Working Group to progress the work so that, at this session, you could bring the finalization of the draft amendments one step closer. Subsequently, the Council, at its 100th session in June 2008, having noted with appreciation the offer of the Government of the Philippines to host the Diplomatic Conference at no additional cost to the Organization, requested me to include a relevant appropriation in my budget proposals for the 2010-2011 biennium.

The large number of submissions to your previous session, coupled with those prepared for the subsequent meeting of the intersessional working group and for this session, highlights the importance and significance of the review we have embarked upon. Along with the preliminary revised draft text of the Convention and Code, this week you will also consider, among other things, a host of proposals relating to the harmonization of definitions; requirements related to certificates issued under the present Convention; recognition of certificates; revalidation of certificates and methods of maintaining professional competence; effective communications; celestial navigation; visual signalling; harmonizing near-coastal voyage-related requirements for engineers; contemporary and emerging technologies; marine environment awareness training; training requirements for engineers serving on steam-powered ships, for personnel operating dynamic positioning systems and for personnel operating ships in ice covered waters; guidance for personnel serving on board supply vessels in anchor-handling operations; and prevention of drug and alcohol abuse - a matter that may have significant repercussions on safety of life at sea, just as it has on land, and on which I look forward to your debate and conclusions.

Our vision of the revised Convention and Code has always been that the two instruments provide, at any given time, the necessary global standards for the training and certification of seafarers to man technologically advanced ships today and for some time to come and I am pleased to see that, thanks to your strenuous efforts and hard work, that vision is bound to come to fruition soon; as much as I am pleased to note that, to date, the agreed timetable for completing the review has been adhered to. I am sure that, with the usual IMO spirit of co-operation, you will be able to finalize the proposed amendments in time for adoption by next year's Diplomatic Conference.

Consequential to the completion of the current review of the STCW Convention and Code and the subsequent adoption of the resulting amendments, there will be a need to provide technical assistance to interested Members with the aim not only to raise awareness of the revised requirements but also to assist STCW Parties to implement the revised provisions in a timely manner worldwide. To this end, we are planning a series of seminars/workshops to start immediately, after the adoption of the amendments, under the Organization's Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme for the next biennium. We anticipate that all the planned activities will be conducted before the amendments enter into force.

Another activity directly associated with the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and Code, once completed, should be the review and updating, as necessary, of model courses under the instruments. This will be of great assistance to all stakeholders to properly implement the revised requirements. GlobalMET's offer to review and/or revise the model courses in a phased manner is, therefore, recognized with appreciation.

Distinguished delegates,

Fatigue continues to cause considerable concern, as, according to analyses of recent reports into marine accidents and incidents, it has emerged as a significant contributory factor. Certain manning and watchkeeping practices, particularly on short sea voyages, are reportedly related to the generation of fatigue with potentially serious consequences for the safety of navigation and the protection of the marine environment; hence, the review of resolution A.890, as amended, on Principles of safe manning being undertaken by your Sub Committee is indeed timely and I look forward to further progress of this work. I am informed that the correspondence group established at your last session has made excellent progress and, therefore, I wish to take this opportunity to thank all the participating Governments and organizations and, in particular, its coordinator and lead country. I am confident that the outcome of the group's work will assist you substantially in your efforts to ensure that IMO continues to promote sound principles for safe and efficient manning levels on ships.

There are other important issues on your agenda deserving careful consideration, such as the validation of model training courses; unlawful practices associated with certificates of competency; training for seafarer safety representatives; measures to enhance maritime security; and mandatory requirements for determining safe manning. In all these activities, you should keep uppermost in your mind the role of the human element, as repeatedly emphasized by the MSC and specifically called for in the Committee's Guidelines on the organization and method of work.

On many occasions before, I have voiced my concerns over the unacceptably high loss of fishing vessel personnel every year; and the MSC, Council and Assembly have repeatedly commented, with disappointment, on the slow progress thus far made towards the entry into force of the Torremolinos Protocol and the STCW-F Convention. There is no doubt that ratifying and implementing both instruments, as soon as practicable, will contribute substantially towards enhancing the safety of ships and personnel engaged in the fishing industry worldwide. While the MSC is exploring various options to facilitate the entry into force of the Torremolinos Protocol, I would, once again, reiterate my previous pleas by asking all Governments that have not yet done so to ratify the two instruments at the earliest possible time in order to bring them into force and, through rigorous implementation and enforcement, stem the high loss of life in the sector.

Distinguished delegates,

I will now invite your attention to two issues of a more general nature.

First, security during meetings - about which we cannot afford any complacency - and, second, the need to seek continued progress in the implementation of the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme. These are two areas to which I will not cease to invite your attention and, therefore, I will appreciate your contribution on both, now and in the future.

Distinguished delegates,

From the items on your agenda I have highlighted, it is evident that, again, you have not only a heavy workload but also a considerable number of important issues to address in your quest for sound and balanced decisions on which to base your advice to the MSC and, as appropriate, the MEPC as well. Dealing, as you do, with the human element makes your sub-committee, more than any other IMO body, very special, placing a heavy responsibility on your shoulders. I am confident, however, that with your usual spirit of co operation and under the able leadership of your Chairman, Admiral Brady of Jamaica, you will be able to make good progress and arrive at solutions, which will serve well the causes of maritime safety and security and the protection of the marine environment. I wish you success and the best of luck.

Thank you.