IMO's Global Technical Co-operation Programme on Maritime Security has received a significant boost in the form of a grant from Canada of 500,000 Canadian dollars over two fiscal years (2006/2007). The grant was made by Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, through its Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program.

The first instalment of 200,000 Canadian dollars has been received by IMO and a second instalment of 300,000 Canadian dollars will be made in June 2006.

The specific activities to be supported by the grant include regional seminars/workshops on maritime security for the Caribbean region and Central America, national maritime security train-the-trainer courses in the Arab States and needs assessment and advisory missions in Asia.

The grant agreement is a new form of financial support for IMO's Global Technical Co-operation Programme on Maritime Security.

IMO established the International Maritime Security Trust Fund in June 2003 to respond to requests for technical assistance on maritime security issues. Contributors to the fund have included the Governments of Denmark, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and a training institute (the United States-based Northeast Maritime Institute). All contributions greatly assist the delivery of activities under the Global Technical Co-operation Programme on Maritime Security.

The Programme was initiated in January 2002 and has included many activities aimed at enhancing maritime security and in particular the implementation of the maritime security measures adopted by IMO - including SOLAS chapter XI-2 (Special measures to enhance maritime security) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which were adopted in 2002 and entered into force in July 2004.

Since the launching of the Programme, 41 regional or sub-regional and 59 national workshops, seminars or training courses have been delivered. In addition, 32 country needs assessment and advisory missions have been fielded, with some 4,380 people having been trained in the process.

Briefing 12, 5 April 2006

For further information please contact:
Lee Adamson, Head, Public Information Services on 020 7587 3153 (media@imo.org) or
Natasha Brown, External Relations Officer on 020 7587 3274 (media@imo.org).