Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR 12) - Opening remarks

ADDRESS OF THE IMO SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE OPENING OF THE 12TH SESSION OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON NAVIGATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND SEARCH AND RESCUE (NCSR 12), (13 to 22 May 2025)

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez on 13 May 2025

Good morning distinguished delegates,

It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the twelfth session of the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue.

As part of the celebrations for the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime which is observed globally on 18 May each year, IMO will host on Friday, 16 May, within the margins of the Sub-Committee meeting, the International Day for Women in Maritime 2025 and the Gender Equality Award Ceremony. As part of this activity, a half-day symposium will take place, under the theme "An Ocean of Opportunities for Women", which links to the 2025 World Maritime Day theme "Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity". At the conclusion of the Symposium, the IMO Gender Equality Award 2025 will be presented, followed up by a reception. 

I encourage you to join this event, and to promote and celebrate the International Day for Women in Maritime.

WIth regards to the main topics on the NCSR agenda, the Sub-Committee, as always, has a bulky agenda with important matters on it. 

The introduction of new systems utilizing or enhancing digitalization seems to be a common topic across many items on your agenda.

Following the Maritime Safety Committee’s adoption of performance standards and NAVDAT services criteria, the implementation of the MF and HF digital navigational data system will further be discussed at this session. 

The VHF Data Exchange System (VDES) is again on your agenda and your Sub-Committee continues to consider how best to integrate it into the IMO’s regulatory framework, initially to enhance Automatic Identification System (AIS) capabilities and enable additional digital information exchange.

The revised Performance standards for ECDIS, recently adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee, introduced a transition period for the implementation of the "Universal Hydrographic Data Model", or S-100, developed by the International Hydrographic Organization to support a greater variety of hydrographic-related digital data, including the digital exchange of ships’ route plans. Noting that S-100 offers a platform to develop information related to different maritime services, future work and collaboration with many other international organizations will be necessary. It has now become necessary to consider connectivity matters between shore-based facilities and ships for the full realization of ECDIS S-100 products. I look forward to fruitful deliberations on this important matter.

You will also consider the use and recognition of augmentation systems to improve positioning, navigation, and timing information provided by Global Navigation Satellite Systems. I have recently signed a joint statement with ICAO and ITU regarding the protection of the radio navigation satellite service from harmful interference, calling Member States to take actions to protect such systems. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all of us of the importance of these systems, which are critical for ships’ navigation, encourage any actions that may enhance their resilience and prevent those that may impair the reliable use of these systems.   

I am confident that, under the expert guidance of your Chair, Mr. Joris Brouwers of the Kingdom of Netherlands, supported by the Vice-Chair, Mr. Carlos Espejo of Chile, as well as the staff of Maritime Safety Division together with the staff of supporting divisions, you will be able to successfully achieve the objectives set for this session.

I wish you every success in your deliberations; and I invite you all to the welcome reception in the Delegates' Lounge after the close of today's business. 

Thank you.

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