The 26th Session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was held at its Headquarters in London from 23 November to 2 December 2009 and was attended by some 1,200 delegates from IMO Member States, as well as international and non-governmental organizations.

The Assembly is IMO’s governing body. It currently has 169 Member States and three Associate

Members.  The Assembly normally meets once every two years in regular session. It is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the Organization. It also elects the Council.

Council

The Assembly also elected the new IMO Council for 2010-2011.  The Cook Islands were unsuccessful in the elections  for a seat on the Council falling just short of the requisite numbers. Nevertheless, it did extremely well for one of the newest member of the Organization. Mr. Jeffrey G. Lantz (United States) was elected as its Chairman and re-elected Mr. Dumisani Ntuli (South Africa) as its Vice-Chairman.

Cook  Islands statement to  the 26th Session of the IMO Assembly .

  
H.E. Captain Ian Finley  , Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the International Maritime  Organisation - United Nations .

  
Kia  Orana,

President, Secretary General, Excellencies, Distinguished  Delegates, as a Small Island Developing State in the South Pacific  region, the Cook Islands shares a common unique identity with our  neighbours, as well as a responsibility for the stewardship of our islands and  resources.

Our  ocean has supported generations of Pacific communities as a medium for  transport by sea and as a source of food, tradition and culture. Our present  and future well-being is dependent upon the Ocean and the ships that sail upon  it.  The Cook Islands EEZ covers no less than 2 million  square kilometres of the South Pacific and this in itself will convey to you  why we embrace the philosophy of “OUR OCEANS, OUR  RESPONSIBILITY”.

The  importance of our ocean area and islands to South Pacific Island nation states cannot be overstated.  The vast Ocean represents our past, present and future and is the focal point  in the lives of all the South Pacific Island peoples with a dependence on maritime  transport .

For these reasons my Government considers it  important to reiterate our unswerving commitment to, and robust support of,  the IMO as the preeminent international body to develop and oversee the  implementation of maritime legislation for the global merchant fleet that we  and other Island nations depend upon for our  survival.

Sir,  the impact of legislation developed at the IMO is a critical factor in  ensuring the uninterrupted supply of essential goods throughout the South  Pacific region in what would be considered normal distribution in the  developed world.  Mr. President, it  is therefore extremely important that due consideration be given, at all  levels of the Organisation, not the least the Council, to the impact of  legislation as it is being developed on Small Island Developing States and the Least Developed Countries  .
We believe that it  is fundamental to the consideration of any submission proposing either new  instruments or amendments to existing mandatory instruments that the  proponents identify  the potential  impact on developing countries, such as the South Pacific Island nations,  and whether or not  alternative measures such as differing phase-in requirements, exemptions,  tonnage size  components would be justified and – importantly - what specific assistance may  be required by way of capacity building and training through the  Organization’s ITCP  & Technical Assistance  programmes.

Sir,  the IMO is the sum of its parts, that is 169 member states, and these  important factors should not be seen as an afterthought, leading to the  potential disruption of essential supplies and the confusion and hardship  of Island peoples.  Furthermore, to  properly consider such issues at the initial consideration of new work  programme items would greatly assist in developing a more realistic assessment  of budgetary needs for the Organisation’s  all important  Technical Cooperation programme. To this end the Cook Islands has presented  its candidacy for Election to Council under Category  C.

Mr.  President, our South Pacific region’s ecosystems contain high biological  diversity that has sustained the lives of Pacific communities, since first  settlement. They contain the most extensive coral reefs in the world, unique  landforms, globally important fisheries, significant mineral resources and  high numbers of endemic species. They may also contain many undiscovered  resources of potential use to humankind and yet, worryingly, there are now  undeniable and rapid changes taking place associated with climate-related  extreme weather events. Of course, the South Pacific Island States have always  been among those most at risk because they are naturally located in areas most  prone to climate related disasters; but recent studies show that tropical  cyclones, droughts, floods, losses of coastal infrastructure and land, failure  of subsistence crops and coastal fisheries, losses in coral reefs are now  common across the region, causing record losses and human  suffering.

Sir,  as a Small Island  Developing State in the South Pacific the Cook Islands fully understands and  shares the legitimate concerns and fears of other Island nations in regard to  the  impact of  Global Warming on their future wellbeing and as such the Cook Islands has been  , and will continue to be closely engaged with our Alliance of Small Island  State and the Least Developed Countries  in the discussions  at both the UNFCCC and here at the IMO, as the UN agency with competence for  matters maritime  in developing  measures to mitigate the impact of climate change from shipping.   The Cook  Islands will  continue to contribute to the work of the IMO in order to ensure both  practicable and meaningful reductions of GHG emissions from  Shipping.

An  important issue on the IMO agenda is that of the Voluntary IMO Member State  Audit scheme and the Cook Islands recognises the scheme as a key component to  ensuring member states can fulfill their obligations for Flag, Port and  Coastal requirements and  contribute to the eradication  of sub-standard shipping. We acknowledge the benefits that the scheme will  bring about; not the least in identifying where capacity building activities –  for example – the provision of Technical assistance would have the greatest  effect.  Mr  President we are pleased to inform the Assembly that the Cook  Islands have  volunteered for Audit and anticipate this being undertaken during the  forthcoming biennium.

President, the Cook  Islands reaffirms to  the Assembly its commitment to continue to work together with all IMO Member  States for the enhancement of Maritime Safety, Security and the protection of  the Marine Environment.

Thank you President and may fair winds and smooth sailing  assist as you direct the 26th Assembly of this effective and proud  Organization through its important deliberations.

Kia  Manuia