LONG -TERM WORK PLAN OF THE ORGANIZATION
(UP TO
2004)
(Adopted
on 27 November 1997)
THE
ASSEMBLY,
RECALLING
resolution A 836(19) by which it approved the subjects for consideration in the
long-term work plan of the Organization in the period up to 2002,
RECALLING
ALSO that it requested the Council, the Maritime Safety Committee, the Legal
Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Technical
Co-operation Committee and the Facilitation Committee to keep the respective
lists of subjects under review in the light of developments in the work of the
Organization while continuing to bear in mind the directives contained in
resolution A.500(XII) on the Objectives of the Organization and resolution
A.777(18) on the Work methods and organization of work in Committees and their
subsidiary bodies,
HAVING
CONSIDERED the proposal of the Council for the long-term work plan which has
been prepared in the light of the views of the Maritime Safety Committee, the
Legal Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Technical
Co-operation Committee and the Facilitation Committee,
1.
APPROVES the long-term work plan comprising an indicative list of subjects for
consideration by the Organization for the period up to 2004 as set out in the
annex to the present resolution;
2.
REQUESTS the Council, the
Maritime Safety Committee, the Legal Committee, the Marine Environment
Protection Committee, the Technical Co-operation Committee and the Facilitation
Committee to keep the respective lists of subjects under review in the light of
developments in the work of the Organization, while continuing to bear in mind
the directives contained in resolution A.500(XII) and resolution A.777(18) and
to report or recommend, as necessary, to the Assembly at its twenty-first
regular session;
3.
FURTHER REQUESTS all Committees, when considering proposals for future work, to
ensure that the subjects proposed are those on which significant work could
reasonably be envisaged in the foreseeable future;
4.
EMPHASIZES that all proposed items, and especially those involving amendments
to existing conventions, particularly those which have been in force for a
short period, should be evaluated by reference to the directives in resolution
A.500(XII), and that due attention should be given to the requirement that a
well-documented "compelling need" must be demonstrated for new or
revised standards;
5.
REITERATES ITS REQUEST to the Council, the Maritime Safety Committee, the Legal
Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Technical
Co-operation Committee and the Facilitation Committee, when reviewing the
long-term work plan and in making recommendations for the work programme for
subsequent periods, to bear in mind the desirability of scheduling not more
than one conference in each year, save in exceptional circumstances.
The
following is an indicative list of subjects for consideration by the Maritime
Safety Committee, the Legal Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee,
the Technical Co-operation Committee and the Facilitation Committee for the
period up to 2004. This list is not exhaustive and the subjects are not listed
in order of priority.
The
subjects below marked with an asterisk are considered as high-priority
subjects. The remainder should be considered as such, and work on them
initiated accordingly, only after proposals substantiating their importance and
urgency have been submitted and endorsed by the Committee or a compelling need
to do so has been clearly established and the Committee has agreed that urgent
action should be taken on them.
1.
Pursuant to the provisions of Articles 1 and 28 of the Convention on the
International Maritime Organization, to encourage the general adoption of the
highest practicable standards in respect of matters concerning maritime safety
and efficiency of navigation, including any matter within the scope of the
Organization, concerned with aids to navigation, construction and equipment of
ships (and other marine vehicles), training and qualification of seafarers and
fishing vessel personnel, manning from a safety standpoint, rules for the
prevention of collisions, handling of cargoes, maritime safety procedures and
requirements, implementation of the global SAR plan, hydrographic information,
log-books and navigational records, marine casualty investigations, salvage and
any other matter directly affecting maritime safety (e.g. fire safety, maritime
communications and the safe transport of cargoes generally), and with due
regard to the contents of resolutions A.500(XII) and A.777(18).
2.
To provide the necessary machinery for performing any duties assigned to it and
to maintain such close relationship with other bodies as may further the
purposes of the Organization.
*1.
Implementation, enforcement, monitoring, technical interpretation and
improvement of conventions, codes, recommendations and guidelines.
*2.
Role of the human element in the prevention of maritime casualties and
accidents and promotion and maintenance of a safety culture.
*3.
Shipboard and shore-based management for the safe operation of ships.
*4.
Formal safety assessment.
5.
Safety aspects of the design, construction, machinery, electrical
installations, equipment and operation of specific types of ships, such as
ro-ro ships, ships carrying solid bulk cargoes, oil tankers, chemical tankers,
gas carriers, high-speed craft, fishing vessels, mobile offshore drilling
units, special purpose ships, offshore supply vessels, nuclear merchant ships,
barge carriers, barges carrying dangerous chemicals in bulk, diving systems and
other novel types of craft.
6.
Procedures for the control of ships, including deficiency reports.
*7.
Casualty statistics and investigations into serious casualties.
8.
Safety-related aspects of working conditions on board fishing vessels.
9.
Harmonization of survey and certification requirements.
10.
Training, watchkeeping and operational procedures for maritime personnel,
including seafarers, fishermen, maritime pilots, VTS operators, those
responsible for maritime safety in mobile offshore units, and shore-based port
personnel.
11.
Measures to improve navigational safety, including ships' routeing,
requirements and standards for navigational aids (including the development of
functional requirements of shipborne navigational systems and requirements),
ship-reporting systems and vessel traffic systems.
*12.
Full development of the global maritime distress and safety system and other
maritime radiocommunication matters (including maritime safety information,
shipborne radio equipment and operational procedures) and the provision of
maritime search and rescue services.
13.
Safe evacuation, survival and recovery following maritime casualties or in case
of distress.
14.
Safe handling and carriage by sea of solid and liquid bulk cargoes and
container safety matters.
15.
Safe handling and carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form, including
portable tanks, unit loads, other cargo transport units, shipborne barges and
intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).
*16.
Review of the INF Code and consideration of related matters.
17.
Emergency procedures and safety measures for ships carrying dangerous goods,
medical first aid in case of accidents involving dangerous goods, and the safe
use of pesticides in ships.
18.
Safe transport of dangerous cargoes and related activities in port areas.
19.
Intact stability, subdivision, damage stability and load lines of ships.
20.
Tonnage measurement of ships.
21.
Manoeuvrability of ships.
22.
Matters pertaining to fire safety on board ships.
23.
Prevention of piracy and unlawful acts against ships.
24.
Transboundary movement of hazardous waste.
25.
Co-operation with the United Nations and other international bodies on matters
of mutual interest.
Subjects
1.
Consideration of the legal status of novel types of craft, such as air-cushion
vehicles, operating in the marine environment.
2.
A possible convention on the regime of vessels in foreign ports.
3.
Possible revision of maritime law conventions in the light of proven need and
subject to the directives in resolution A.500(XII).
MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE
1.
Pursuant to the provisions of Articles 1 and 38 of the Convention on the
International Maritime Organization, to encourage adoption of the highest
practicable standards in matters concerning the prevention and control of
marine pollution from ships with due regard to the context of resolutions
A.500(XII) and A.777(18). More immediately to promote world-wide acceptance,
implementation and uniform interpretation of the International Convention for
the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of
1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78), as well as of the International
Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC),
1990.
2.
To adhere to the principles and declaration adopted by UNCED in the field of
marine environment protection and response, including the principle of the
precautionary approach.
3.
To provide the necessary machinery for performing any duties assigned to it and
to maintain such close relationship with other bodies as may further the
purposes of the Organization.
4.
To promote, in co-operation with UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank, in particular the
Global Environment Facility, and national development agencies, IMO's
programmes of technical assistance in the field of marine environmental
protection, including the management and execution of large-scale projects.
1.
Implementation, enforcement, amendment and uniform interpretation of the
provisions of MARPOL 73/78 and related codes, recommendations and guidelines,
and monitoring of the effectiveness with which the Convention is implemented,
including:
.1 Enforcement mechanism and
procedures for the control of ships and discharges under MARPOL 73/78;
.2 the examination of the
role of the human element in all measures aimed at the elimination of
intentional pollution and minimization of accidental discharge of harmful
substances;
.3 penalties for
infringement of Convention provisions; and
.4 casualty investigations
in relation to marine pollution.
2.
Follow-up action to UNCED, in particular with respect to the implementation of
Agenda 21 regarding the prevention of degradation of the oceans.
3.
Review of the standards for the design, construction, equipment and operation
of oil and chemical tankers.
4.
Categorization of noxious liquid substances and harmful substances.
5.
Identification and protection of particularly sensitive areas, including a
review of resolution A.720(17).
6.
Implementation of the ISM Code with regard to effective management for the
prevention and control of marine pollution.
7.
Implementation of the INF Code and related matters, including environmental
impact assessment and salvage and recovery of INF Code materials lost.
8.
Consideration of measures to minimize the risks of introducing harmful aquatic
organisms and pathogens with discharges from ships of ballast water and
associated sediments, with a view to preparing legally binding provisions on
ballast water management, together with implementation guidelines thereto, for
adoption by a conference in 2000.
9.
Promotion of the provision of adequate reception facilities in all ports and
use thereof by ships, including the application of environmentally sound
techniques for the treatment and ultimate disposal of ships' wastes and the
development of a financing scheme for the establishment and operation of
reception facilities.
10.
Consideration of the harmful effects of the use of antifouling paints for
ships.
11.
Development of measures to prevent pollution from small craft.
12.
Development of measures for the prevention of marine pollution by noxious solid
substances carried in bulk.
13.
Implementation, enforcement, amendment and uniform interpretation of the
provisions of the OPRC Convention, and implementation of the OPPR Conference
resolutions, including:
.1 national capacity
building for main pollution preparedness and response;
.2 promotion of bilateral
and regional arrangements for marine pollution preparedness and response;
.3 promotion of training and
transfer of technology;
.4 development of guidelines
and training materials for respnse measures, including the development and
updating of anti-pollution manuals; and
.5 extension of the OPRC
Convention to include harmful substances other than oil.
1.
In considering the specific subjects of the long-term work plan, the Committee
agreed to give a high priority to the following subjects:
.1 review of Annexes I and
II of MARPOL 73/78 (paragraph 11.1);
.2 measures to promote
implementation of Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78 (paragraph 11.1);
.3 INF Code related matters,
and preparedness and response related to carriage of INF Code material
(paragraph II.7);
.4 harmful aquatic organisms
in ballast water (paragraph II.8); and
.5 preparation of the
instrument to expand the OPRC Convention to include hazardous and noxious
substances (paragraph 11.13).
TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE
1.
Pursuant to the provisions of the IMO Convention, the Technical Co-operation
Committee: establishes guidelines for the development and implementation of the
IMO Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP); considers and
prioritizes technical co-operation programmes and projects for the
implementation of activities for which IMO acts as the executing or
co-operating agency; and considers any other matters relating to IMO's
functions in the technical co-operation field.
2.
The objective of the ITCP is to assist developing countries in strengthening
their institutional, legal, managerial, scientific, technical and training
capacities to implement global rules and standards contained in the treaty and
non-treaty instruments adopted by IMO in its four areas of concentration,
namely:
.1 maritime safety and
related aspects of shipping and ports;
.2 marine environment
protection;
.3 maritime legislation; and
.4 facilitation of
international maritime traffic.
3.
In addition to the above, the ITCP also takes into account the need for
technical co-operation in the following matters which are generic to the four
areas of concentration and which also relate to the effective implementation of
related IMO instruments, guidelines and recommendations:
.1 women in development;
.2 suppression of unlawful
acts;
.3 drug use and alcohol
abuse; and
.4 piracy.
4.
The relevant technical committees of the Organization develop technical
co-operation subprogrammes in their respective areas of concentration. These
are subsequently amalgamated by the Technical Co-operation Committee as the
ITCP, on the basis of the subprogrammes' common goals and overall strategies.
Accordingly, as