The recent participation of Indonesia, represented by the Ministry of Transportation through the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, in the 73rd Technical Cooperation Committee (TC) session at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London, England, from October 16th to 19th, 2023, has underscored the country’s dedication to enhancing the maritime industry and promoting the involvement of women in the maritime sector.
The session, inaugurated by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and chaired by Ambassador Dwight Gardener of Antigua and Barbuda, with Ms. Anays Berocal of Panama as the Vice-Chair, serves as a crucial platform for IMO member states to improve technical expertise and resources necessary for safe and efficient maritime operations.
As stated by the head of the Indonesian delegation and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indonesian Embassy in London, Barkah Bayu Mirajaya, the TC session aims to aid IMO member states in addressing technical challenges encountered in the shipping industry.
Throughout the TC 73 session, the primary focus was on discussing technical cooperation programmes between IMO and its member states, intended to assist in the implementation of IMO regulations, particularly in developing countries, and to bolster the role of women in the maritime sector.
“Indonesia has been actively engaged in various capacity building activities under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) framework with IMO. Additionally, Indonesia has participated in other capacity-building projects initiated by IMO, such as the MEPSEAS Project and GloFouling Project,” added Barkah.
In addition to its active participation in the TC session, Indonesia sponsored a coffee break as part of its efforts to support its re-election as a Category C member of the IMO Council for the 2024-2025 term. The re-election will be deliberated during the morning session on Thursday, October 19th, 2023.
With Indonesia’s active involvement in the TC session, it is hoped that the capacity of the maritime industry can be enhanced through capacity building programmes and that the role of women in the maritime sector can be further strengthened. This, in turn, will make a positive contribution to ensuring the safety and efficiency of the global shipping industry, concluded Barkah.
