NEWS NEWS
July 10th, 2019

Philippine Government Institutionalizes IMSAS Council

Manila, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte formally institutionalizes the Inter-agency Council on the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) by signing Executive Order No. 84.

The council will ensure that government agencies comply with the country’s obligations as a member state of the IMO—the United Nation’s specialized agency for regulating shipping. It will be composed of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary as Chairperson and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator as Vice-Chairperson while representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and Cebu Port Authority (CPA) will form the council’s members.

The IMSAS Council will also seek to assess the level of implementation and enforcement of the provisions of mandatory IMO instruments pertaining to safety of life at sea, prevention of pollution from ships, standards of training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers, load lines, tonnage, as well as regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

A technical working group will also be formed to provide technical support on specific subjects of the audit scheme, according to the President’s order.