Africa-Press – Liberia. The 82nd Session of the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has ended with Liberia retaining as Chair of the Committee.
Liberia Chaired the 82nd Session of the MEPC which began on Monday September 30 through Friday October 4, 2024, through the country’s Alternate Representative to the International Maritime Organization, Dr. Harry Conway.
With this re-election, Liberia through Dr. Conway, will chair the MEPC’s activities for 2025.
In an interview with reporters following the conclusion of the IMO’s 82nd MEPC session, Dr. Conway said there were a lot achieved during the session through the spirit of compromises and cooperation that led the IMO to achieving its agenda items.
Dr. Conway said the IMO will continue to build on the process it has already achieved under his leadership; naming reduction in GreenHouse Gas emission and dealing with decarbonisation as areas of focus.
“I will oversee the Marine Environmental Protection Committee for 2025. We will make sure to build on the progress of what we have already achieved as far as our agenda is concerned; most particularly in terms of the GreenHouse Gas (GHG) reduction in international shipping popularly referred to as decarbonisation.” Dr. Conway said.
“This discussion continues as we strive to adopt the midterm measure for 2027 because we adopted the short term measure back in 2020 which came into force in 2023. By the year 2025 in October we should be able to adopt the midterm measure and that will come into force hopefully by 2027.”
Dr. Conway said Liberians should be proud that one of their own is chairing the most powerful committee of the International Maritime Organization which is the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC).
“What our presidency means is that Liberians back home and across the world should be proud that one of their own is chairing this powerful MEPC session. Liberia should be proud further that your own is the first black person to sit over there. In the meeting people from the African continent are all proud because we (Liberia) are sitting there chairing. Dr. Conway said.
Making reference to the conflicts in Europe and elsewhere, Dr. Conway said it poses threat to ships and seafarers at the global level and that Liberia as the largest ship registry worldwide needs to sit where tough security decisions are made.
Liberia’s current position at the IMO points to reasons why Liberia should have a non-prominent seat on the United Nations Security Council to partake in global security making decisions, Dr. Conway noted.
Liberia Prominent Representative to the IMO
In closing remarks, during the conclusion of the 82nd session of the MEPC meeting, Liberia’s Prominent Representative to the International Maritime Organization Ambassador Robert Kpadeh was full of praises for Dr. Harry Conway a member of the Liberian mission to ably preside over the session.
“As one of our own, we are exceedingly proud of you. Without a doubt, we can say, Liberia, Africa, and the global maritime industry is blessed to have an exceptionally erudite maritime expert like yourself, especially at such crucial time when international shipping confronts the tough challenge of decarbonisation.” Amb Kpadeh said.
“Dr. Conway, your wealth of experience and exemplary leadership skills are critical to the ever-expanding specialized field of climate change generally and international shipping decarbonisation in particular. We wish you all the best as you steer the affairs of the Committee in 2025.”
“While it was challenging, with complex and difficult issues to consider, as in the case of the Comprehensive Impact Assessment (CIA) on potential candidate midterm GHG reduction measures, yet, in the usual IMO’s spirit of cooperation and compromise, we have made a good progress with great prospects into the future.” He noted.
Ambassador Kpadeh said with Dr. Conway at the helm and the needed cooperation of member states, he is quite confident that the IMO shall overcome and sail smoothly towards the overarching goal of CO2 reduction and subsequent eradication.
He pledged the Liberian delegation renewed unflinching support towards the IMO’s strategic goals, as it regulates global maritime transport standards uniformly in the interests of mankind.
The Liberian Prominent Representative to the IMO thanked the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and others for their gracious donations to the IMO Trust Fund and said their donations will contribute to the IMO immensely.
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