Monaco participates in work of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee

Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Monaco’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Deputy Permanent Representative © DR

Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Monaco’s Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and Armelle Roudaut-Lafon, Deputy Permanent Representative, are taking part in the 74^th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee in London from 13 to 17 May 2019.

A video recorded by H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince who was invited by the IMO Secretary-General was shown during the opening of the session. In His message, the Prince recalled “the important role that oceans play in climate regulation, food security...” and welcomed the progress made by the IMO.

The IMO has been behind numerous international agreements on the safety of maritime transport or, with the MARPOL convention for example, preventing pollution at sea.

However, much more still needs to be done in order to achieve “clean” maritime transport. Since the interests of states and private companies are not always the same, the Committee is responsible for seeking delicate consensus on issues such as standards for greenhouse gas emissions by ships.

The IMO is a UN agency which specialises in maritime affairs. It is based in London. The role of the Marine Environment Protection Committee is to set out best practices for maritime transport in order to prevent pollution and preserve biodiversity in the seas and oceans.