The republic praised the unsung heroes’ efforts in sustaining world supply chains
Indonesia’s Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi announced the country’s continued support towards seafarers at the 32nd International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Assembly. Held virtually on 6–15 December 2021, the summit had 175 member states in attendance.
Its support never stopped
Minister Sumadi noted in a press statement, “The pandemic hit the backbone of trade and global economy hard. It stressed the importance of seafarers as key workers in the maritime industry to sustain shipping and global supply chains.” He also assured that the republic remains committed to support the crew change process and seafarers’ repatriation. To date, Indonesia has supported as many as 11 ports for crew change activities and repatriation.
Minister Sumadi cited the MSC.473 of the IMO Resolution, that Indonesia repatriated 60,000 seafarers and facilitated over 8,000 crew changes involving both local and foreign seafarers. He outlined Indonesia’s active participation as an IMO member through the body’s Marine Environment Protection of the South East Asian Seas (MEPSEAS), GloFouling Partnerships Project, GloLitter Partnerships Project, and Blue Solutions Project.
He added Indonesia has been continuously cooperating with coastal countries, and those using the Malacca Strait and Singapore Strait for maintaining traffic securely and safely. The safety aspect is addressed by protecting and enhancing shipping navigation safety in the Sunda Strait and Lombok Strait; through implementing the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) adopted at the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in 2019. The republic has been an IMO member state since 1961 and remains actively involved in IMO’s implementing of conventions, standards and guidelines.
Crewing Online News Team
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