India advocates enhanced Container Ship Safety and showcases Gender inclusion at 134th IMO Council Session

LONDON : Indian Delegation led by Shri T.K. Ramachandaran, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt of India, is attending the 134th session of the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

On the opening day of the session, a strong statement was made by India, citing recent maritime incidents happened on foreign flag vessels in Indian waters due to undeclared hazardous cargoes and structural & stability issues of container ships. India, while also highlighting the role played by the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard for the safety of life at see, advocated that the IMO needs to undertake a comprehensive investigation and thorough review of all incidents involving container ships worldwide.

India called for a deeper examination of current safety protocols, and need for an urgently review and strengthening container ship safety and its operational standards on packaging, declaration, stowage, and monitoring of lithium-ion batteries and IMDG cargo drawing upon the lessons, with specific investigation in such cases being handled by IMO led investigators for better standardisation and measures to ensure safety and security for container operations.

Indian delegation while making intervention on IMO’s Gender Inclusion Strategy also highlighted and shared national efforts on gender equality and informed IMO that India has launched the Sagar Mein Samman means Honour at sea initiative on 25 November 2024 through the Directorate General of Shipping, to foster an inclusive maritime ecosystem for women from seafaring to leadership roles in line with the IMO’s goals and India’s Amritkal Vision 2047. The success story of increase of nearly 650 % in women seafarers in India was also apprised to the august house during the 134th Council meeting of the IMO.