A delegation of the Azerbaijani State Maritime Administration took part in the 28th meeting of the International Maritime Organization in London.
The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee discussed ways to improve mandatory audits to ensure compliance with international maritime transport conventions at a recent meeting, the Azerbaijani State Maritime Administration said.
The delegation was led by Gudrat Gurbanov, head of the Azerbaijani State Maritime Administration. The session was attended by the representatives of 164 countries, as well as various international organizations.
The session addressed improving operations to protect the marine environment and search and rescue operations. The IMO member countries also discussed methods to strengthen control mechanisms over classification societies and the mobilization of military forces to thwart piracy.
During the session, Gurbanov held meetings with the heads of maritime administrations from leading countries and discussed Azerbaijani maritime transport and other sectors of the economy.
The delegation also noted that the Azerbaijani National Center for Detection and Monitoring will open after the appropriate equipment is delivered.
IMO Secretary General, Admiral Efthimios Mitropoulos read a report on combating piracy at the event.
The session also elected Neil Ferrer as the IMO Maritime Safety Committee's new secretary.
The Assembly meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted key resolutions and amendments relating to the Organization’s mandatory audit scheme, paving the way for the scheme to come into effect by 2016 once amendments to mandatory instruments have entered into force.
The 28th Assembly of IMO met in London at IMO Headquarters from 25 November to 4 December 2013. It was attended by more than 1,100 representatives from159 Member States and two Associate Members; one non-Member; the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO); and from 12 intergovernmental organizations with which agreements of co-operation have been concluded, 31 international non-governmental organizations in consultative status, and the World Maritime University (WMU).
IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
All 170 Member States and three Associate Members are entitled to attend the Assembly, which is IMO’s highest governing body. The intergovernmental organizations with which agreements of co-operation have been concluded and international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO are also invited to attend.
The Assembly normally meets once every two years in regular session. It is responsible for approving the work programme, voting the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the Organization. It also elects the Organization’s 40-Member Council.

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