MITROPOULOS BEATS DRUM FOR FLAG STATE AUDIT

[proud_ionian]

source: MGN

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos has used part of his opening address at this week's session of the sub-committee on fire protection to urge more countries voluntary flag-state audit scheme. He told delegates that he would “would like to encourage member states to continue.....the commendable efforts already made to firmly institutionalise the Voluntary IMO Member States Audit Scheme, so that the benefits that we have observed in the short time since its launch can be expanded to the Organization’s entire membership, thereby promoting the global, consistent and effective implementation and enforcement of IMO instruments”.

He added: “In this regard, I would invite Member States that have not yet done so, to volunteer for audit and also nominate qualified auditors. We should all remain focussed on ensuring the continued success and further expansion of the Scheme without delay – so that we also reap its fruit without delay too.”

In November Mr Mitropoulos reported to the IMO Assembly: “The first audit was conducted in September 2006 and, to date, a total of 18 audits have been completed in 15 months. In all, 37 member states have volunteered to be audited and 106 individuals have been nominated for inclusion in the roster of auditors, with 125 individuals from 106 states having attended regional training courses for auditors