Feature 1 | FEATURE THEME In-depth | REGULATION Turning opportunities into solutions


Koji Sekimizu has formally taken control of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) following his formal appointment as secretary general this month. Te Naval Architect asked him what his priorities will be during his tenure of the maritime industry’s regulatory body.


F


irst impressions can often be deceptive, but when one meets Koji Sekimizu his kindly and welcoming


demeanour, akin to that of a father figure, should not be mistaken for weakness as beneath his warm welcome lies a solid foundation which is readily found even by the most superficial investigation. Sekimizu’s assured, discursive, approach


does not see problems as difficulties, but as opportunities to find solutions to move the industry forward. Optimism laced with steel could well be a winning formula for the maritime industry’s future. And he is under no illusions as to the tasks that lie ahead and describes each significant ‘opportunity’ with clarity. He identifies four major “opportunities”;


Piracy, the debate over market based measures for controlling greenhouse gas emissions; the IMO member state audit scheme and finding a solution to the financial conundrum regarding the World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden, was perhaps the surprise package in the group. Two of the four opportunities Sekimizu


identifies, piracy and the member state audit scheme, are more operational and, therefore, beyond the remit of this publication, though his views, particularly with the piracy issue, could be seen as indicative of the approach that Sekimizu will take throughout his tenure at the head of the IMO. “Somalia is a failed country and there


will be no recovery in a short space of time,” declares Sekimizu, however, he believes that the “final solution to piracy rests within Somalia”. “Te root causes of piracy must be dealt


with,” he says, and for this to happen “the future economic development of Somalia is key while Somalia must also establish a law enforcement capacity.” The IMO considers a solution to the


piracy problem must be seen as part of the Somali peace process and the international


16


and it will affect the discussions regarding MBMs, that has been the case with EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index). Future regulations should reflect the needs of the maritime industry and should not distort fair competition within the shipping industry,” says Sekimizu. Debate over the form of the MBM


Koji Sekimizu is the new man at the IMO.


community must play a role in that process. Succinct and to the point Sekimizu offers his views with a granite undertone that suggests he will not be easily diverted from his goal but his view is also inclusive of the whole community. Easily the most important issue for


Sekimizu and IMO will be the debate around market based measures (MBM) that will help to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that he says will be introduced by 2020. A tax levied on shipping companies is


favoured by some industry experts though the discussions around a carbon trading scheme, which could also offer the industry an advantage have also been mooted with a third possibility of a combination of a carbon tax and trading scheme also put forward. However, Sekimizu is clear that while the


form of the MBM can be debated the new system should not change the fundamental basis on which the maritime industry operates. “We must maintain the principle of a global


standard,” he says, adding that, “obviously the common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR) is a basic and fundamental principle


has for the first time been given a date to conclude, following the Durban conference last month a carbon fund will be introduced though the US, backed by China, India, Australia, Korea and Brazil, were reluctant to allow aviation and Shipping to be specific contributors to this fund, preferring that nation states should be the sole contributors and not individual industries. Nevertheless, Sekimizu is keen for the


IMO to meet its 2015 deadline for agreeing to a MBM for the maritime industry and will implement the new regime by 2020, he says. Success in creating and implementing


a MBM that limits GHG emissions could also help the World Maritime University (WMU). Currently the WMU is financed through contributions


from member


states of the IMO. Tat funding has been traditionally provided by IMO member states, and industry donors. In recent years, and as a result of the current economic crisis, funding to WMU has been cut. The institution is a research facility


as well as a training ground for those that work in the maritime industry and is a crucial element to maintaining a competitive industry. As with the WMU which creates


opportunities for those entering the maritime industry and for engineers already in the industry to build on the current technologies for future generations, Sekimizu believes that there have been many years that have created “ample opportunities”, the key now is to turn those years of opportunities into “years of solutions”. NA


The Naval Architect January 2012


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60