The Assembly among other things, deliberated on IMO’s achievements over the last 2 years; the challenges faced by the international maritime community moving into the second half of the first decade of the new century and the aspirations desired in order to move forward towards achieving the objectives and ideals towards the creation of a safer, more secure and environment friendly world.

Shipping has an important role to play in underpinning the global economy on which all prosperity is based. Sea transport remains by far the most cost-effective way to move goods and raw materials in quantity around the world, safely and securely. In 2005, ships carried more than one tonne of cargo for every man, woman and child on the planet.

IMO has developed and adopted comprehensive array of measures to improve maritime safety and thereby reduce accidents. Fewer vessel casualties mean that less cargo and less fuel oil find their way into the sea, thus making a significant contribution to environmental sustainability. Any steps taken towards making shipping a safer, more efficient and more environmentally-friendly activity must increase, overall, the positive contribution the maritime industry makes to global sustainability and to sustainable development.

With the entry of Timor-Leste, IMO now has 166 members.