The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) hosted Mr Kitack Lim, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) from 29 August to 1 September 2016. This is Mr Kitack Lim’s first visit to Singapore since assuming the position of IMO Secretary-General on 1 January 2016. Mr Lim’s visit during his first year of office underscores the strong ties between the IMO and Singapore, as well as the contributions that Singapore makes to the international maritime community.
During his visit, Mr Kitack Lim delivered the keynote address at the inaugural International Safety@Sea Conference, which was opened by Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, on 30 August 2016. In his address titled ‘Building a resilient Safety@Sea culture’, Mr Lim spoke of key priorities and polices in the areas of maritime safety, particularly the importance of building a culture of safety throughout the global shipping community.
Mr Lim also delivered a talk under the MPA Academy Distinguished Speaker Series, on 30 August, to some 200 maritime industry leaders, government officials and academics. In his talk titled ‘Future plans and vision for the IMO’, Mr Lim spoke about his vision for the IMO, making particular mention of the strategies that need to be put in place to ensure that IMO member states achieve their goals and objectives. He also shared about the role played by the IMO, as the industry’s international regulatory authority, in ensuring that conditions exist for international shipping to achieve and secure its own sustainable future. Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, was the moderator at the talk.
This morning, Mr Kitack Lim called on Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, and was hosted to lunch by Mr Pang Kin Keong, Permanent Secretary for Transport. Mr Lim also met with Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, and other senior officials from MPA, to discuss issues of mutual interest such as safety of navigation, maritime security and protection of the marine environment.
Mr Lim was the President of Busan Port Authority until end July 2015. From 2006 to 2009, he served as the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Permanent Representative to IMO and was Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation from 2002 to 2004. Since 1986, Mr Lim began attending IMO meetings as part of the Republic of Korea’s delegation, actively participating in maritime safety and environmental protection issues.
