The Maritime and Coastguard Agency routinely invite a range of Government and industry stakeholders to a preparatory briefing meeting prior to each International Maritime Organisation session, including the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC).

At these meetings the attendees will discuss the maritime issues on the agenda and provide advice on these issues. Both the UK Government and its maritime stakeholders are committed to maritime safety including (a) seafarer and (b) ferry industry safety. No specific discussions on either of these issues were raised at this session of the MSC.

Some areas of discussion were on: the development of further measures to enhance safety of ships relating to fuel oil; shipborne towing and mooring; testing of lifesaving appliances; and, proposed new outputs for the Organisation, which will have an effect on the overall safety of seafarers.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency routinely invite a range of Government and industry stakeholders to a preparatory briefing meeting prior to each International Maritime Organisation session, including the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC).

At these meetings the attendees will discuss the maritime issues on the agenda and provide advice on these issues. Both the UK Government and its maritime stakeholders are committed to maritime safety including (a) seafarer and (b) ferry industry safety. No specific discussions on either of these issues were raised at this session of the MSC.

Some areas of discussion were on: the development of further measures to enhance safety of ships relating to fuel oil; shipborne towing and mooring; testing of lifesaving appliances; and, proposed new outputs for the Organisation, which will have an effect on the overall safety of seafarers.

The Vice-President of Apax Partners was present at the International Maritime Organisation's Maritime Safety Committee to represent a consortium which will soon be taking over Inmarsat PLC, who are the current global maritime distress and safety service provider. Both his and Inmarsat delegation’s presence was considered appropriate in order to field specific queries which may have arisen from discussions on the planned takeover.

The Government’s delegation to the 101st session of the International Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee was:

Head of Delegation

Miss Katy Ware, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to IMO and Director of Maritime Safety and Standards, Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Alternates

Mr Kevin Hunter, International Relations Manager (Technical), MCA.

Mr Gwilym Stone, Assistant Director, Ship Standards, MCA.

Advisors

Mr Shaun Rogers, Head of International Liaison, MCA.

Dr Katrina Kemp, Smart Ships and Automation Policy Officer, MCA.

Mr Regi John, Head, External Monitoring and Assurance, MCA.

Mr Bennett Ng, Environmental Policy Specialist, MCA.

Mr Fabio Fantozzi, Policy Lead, Marine Technology, MCA.

Mr Andrew Wibroe, International Relations Officer (Technical), MCA.

Mr David MacRae, Environmental Policy Specialist, MCA.

Mr Simon Lynch, Senior Lawyer, Legal Advisors (Maritime), Department for Transport (DfT).

Ms Alexandra Harverson, Senior Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.

Ms Katie Goodall, Senior Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.

Mr Ayden Peach, Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.

Mr Martin Jordison, Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.

Ms Masuma Khalique, Lawyer, Maritime, DfT.

Mr Graham Dixon, International Shipping and Counter Piracy, DfT.

Mr Darren Haynes, Registrar and Deputy Head, Defence Maritime Regulator (DMR) Defence Safety Authority (DSA), Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Mr Steve Pearson, Team Leader, DMR, DSA, MoD.

Dr Ann Fitchett, Safety and Environmental Protection Policy and Legislation Principle, DMR, DSA, MoD.

Ms Kim Brown, Senior Environmental Inspector, DMR, DSA, MoD.

Mr Akash Rana, Inspector, DMR, DSA, MoD.

Mr James Dalgliesh, Policy Adviser, DMR, MoD.

Mr Michael Vibert, Maritime Security Team Leader, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

Ms Fena Boyle, Nautical Manager, UK Chamber of Shipping.

Mr Robert Carington, Policy Adviser, UK Chamber of Shipping.

Mr Cameron Mitchell, Deputy Director, Isle of Man Ship Registry.

Mr Anderson Chaplow, Senior Specialist, Marine, Lloyd’s Register EMEA.

Mr John Dodd, Director, Safety and Standards Maritime, Inmarsat.

Mrs Alison Horrocks, Company Secretary, Inmarsat.

Mr Nick Ashton, Marine MSI Manager, UK Meteorological Office.

Mr Christopher Balls, Principal Surveyor, Cayman Islands Shipping Registry

Mr Gonzague de Lhoneux, Vice President, Apax Partners

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will release an outcome report of the 101st session of the Maritime Safety Committee in due course. This will detail the outcome of each item at the session.

There were 23 agenda items and 140 papers discussed and the UK had agreed positions for each of the policies.

Some of the key safety items from the session were the regulatory scoping exercise on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships, goal-based standards and safety level approach, safety of ships in polar waters, development of further measures to enhance the safety of ships relating to the use of fuel oil, e-navigation and domestic ferry safety.

The UK Government is committed to working with the IMO and other Member States to work towards maintaining and improving safety standards across the wider maritime sector as a whole.

The UK will endeavour to block inappropriate or disproportionate legislation that the UK considers may place an undue burden on industry, and to work tactically with other States to achieve UK lines.