Dr Wee: Emissions policies for ships must take into consideration the capacities of vulnerable states

KUALA LUMPUR: Policies on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships must be robust and encompass the different status, as well as capacities of vulnerable states.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said nation building and global sustainable shipping under the auspices of the IMO was vital.

"Malaysia aims to achieve collectively greater heights in this area, by adopting an inclusive approach to bring all nations towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

"Malaysia believes that prioritising environmental sustainability and responding appropriately to the global climate issue,

within the context of SDG 2030, will build a strong foundation towards sustainable shipping," he said during his opening speech for the Malaysia International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 50 years celebration at a hotel here on Wednesday (Nov 10).

He said Malaysia believed that any policy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships must be both robust and encompass the different status and capacities of vulnerable states.

"IMO-Norway Green Voyage 2050 (GV2050) is a global partnership to support developing countries in meeting their commitment towards relevant climate change and energy efficiency goals.

"GV2050 has a goal to achieve at least a reduction in GHG emissions from international shipping by 2050 compared to 2008," he said, adding that Malaysia announced its participation in the GV2050 last month.

Dr Wee said Malaysia fully recognized the opportunity to participate in this project as a timely and important initiative and was prepared to actively contribute in this endeavour in line with its laws and policies towards the successful implementation of the project.

"Another important issue under the purview of the IMO, was to ensure seafarer rights and well-being were protected.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has placed extraordinary and unprecedented challenges and pressures on seafarers and yet, this group of frontliners has helped to ensure our economies continue to function unhindered.

"Nonetheless, Malaysia through my Ministry has been working tirelessly to ensure that seafarers rights are protected and the process for crew changes as well as medical treatment that they deserve are given accordingly," he said adding that Malaysia had contributed £25,000 (RM140,181.66) to provide support to seafarers on the frontline of Covid-19 through the IMO initiatives.

He said Malaysia announced its candidature for election to the IMO Council (Category C) for the 2022-2023 biennium on March 4 and was keen to continue its constructive, proactive and positive engagement within the IMO, particularly through its membership on the Council.

"Malaysia acceded to the IMO Convention on the 12th of June 1971 and became the sixty ninth (69) official member state of the IMO since then.

"This was truly a momentous occasion and Malaysia has and will continue to uphold the core responsibility of complying with and upholding the IMO instruments to which we have agreed," he said adding that to date, Malaysia had acceded to 26 out of 58 IMO Conventions, within the spirit of ensuring that safety, security of shipping and the protection of marine environment was given priority both locally and regionally.

He said Malaysia took its role as Flag State, Port State and Coastal State seriously, applying the necessary steps in ensuring effective legal, policy and institutional framework that enabled Malaysia to carry out its responsibilities at the fullest of capabilities.