Seychelles declared as a “White List “ Country by IMO

The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, meeting at the IMO London headquarters at its 95th session from the 3rd and running through the 12th of June 2015, has added Seychelles to the IMO ‘White List’, this as of the 15th of June 2015.
The initiative for Seychelles to attain ‘White List’ certification by the IMO was given impetus by President James Michel when visiting Sri Lanka in 2013, and following in November of 2013, the Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration, SMSA, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College (CINEC) to launch the process. Despite an aggressive timeline, the necessary documents were completed to the standard required to be submitted to the IMO for their review and consideration, this in July 2014.
The addition of Seychelles as a member state now fully adhering to the convention was welcomed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport, Mr. Joël Morgan who said, “It is an excellent result which better places the Seychelles on the international maritime stage and is another important element as we further develop our maritime industry and blue economy”. The minister as well commended the men and women of the Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration led by Captain Joachim Valmont for their work and along with CINEC and the Maritime Training Centre, delivering on the stated objectives by receiving the ‘White Listing’ accreditation by the IMO.
The ‘White Listing’ by the IMO marks a turning point in Seychelles’ maritime history in terms of the positive impact it will have on international shipping industry and more importantly the domestic maritime trade industry.
“It’s a welcome achievement for the Seychelles and the SMSA and for all those who are considering a career in the trade. As of today certification here in the Seychelles will be recognized internationally,” said the Director General of the SMSA, Captain Joachim Valmont.
Editor’s Note: –
- Official confirmation was received by the SMSA on the 13th of July 2015.
- The ‘White List’ entitles other parties to the convention to accept, in principle, that certificates issued by or on behalf of the parties on the list are in compliance; with the revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers, as amended, and which entered into force on 1 February 1997. The amended Convention sets out clearly defined minimum competency requirements for all seafarers and takes into account developments in technology since the original 1978 Convention was adopted