Ivan Sammut, Malta Ship Registry’s Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, has celebrated after Malta was re-elected to the council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for a 13th consecutive term.

Taking to social media, Mr Sammut proclaimed: “Hard work pays off,” and promised the country will not “disappoint” the IMO, and that it would work even harder to help prepare the organisation and the wider maritime sector for the future.

The IMO is a United Nations’ specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.

Its council is its executive organ and as such is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work organisiation. It is made up of 40 Member States, elected by the Assembly for two-year terms.

Malta inclusion “is a great recognition of [the country’s] efforts in the IMO,” according to Mr Sammut, who added that it is “important” for Malta to be represented at this level, to ensure the IMO remains the global focal point for the regulation of shipping in these crucial years for the sector.

He also stated that the country takes the IMO Council responsibility seriously as international shipping is important to global trade and Malta is an important maritime jurisdiction.

A particular priority identified by Mr Sammut is that fairness in rules is ensured so that all maritime stakeholders can compete on a level playing field. The ultimate objective is to make shipping “more efficient, safer and greener,” he added.