Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga will on Monday officially welcome the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Audit Team, who are in South Africa to conduct a Mandatory Audit under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS).
This will be followed by a preliminary audit outcome report, expected to be submitted at the end of the week-long undertaking.
The IMO, which South Africa became a member of in 1995, is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating and promoting responsible shipping on a global scale.
South Africa, through the Department of Transport, actively engages with the IMO to ensure the implementation of international maritime regulations and standards within its maritime jurisdiction, specifically with compliance with International Conventions the country is party to.
The Republic undertook a Voluntary IMSAS in 2008. In February 2016, the IMO instituted mandatory audits, and a total of 113 audits have been completed to date with 28 African countries.
South Africa is one of the two African States, Benin being the other, scheduled for audits before end of 2023.
A number of State entities will be audited, including the department’s implementing agency responsible for maritime administration, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). – SAnews.gov.za
