Indonesia Ratifies IMO Conventions On MARPOL And SAR

Jakarta, Aug 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has ratified the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL, 1973) and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR 1979), and submitted the relevant documents to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Indonesian Permanent Representative to IMO TM Hamzah Thayeb presented two documents to IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu in London on August 24. Ambassador Thayeb told Sekimizu that Indonesia was committed to maritime safety and therefore ratified the two important IMO conventions. In response, Sekimizu expressed his appreciation to Indonesia for ratifying the conventions. �As the world`s largest archipelago nation, Indonesia has become an important member of IMO, for not only the Southeast Asian region, but also the Asia-Pacific region and globally,� Sekimizu said. He also praised Indonesia`s efforts in promoting maritime transportation. As of August 23, 2012, 152 countries have become signatories to the Marpol Convention, while 102 countries have become signatories to the SAR Convention. The IMO is a United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.