Res Communis

IMSO-EMSA LRIT Agreement

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

From the IMSO:

IMSO NEWS 015
27 May 2009
IMSO SIGNS LRIT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH EUROPEAN MARITIME
SAFETY AGENCY (EMSA)

The IMSO Director General, Captain Esteban Pacha-Vicente, today signed an LRIT Services Agreement with the Executive Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), Mr Willem de Ruiter, in the presence of both the Chairman of the IMSO Assembly and of the IMSO Advisory Committee, as well as members of the IMSO and EMSA Directorates.

EMSA is the European Agency appointed by the Ministers of Transport of the European Union (EU), through a Resolution of the EU Council, to set up and operate an EU LRIT Data Centre in cooperation with the EU Member States.

The LRIT Services Agreement, prescribed in the IMSO Convention, establishes the relationship between IMSO, as the LRIT Coordinator appointed by IMO, and the LRIT DC for the audit and review of each Data Centre. A Model LRIT Services Agreement was approved for this purpose by the IMSO Assembly.

LRIT Services Agreements have already been signed with Chile, Panama and Turkey, and IMSO is continuing negotiations with several other LRIT Data Centres in order to conclude all the necessary formalities to ensure the timely and successful implementation of the LRIT system.

Captain Pacha paid tribute to the spirit of cooperation which had prevailed during the negotiation of the Services Agreement with EMSA, which had resulted in an Agreement which was satisfactory to both parties, and ensured the provision of LRIT services throughout the twenty nine Members of the EU.

Mr de Ruiter said: I am very satisfied with the very good progress of the LRIT system over the last months and I wish to personally congratulate all parties involved, including IMSO, for the professionalism and hard work which makes possible such significant achievements. Signing the audit Services Agreement today is a clear proof of the commitment of EMSA and IMSO to make the LRIT system operational within the IMO deadline.

The Chairmen of both the IMSO Assembly and the IMSO Advisory Committee highlighted the importance of the execution of LRIT Services Agreement in order that the decisions taken by both IMO and the IMSO Assembly are implemented towards progressing the audit and review of Data Centres in the international LRIT system, which is the core function of IMSO as LRIT Coordinator.