LEFT: IMO Secretary General, Mr Koji Sekimizu, Mrs Dawne Bethel and His Excellency Eldred Bethel at IMO Headquarters, London, England; and RIGHT: Mr Bernis Pinder, Maritime Liason Officer, Bahamas Maritime Authority. (Photos: Bahamas High Commission London)

The Bahamas launched its re-election campaign to the International Maritime Organization Council at a reception held during the 133th Session of the Council in London at the IMO Headquarters.

The Bahamas has served on the Council from 1991 to 1995 and from 1999 to the present, and will seek re-election to the Council under Category ‘C’ during the 29th IMO General Assembly in November 2015.

The Council membership is made up of three groups of States, designated A, B and C. Category C, the area which The Bahamas is seeking re-election is open to those twenty (20) States that have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world. The Bahamas exemplifies the highest credentials in each of these areas.

In launching the re-election campaign, High Commissioner and Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the IMO, His Excellency Eldred Bethel told stakeholders that The Bahamas will continue to contribute to the development of the organization and serve with excellence on the IMO Council.
“In seeking re-election to the Council we are keenly aware that Council membership is not a right – it is a privilege. We retain our desire to serve and to continue to contribute, and we humbly ask for your continued trust and support at the election of Council members when Assembly 29 meets in November 2015,” said High Commissioner Bethel.

The Bahamas has over fifteen hundred ships, consisting of some fifty-eight (58) million gross tons on our shipping Register and is the fifth highest contributor to the IMO budget, representing 4.39% (£1.3m in 2014). The Bahamas remains the flag of choice for 140 passenger ships, with the world’s largest cruise ships, the “Quantum of the Seas”, the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Allure of the Seas, flying its Flag.

Said High Commissioner Bethel, “The Bahamas is sincerely honoured to have received your support in recent times. We hope that we have met your expectations in our service but we believe that there is still more to do.”
The High Commissioner expressed this thanks to the Secretary General of the IMO, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, for the cooperation which he has given The Bahamas.

The Twenty-ninth Regular Session of the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is scheduled to be held in London in November 2015. Elections for the forty (40) Members of the Council will be held during this Assembly.