The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the International Maritime Organization
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an elected Category C Council Member of the International Maritime Organization.
Saudi Arabia is located at the nexus of three continents and overlooks the Red and Arabian Seas.
The Kingdom uses its strategic location to drive international trade and connect Africa, Asia and Europe through its state-of-the-art port facilities and fleet, which is the 20th largest in the world.
As an elected member to the IMO Category C Council, Saudi Arabia strives to work with other member states to support the issues faced by seafarers, and promote and initiate projects to support climate mitigation and international cooperation. The Kingdom has plans to:
Tackle growing inequality between IMO member nations;
Assist Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in their economic recovery
Invest in greener technologies to reduce the environmental impact of shipping;
Offer world class training to nations that are suffering from the threats of modern-day piracy; and
Highlight the issues faced by seafarers, build upon our recognition that seafarers are key workers and provide training and support to increase their skills.
KSA commitment to the IMO – membership and conventions
Since joining in 1969, Saudi Arabia has been an active supporter of the IMO. As a maritime nation bordering two vital waterways, the Kingdom is actively engaged with IMO initiatives.
Saudi Arabia actively participates in all meetings of the IMO council, general assembly, main committees, sub committees and working groups. The Kingdom has ratified 40 international conventions and protocols of the IMO and is considering commitment to other international conventions.
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, including all 6 annexes and its enforcement within the fleet to support the preservation of the marine environment;
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water and Sediments;
The International convention on the control of harmful anti-fouling systems on ships; and
The International Convention on Civil Lability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage.
Climate
Saudi Arabia is committed to significantly developing its climate and environmental initiatives and implement projects to protect the marine environment and combat climate change. In September 2021, this included the signing of three partnerships with the IMO consisting of the following:
IMO CARES (Coordinated Action for the Reduction of Emissions from Shipping) Foundation Project
IMO GLOfouling Initiative
IMO GLOlitter Initiative
The Kingdom has adopted a forward-facing role in addressing global environmental issues including pollutionand the deterioration of biodiversity. During the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20, the first special working group was established on environmental issues, including two international initiatives:
The Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and Promote Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats; and
The Global Coral Reef Research and Development Acceleration Platform Initiative.
The Kingdom has contributed more than 4% towards the global target to reduce land degradation and 1% towards the global target for planting one trillion trees. Saudi Arabia has also raised the percentage of protected areas to more than 30% of its estimated land area, exceeding the current global target of 17%, and aspires to reduce land degradation by 50% by 2040.
The Kingdom is engaged in several regional initiatives that are focused on protecting the marine environment:
Hosting the Headquarters of the Regional Organisation for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA);
One of eight member states of the Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment on the Arabian Gulf (ROPME); and
Supporting the efforts of the Mutual Assistance Centre for Maritime Emergencies and Protection of the Maritime Environment (MEMAC).
The Kingdom is developing capabilities and facilities to treat wastes from ships in all the Kingdom’s ports to enhance marine preservation efforts. Saudi Arabia is also working with other nations, such as Japan, to develop cleaner fuels such as Blue and Green Hydrogen and Blue Ammonia.
Cooperation
The Kingdom contributes to projects related to combatting piracy, maritime laws, specialized maritime education and the IMO Technical Cooperation Fund as part of efforts to enhance both the IMO and the shipping industry. The Kingdom appointed Eng. Essam al-Ammari as the Kingdom’s first permanent representative to the IMO in 2019 as part of its commitment to international cooperation at the IMO. In September 2021, Saudi Arabia has committed to a project partnerships with IMSO Supporting the access of up to 16 Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries to the LRIT (Long Range Identification and Tracking) system.
Beyond the IMO, in 2018 Saudi Arabia acceded to the International Convention for the Facilitation of Maritime Traffic to facilitate arrivals in Saudi ports and has also developed electronic platforms for ship registration, certification, port entry, and clearance procedures within 24 hours of arrivals the 5th fastest in the world.
The Kingdom is committed to the safety and security of waterways for commercial ships and plays a vital role in combatting piracy in the Middle East region. The Kingdom has:
Launched a Saudi initiative with Arab and African countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to promote security and development and protect the movement of international trade and freedom of navigation.
Established a Marine Border Security Unit for ships and marine facilities; and
Established a Marine Facilities Security and Protection Force to deal with threats against vital marine facilities.
Seafarers
The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted serious issues affecting support structures for seafarers. There are also concerns that training is not keeping pace with the growing presence of technology in the maritime sector, and how changes will impact long-term ship safety. There is now the added uncertainty of what the long-term consequences to the industry may be of unvaccinated seafarers.
The Kingdom was one of the first and most prominent nations to recognize seafarers as key workers, to ensure they receive appropriate support, and Saudi Arabia has cooperated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation to support the repatriation of seafarers. Saudi Arabia is also committed to supporting the training and development of seafarers.
Shipping and maritime economy for Saudi Arabia
Maritime trade is extremely important to Saudi Arabia and we continue to develop Saudi Maritime infrastructure including port facilities and shipping networks, including:
9m tonnes of commercial shipping;
12 high tech commercial and industrial ports with the highest facilities to accommodate the continued advances in shipping; and
262 berths, 16,000 ships, 17 million containers and 715 million tonnes of cargo in 2018.
Maritime safety
Saudi Arabia established two Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centres (MRCC) to coordinate search and rescue operations. They are equipped with cutting edge technology, including electronic navigation systems, and provide humanitarian services. These centres make marine forecasts, issue early warnings and use IMO navigation systems to ensure safe navigation, long range identification and ship tracking.
Piracy has been a significant area of concern on the IMO’s agenda since the 1980’s and is an area that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has had both significant experience and notable internationally supported success. Notably, this includes KSA’s participation in CMF 150, 151, and 152, involving security operations and counterterrorism in the Gulf of Aden and CMF 151 - 152 involving counter-piracy operations and security operations in the Arabian Gulf.
Marine education and training
The Kingdom supports marine education, training and scientific research to raise skills in maritime transport. KSA contributes to the World Maritime University in Sweden and the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta. The Kingdom also facilitates the enrolment and training of personnel employed on Saudi ships to give them opportunities for personal development and growth.
The Kingdom established the Faculty of Marine Studies and the National Maritime Academy with personnel graduating in areas ranging from navigation, engineering and marine survey to shipping and logistics. In cooperation with IMO, the Kingdom has hosted several training courses, regional and international workshops.
Empowering women working in maritime transport
Saudi Arabia continues efforts to empower women in the field of maritime transport and support their work in the field. The Kingdom provided the founding president of the Arab Women in Maritime Association and continues to support this association through technical and material contributions.
The Kingdom also supports IMO initiatives to increase female participation and empowerment in the maritime industry.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the IMO:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Permanent Mission to the IMO presents it vision for its role in the organization and for the future. As part of the IMO Council, Saudi Arabia will work with other member states to support the issues faced by seafarers, and promote and initiate projects to support climate mitigation and international cooperation.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Green Initiatives
Environmental sustainability is a strategic objective for Saudi Arabia, prioritizing the preservation of the environment, preventing pollution, raising quality of life levels, improving waste management, and combating desertification. To achieve this, Saudi Arabia is undertaking large-scale, innovative initiatives, including:
“The Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives are only a start. The Kingdom, the
region and the world needs to go much further and faster in combatting climate
change. Beginning this journey to a greener future has not been easy, but we are
not avoiding tough choices. We reject the false choice between preserving the
economy and protecting the environment.”
His Royal Highness
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
Conserving Marine Ecosystem:
Join the Global Oceans Alliance to Eliminate Plastic Waste in Oceans and Beaches
Join the Sports for Climate Initiative.
Raise protected areas to more than 30%
Protect at least of 30% of the global ocean as Marine Protected Areas by 2030
The Red Sea Development Company will lead in sustainable tourism and conservation.
Spreading Green Spaces:
Plant 10 Billion Trees across Saudi Arabia Transform Riyadh into a Sustainable City
Improve the quality of life and protect future generations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region Bridge the gap between public and private sustainability efforts, identifying opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
Reducing Carbon Dioxide:
Achieve net zero by 2060
Reduce carbon emissions by 4% of global contributions
Produce 50% of The Kingdom’s energy from renewable sources by 2030.
Eliminate 278 million metric tons of carbon emissions per year by 2030 Reduce methane emissions globally by 30%
“Today, we are ushering in a new green era for the region; in which we are
collectively leading and reaping its fruits, in our joint belief that the effects of
climate change are not limited to the natural environment only, but also to the
economy and security of our nations.”
His Royal Highness
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
International Cooperation:
Introduce the Middle East’s first pact on Climate Change.
Establish the Green Initiative Foundation nonprofit organization
Establish a cooperative platform to implement the concept of a Carbon Circular Economy
Establish a regional center for Climate Change
Establish a regional community for Carbon Capture, Use and Storage
Ensure Sustainability:
Establish a regional center for Sustainable Development for Fisheries Create
Establish a regional Early Storm Warning center
Establish a regional Cloud Seeding Program
Create an investment fund in order to offer clean energy solutions that would help feed more than 750 million people worldwide.
Reduce Carbon Dioxide:
Contribute 15% of funds ($10.4 billion) to an investment fund for clean energy
Reduce carbon emissions in the hydrocarbon industry by 60%
Plant 50 Billion trees in the Region (including 10 billion in Saudi Arabia)
King Salman Maritime Complex
Located at the Saudi port of Ras Al-Khair, The King Salman International Complex for Maritime Industries and Services is part of the National Industrial Strategy to Focus on Economic Diversification. The project complements the growth of the Saudi energy industry and helps to meet Vision 2030’s development objectives. The Complex will be the largest maritime yard in the region with global ambitions and reach, offering advanced, sustainable services and driving the development of Saudi Arabia’s maritime industry. It features a range of world-class facilities and provides a combination of new shipbuilding and maintenance and repair. On completion, the project will position The Kingdom as a key strategic logistics hub supporting international trade.
Blue/Green Hydrogen
In 2020, KSA announced that a green hydrogen plant was being built in The Kingdom as part of NEOM. The $5 billion plant powered exclusively by renewable energy will make Saudi Arabia one of the largest producers of green hydrogen worldwide. On completion, the facility will have the capacity to generate 650 tons of green hydrogen per day, a key component of The Kingdom’s ambition for Neom to become a global centre for renewable energy. It is hoped that this green hydrogen will be transported around the world and showcases Saudi Arabia’s efforts in supporting the green transition.
Blue hydrogen is derived from natural gas, accompanied by carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Emissions are captured and stored or reused. The hydrogen is sometimes converted into ammonia to allow it to be transported more easily between continents. Ammonia does not emit any CO2 when burned for energy. Blue ammonia is produced by capturing the CO2 emitted during its production and in Saudi Arabia’s case, using it as feedstock for methanol and for enhanced oil recovery. Blue ammonia also has potential as a fuel for shipping. The Kingdom is developing world leading capabilities in clean hydrogen with MoUs signed with Germany and Japan’s ENEOS.
KSA IMO Council Member
Follow our journey.
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RT @Gi_Saudi: On the two-year anniversary of HRH the Crown Prince announcing the Saudi Green Initiative, we celebrate the whole o… https://t.co/CCZ6SmUmRQ -
RT @Saudi_TGA: بهلاله 🌙وإحسانه، أطلّ علينا خير الشهور.. نهنئكم بحلول شهر رمضان المبارك أعاده الله علينا وعليكم بالخير واليُمن وال… https://t.co/iqxHGzCrf5
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RT @Spa_Eng: RSNF Conclude Participation in International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2023. https://t.co/fuBmorGE0O #SPAGOV https://t.co/su7Qgc0gtK
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In support of the leading national forces in the maritime sector, #الهيئة_العامة_للنقل_TGA conducted written and or… https://t.co/pujugwz8bP