Saudi Arabia supports IMSO capacity building LRIT project for small island states and developing countries

On Friday 1st October, H.E. the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh Al Jasser, had the pleasure of meeting the Director General of the International Mobile Satellite Organisation (IMSO), Captain Moin Ahmed, following the successful conclusion of the IMSO General Assembly No. 27. 

Minister Al Jasser led a delegation from Saudi Arabia to confirm The Kingdom’s commitments to the IMO and promote the Kingdom’s candidacy as a Category C candidate for the IMO elections,  

As an important intergovernmental organisation, IMSO provides public satellite safety and security communication services. IMSO supports the safety and accountability of maritime trade through the oversight and management of mobile satellite communication systems including Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS) oversight and Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) services. The LRIT system is a fundamental component of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which is one of the IMO’s four pillars of international maritime law.

During the meeting, His Excellency Saleh Al Jasser signed a capacity building project for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries for participating states selected by IMSO, covering both LRIT integration costs and audit fees. This project financed by Saudi Arabia consisted of £100,000 to support the important work carried out by IMSO’s LRIT system and to ensure that no country is left behind in accessing this valuable system. 

Saudi Arabia believes that ensuring access to this critically important resource will support state control of maritime trade and passage through their territorial waters, improve accountability and transparency, support bilateral and multilateral engagement and strengthen environmental protection enforcement and national search and rescue organisations globally.