Malta flag included in Paris MoU white list

Malta has been accepted as a full member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on port state control, which means the Malta flag has been included in the MoU's white list.

Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea made the announcement yesterday, describing the news as a "significant achievement for maritime Malta" and a means to enhance its reputation.

Full membership means the Malta flag is now included with the top flags for flag state performance - "a flag that ship owners can embrace with even more confidence than before".

It also meant that Malta could now enhance its profile as a reliable partner to carry out the Paris MoU's mission of eradicating sub-standard shipping from European waters, Mr Galea said.

He considered it to be official recognition of years of endeavour to enhance Malta's standing, not only as one of the largest merchant flags in the world but also as a quality merchant flag that inspired confidence.

The minister was addressing the 17th International Maritime Law Institute graduation ceremony at the Malta Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa, which saw a group of 31 alumni join the growing ranks of IMLI graduates worldwide.

Four Maltese lawyers graduated from the LL.M. programme yesterday. They are Dr Arthur Azzopardi, Dr Adrian Muscat Azzopardi, Dr Larry John Gauci, and Dr Simon Lungaro. Captain Andrew Mallia, of the Armed Forces of Malta, obtained an Advanced Diploma.

Since its inception in 1989 and with yesterday's graduation, IMLI, IMO's premier institution for maritime law training, has taught over 360 lawyers in international maritime law.

Moreover, this 17th intake has seen graduands from five new countries, including Argentina and North Korea, bringing the total number of nationalities represented by IMLI graduates to 107 worldwide - "an outstanding achievement". 

Malta, Mr Galea said, was proud to host such an important institution, which was a continuation of its constant commitment for the promotion of international co-operation in the global pursuit for safer seas and cleaner oceans.

Referring to the EU's exercise to consolidate its regulatory regime under the guidance of a single maritime policy, he said Malta had consistently advocated a holistic approach to maritime issues, which was deemed to be the best way forward for future European maritime policy.

"A sine qua non for a successful future maritime policy is a background of a stable and safe maritime order," he said. "Europe needs to foster such stability by promulgating the adoption and enforcement of international treaties and by developing European maritime policies within existing international maritime regulatory processes."

Mr Galea stressed "the need to raise the bar for standards on a global level, rather than on a regional basis. Any alternative to the contrary would result in regulatory fragmentation along regional lines".

The graduation was also addressed by IMLI director, Professor David Attard, and the secretary-general of the IMO, Efthimios Mitropoulos, who was pleased to note the ever-increasing number of lawyers who have successfully graduated from IMLI over the past 17 years.

He thanked the government for its consistent support to IMLI and IMO - not only as a host country, but also as a "truly maritime nation in charge of one of the largest merchant fleets of the world".

Looking to the future, he said it was clear that the quality of human resources shipping would need would be the biggest single determining factor in the drive for an industry of excellence.