SafeMed II project assisting beneficiaries in voluntary audit scheme

The EU-funded regional transport project SafeMed II, which is being implemented in the Mediterranean region, is currently engaged in providing technical assistance to beneficiaries in the implementation of the voluntary International Maritime Organisation member state audit scheme.

An objective at the core of SafeMed II Project, VIMSAS is an initiative to ensure compliance with statutory international maritime requirements.

The SafeMed II Project is assisting beneficiaries that request support in their preparations for their respective audit. Assistance generally takes the form of a national workshop, followed by a short consultancy mission to assess the degree of preparedness of the national competent authorities. The workshop aims to increase awareness of the participants to the audit scheme and of the national authorities’ role.

SafeMed II has this year delivered national workshops on VIMSAS in Jordan, Israel and Turkey. Turkey was the first of the SafeMed beneficiaries to have officially volunteered for the audit.

Last week, following the successful organisation of a SafeMed II national VIMSAS workshop in Haifa, Israel last month, Israel officially informed the IMO of its willingness to be audited.

Jordan was the first SafeMed II Project beneficiary to request a VIMSAS national workshop in February. Further workshops are planned to be held in Syria, Morocco and Egypt.