PH names candidate to head UN maritime body

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has nominated a senior Filipino diplomat to the post of secretary general of the International Maritime Organization, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

A DFA announcement said the Philippine government formally nominated Neil Frank R. Ferrer to head the IMO, a United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

The election will be held during the 106th session of the IMO Council in June, the DFA said. If elected, Ferrer shall be the first Southeast Asian to hold the post, which since 2004 has been occupied by Efthimios Mitropoulos of Greece.

The position has been held by Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, India and Canada.

“As a maritime nation and as the largest provider of highly qualified seafarers to the international shipping industry, the Philippine Government attaches utmost importance to his candidature. His nomination was endorsed by President Benigno S. Aquino III,” the DFA said.

In a letter to Mitropoulos, Aquino pointed out that Ferrer’s outstanding experience in the IMO, with his technical expertise and diplomatic skills, qualified him to provide strong and competent leadership as the organization’s secretary-general.
At present, Ferrer chairs the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), the IMO senior technical body responsible for maritime safety and security.

He was unanimously elected MSC chair in 2007 and has since then been unanimously re-elected for the past four years. He was the first Asian to be elected MSC chair since the inception of the committee in 1959, according to the DFA.

A highly experienced career diplomat, Ferrer has spent the last 20 years specializing in maritime issues and has wide knowledge and experience in dealing with both technical and legal issues relating to maritime and ocean affairs, the DFA said.

“Mr. Ferrer has deep knowledge and understanding of the work of the IMO, and has been effectively serving the Organization in various leadership capacities over the years,” the DFA said.

Ferrer was elected president of the Diplomatic Conference of Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, held in Manila in June 2010. He was also elected Chairman of the Technical Committee of the 25th session of the IMO Assembly held in November 2007 in London.

Apart from the work of the IMO, Ferrer served as chair of the 19th Extraordinary session of the Assembly of the International Mobile Satellite Organization in March 2007 in London, and has participated in numerous other international meetings on maritime and law of the sea issues.

“Mr. Ferrer has the experience, expertise and capability to effectively serve the IMO. As chairman of the senior technical committee of the organization, he has demonstrated effective leadership, management and administrative skills. His competence, professionalism, integrity and independence are well-established,” the DFA said.