The International Mobile Satellite Organisation is holding the 20th session of its assembly at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, after it was opened by Infrastructure, Transport and Communications Minister Austin Gatt, who referred to Malta’s active participation of IMSO.

Malta supported the organisation, he said, because IMSO had an important role to play and a crucial contribution to make to ensure protection of life at sea and the marine environment.

“As a nation whose continuing survival depends on the maritime industry, as an important international entry port in the Mediterranean and as home to one of the leading maritime registers in the world, Malta cannot but be supportive of any activity that furthers this quest (enhancing maritime safety and environment protection). The crucial role of IMSO in this regard is beyond question,” Dr Gatt said.

One of the very first conventions accepted by Malta less than two years after the attainment of independence was the international instrument establishing the Inter Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation, today known as International Maritime Organisation.

During the last quarter of September, IMO together with its member States and the maritime industry celebrates World Maritime Day. “Malta’s hosting of this assembly is our way of marking this important occasion. This year we look on the 60 years of service that IMO has given to the maritime industry. We are in a continuous process of improvement and, acknowledgement of our achievements serve to spur us on for the new challenges ahead.”