Chapter 9 International Activities Related to Maritime Safety
I. Cooperation with International Organizations, etc.
1. International Maritime Organization (IMO)
IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations, whose purpose is to promote discussions and cooperation between governments mainly in order to ensure the safety of ships at sea and to protect the marine environment. Its Secretariat is located in London.
JMSA sends experts to participate in the Maritime Safety Committee (MSO and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), and in the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunication and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (NAV), Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG), and Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Dumping Convention (LC).
In FY 1995, JMSA participated in the review of the SAR Convention, MARPOL 73/78 Convention. SOLAS74 Convention, and OPRC Convention.
2. International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
IHO is an international organization whose objectives are to strive for cooperation in the activities of the hydrographic offices of countries around the world, for navigational safety, the standardization of hydrographic charts and publications, the improvement of hydrographic technology, and other related goals. Its executive office, the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB), is located in the Principality of Monaco.
JMSA sends specialists to participate in activities such as the publication of International Charts and the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service, and to serve on committees related to the development of an electronic navigational chart display system and data bases.
In February 1996, the Worldwide Electronic Navigational Chart Data Base (WEND) Committee met in Tokyo. It discussed matters such as the creation of and developmental plan for a global network for electronic navigational chart data sets.
3. COSPAS-SARSAT
COSPAS-SARSAT is an international organization established to internationally manage satellites (COSPAS satellite and SARSAT satellite) launched for search and rescue operations. Its Secretariat is in London.
Japan provides the ground segment for the system, and JMSA sends experts to participate in the COSPAS-SARSAT Council (CSC) and the Joint Committee (JC).
