The Kingdom of the Netherlands is candidate for re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization in category B for the term 2024 - 2025. Elections will take place on the 1st of December in London. As a major seafaring nation, we are experienced and cooperative. We view our role to be important in bringing parties together in order to create workable solutions for the global maritime industry.
Small Island Developing States
Being surrounded by sea, shipping has for centuries played a crucial role in political, economic, social and cultural development within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, both in the European and in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of the Netherlands consists of The Netherlands and Caribbean islands, Bonaire, Saba and Statia, and states, Aruba, Curacao and Sint-Maarten. The Kingdom is therefore well placed to recognise and represent the specific needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
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Shipping has for centuries played a crucial role in political, economic, social and cultural development within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, both in the European and in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has much to offer in this respect thanks to the innovative capacity of its maritime cluster, and believes that maritime safety and security is an essential precondition for ensuring that transporting goods and passengers over water retains its appeal.
Our maritime cluster
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a founding member of the IMO and it has always taken an active part in Council business. Due to our position along the North Sea and forming a major logistics hub for the international transport of goods to Europe, we have much to offer in this respect thanks to the innovative capacity of our ‘maritime cluster’. We believe that maritime safety and security is an essential precondition for ensuring that transporting goods and passengers over water retains its appeal. Moreover, our maritime industry is of great importance to the Dutch economy and of international influence through globally active Dutch businesses such as Port of Rotterdam, Damen Shipyards Group, Royal IHC, Van Oord, Royal Boskalis Westminster.
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The Dutch salvage industry has an outstanding position in the global market. In 2021 it assisted in the successful refloating of the grounded container vessel Ever Given in the Suez Canal.
Our goals
We aim for the highest possible standards for safety, security and environmental protection and participate actively to reach those goals in the IMO committees. While adhering to the United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs), we are always willing to share knowledge and expertise to initiate, amplify and accelerate actions which reduce pressure on the oceans. This includes the reduction of Co2 emissions.
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The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a major seafaring nation with a fleet currently comprising more than 2,330 vessels, some 50% of which sail under the flag of the Netherlands (the Netherlands in Europe). This relatively new and modern fleet employs nearly 26,000 people.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands firmly believes that international shipping supports and contributes to the global economy, socioeconomic progress and development.
Council reform
The Kingdom of the Netherlands actively participated in the Council’s reform process and was the seventh country to deposit an instrument of acceptance of the amendments to the IMO Convention expanding the number of Council members. We also favour IMO taking a modern approach to the transparency of its work.
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The Dutch seaports, including the Ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, form a major logistics hub for the international transport of goods to the European hinterland. Some 600 million tonnes of cargo and 15 million TEUs pass through these seaports every year in 124,000 port calls by ships from across the world, making the Netherlands one of the world’s largest port states.
The Netherlands offers a highly skilled, flexible and multilingual maritime labour force with expertise in all areas, both on shore and on board. Women occupy almost 20% of positions in the shipping industry.
We hope to count on your support
The Kingdom of the Netherlands wishes to continue contributing to the Council’s important work, and would greatly value the support of IMO’s member states for re-election to the Council in Category B for the term 2024 - 2025.
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The Kingdom views IMO’s mission of making progress through cooperation as a way of amplifying its own role in bringing parties together as part of efforts to create workable solutions for the global maritime industry.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a founding member of IMO, and it has always taken an active part in Council business.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands actively participated in the Council’s reform process and was the seventh country to deposit an instrument of acceptance of the amendments to the IMO Convention expanding the number of Council members. It also favours IMO taking a modern approach to the transparency of its work.
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As a densely populated, low-lying country, the Netherlands in Europe has learned, over the centuries, to deal with the forces of the oceans, enabling it to build what is now regarded as the world’s best-protected delta area.
Sharing knowledge and best practices is essential within the maritime domain and imperative for the development and harmonised implementation of IMO’s instruments. With this in mind, the Kingdom of the Netherlands is willing to cooperate extensively with other IMO member states, for example by means of presentations at IMO meetings or webinars.