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Your Worship, the mayor of Durban, President of the International Federation of Ships Masters Associations, Captain Christer Lindvall, Executive Members of the Associations, President of the South African Society of Master Mariners, Captain Ian Chown, delegates from far and near, ladies and gentlemen.

It is fitting that our busiest port city is host to the 25th celebration of the IFSMA and as a maritime nation we extend to you the shelter of our harbour for this important assembly in your history.

Your motto, "Unity for Safety at Sea", has served you well over the past 25 years as your organisation has strived to enhance maritime safety and the prevention of pollution, and I would like to congratulate the Association on its "Silver Jubilee".

Ladies and gentlemen, the IFSMA is a non-profit organisation dedicated solely to the interest of the serving shipmaster.

Today, there are over 9,256 Shipmasters from more than 43 countries affiliated to the IFSMA through various National Associations as well as some 91 Individual members.

It upholds International Standards of Professional Competence for Seafarers commensurate with the need to ensure Safe Operational Practices, Preservation from Human Injury, Protection of the Marine Environment and Safety of Life and Property at Sea. We appreciate the role you have played, especially in the IMO, and the Association must be warmly congratulated.

I am pleased to welcome you to our country because there is much synergy between your association and the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), which was established as an independent arm of government out of the National Department of Transport a year ago and is actively promoting maritime safety in our sub-continent. With more than 14,500 ships calling at our ports every year and even more vessels passing our coastline without stopping, our maritime industry is of importance to both our economic growth in South Africa as well as the development of Southern Africa.

The vessels that pass our shores, together with those using our ports, are able to enjoy the facilities which we have set up over the years to improve maritime safety such as: the South African Search and Rescue Organisation (SASAR) and, the recently installed COSPAS-SARSAT "Land User Terminal" for the Global maritime Distress Signal System (GMDSS), as well as medical assistance, maritime safety information and the South African Voluntary Ship Reporting System.

In addition to all this, ships and equipment have become more complex, and there have been enormous changes in the size of ships. The protection of the environment was scarcely an issue in the past, but today we understand that it is crucial to our future.

Add to this the some 120 million tonnes of crude oil that pass our shores annually, and the necessity for professional Shipmasters and competent crews becomes more urgent.

South Africa, with approximately 3,000 kilometers of coastline and relying heavily on shipping for the import and export of our goods, is fortunate that most of the ships which ply our coastline are indeed crewed by competent and professional seafarers.

Seafarers and Shipmasters face many challenges in today's world, changing commercial trends and practices, technology advancement from the old methods of navigation and maintenance and regrettably, the increase of piracy, armed attack and robbery against ships.

I hope that the full introduction of the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers will go a long way to preparing the seafarer for the changes which are taking place and improving safety of life at sea and prevention of pollution.

The introduction of the "International Safety Management Code" (ISM Code) has the potential to further enhance safety and pollution prevention.

South Africa introduced ISM regulations during 1998 to give effect to the requirements of the ISM Code in South Africa. We will also prepare ourselves for the full implementation of the ISM Code in 2002.

We have joined many countries round the world in their endeavors to minimise the risks created by sub-standard ships and crews. This has been done by the our involvement in the Indian Ocean memorandum of Understanding on port State Control.

Port State Control has been exercised by the maritime administration in South Africa for approximately 10 years .We have formally joined an IMO-supported MOU.

We are also participating in discussions dealing with the west and central African MOU on Port State Control and further, we have, at the request of IMO, trained 22 surveyors from African countries in the legal and practical aspects of Port State Control.

We welcome these opportunities and challenges to play our role in the international maritime community because we understand that we all have role to play.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my heartiest congratulations to you, Mr President, and the members of IFSMA on your Jubilee.

May IFSMA grow from strength to strength and continue to play its valuable role in the enhancement of safety and pollution prevention through its members, their representatives and your involvement with the IMO. I wish all the conference delegates my best wishes for a successful and fruitful assembly as you move towards your golden jubilee.

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