Namibia has deposited its instrument of accession to the 2012 Cape Town Agreement, demonstrating its support for the safety of fishing vessels and their crews.
The High Commissioner and Permanent Representative of Namibia to IMO, H.E. Ms. Linda Scott, deposited the instrument at IMO headquarters on 5 December, making it the 23rd country to accede to the Agreement.
The same week, during the 109th session of IMO's Maritime Safety Committee, new interim guidance was adopted to assist in the implementation of the Agreement and to encourage more ratifications.
The Cape Town Agreement, once in force, will bring in mandatory international safety requirements for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over, including provisions addressing stability and associated seaworthiness, machinery and electrical installations, life-saving appliances, communications equipment and fire protection, as well as fishing vessel construction.
For the Agreement to enter into force, at least 22 States, with an aggregate 3,600 fishing vessels meeting the length requirements operating on the high seas, must express their consent to be bound by it.
To date, only one of these criteria has been fulfilled with 23 States having acceded to the Agreement. Namibia's accession brings the total number of fishing vessels to 2935, with 665 more required to reach 3,600 declared fishing vessels. The Agreement will enter into force 12 months after these conditions have been met.
The Agreement will be a useful tool in combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and forced labour, as well as reducing pollution from fishing vessels, including marine debris.
Contracting States to the 2012 Cape Town Agreement include: Belgium, Belize, Congo, Cook Islands, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Namibia, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa and Spain.
