Maritime officials from across Asia enhanced their capacity to implement flag State obligations and strengthen oversight of recognized organizations under the RO Code during an IMO regional workshop in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam (21-25 September).
Jointly organized by IMO and the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD), the workshop brought together 22 participants from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Reinforcing national maritime oversight
During the five-day workshop, participants examined flag State obligations related to surveys and certification, as well as the authorization and oversight of recognized organizations under the Code for Recognized Organizations (RO Code). The RO Code establishes the framework through which flag States assess, authorize and monitor third-party entities that carry out statutory surveys and certification on their behalf.
Attention was given to recurrent findings identified through the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), the mandatory mechanism that assesses how effectively Member States implement and enforce IMO instruments. Key findings related to the implementation and enforcement of IMO instruments, oversight programmes, delegation of authority to recognized organizations (ROs), and the evaluation of maritime administration processes. Building on these findings, participants explored corrective actions and good practices to address common challenges related to RO oversight, including written agreements, reporting requirements and performance monitoring.
The workshop highlighted the value of regional cooperation and information sharing in supporting consistent implementation.
Turning policy into action
The initiative coincided with World Maritime Day on 24 September, celebrated in 2026-2027 under the theme "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence." By supporting maritime administrations through training, technical assistance and knowledge sharing, the workshop helped translate IMO requirements into effective action at the national level.
The activity was delivered under IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme, which supports countries effectively implement international maritime regulations.
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