Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reports that its officer Mr Tan Hanqiang, currently First Secretary (Maritime), High Commission of the Republic of Singapore to the UK, was last month appointed by the IMO as Vice-Chair the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), succeeding Mr Harry Conway (Liberia).
This marks the first time in over 20 years that a Singaporean has assumed the Vice-Chair appointment for the IMO MEPC. Previously, MPA Officer Mr Zafrul Alam served as Vice-Chair for IMO MEPC from 1999 to 2000. In addition, MPA’s Assistant Chief Executive (Operations), Capt. M Segar, served as the Vice-Chair of IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee from 2012 to 2015.
MPA says the appointment is a strong recognition of Singapore’s commitment to a multilateral, rules-based approach for international shipping and supports Singapore’s long-standing efforts as a bridge-builder to bring together parties for constructive dialogue and consensus-building at various international fora, including climate change efforts. Singapore will also support the IMO by sharing its expertise and co-developing global standards with Member States to drive the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, MPA adds.
Mr Tan has been Singapore’s Liaison Officer to the IMO since 2019, during which he has represented Singapore at IMO-related meetings with distinction. He has worked extensively with the IMO Secretariat on various IMO-Singapore projects such as NextGEN and Future of Shipping Conferences. Prior to his stint in the UK, he helmed positions in policy work pertaining to international relations, port development and port regulations at the MPA.
Mr Tan said: “I am honoured and humbled to take on the role of Vice-Chair of the Marine Environment Protection Committee and look forward to supporting the Chair and working with fellow Member States to advance the interests of the international maritime community to safeguard the marine environment and bring the maritime industry closer to the United Nations sustainable development goals and maritime decarbonisation efforts through partnership, and mutually-beneficial initiatives in an inclusive and progressive manner.”.
Singapore has been a member of the IMO Council since 1993. As an IMO Council member, Singapore has played an active role in the organisation to advance the interests of the international maritime community, including to drive digitalisation and decarbonisation efforts, enhance navigational safety, promote efficient and sustainable shipping, and protect the marine environment.
