Dr Mbiah, who was the sixth chairman of the committee and the first black man to hold that position, stepped down after nearly six years of service to the IMO.

He stepped down at the close of the 104th Session of the Legal Committee at the organisation’s headquarters in London on April 28.

Achievements

During his tenure at the IMO, he put in place measures for an appropriate legal framework to guide the entire spectrum of the business of transportation by sea.

In his quest to avoid delays, detentions and other administrative burdens, Dr Mbiah ensured that there were clarifications on the issues relating to the issuance of bunker certificates.

He also provided guidelines on the provision of financial security in cases of abandonment of seafarers and guidelines on ship owners’ responsibilities in respect of contractual claims for personal injury or the death of seafarers.

In his farewell speech, Dr Mbiah said under his chairmanship, the legal department had adopted guidelines on the fair treatment of seafarers during the period.

He stated that the work on the adoption of amendments to the 1996 Protocol on the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims had undoubtedly increased the limits of liability, thus enhancing the opportunities for reasonable compensation.

“Our guidance on the acceptance of ‘Blue Cards’ will go a long way in reducing administrative burdens. The Guidelines on the HNS Reporting would undoubtedly assist countries in meeting the reporting requirements under the 2010 HNS Convention,” he stated. 

“I am happy to note that Norway has shown the way towards the ratification of the HNS. I am encouraged by that and I am hopeful that other member states will follow suit,” he added.

He said he was also confident that the developed Guidance on Liability and Compensation for Transboundary Pollution Damage would assist member states in their bilateral arrangements with respect to pollution incidents emanating from fixed offshore installations.

“During the period, we have witnessed the entry into force of the Protocol of 2002 to the Athens Convention, relating to the carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea 1974, the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks 2007, and the SUA Treaties of 2005 among others,” he explained.

He said there was no doubt that although no new convention had been developed within this period, a lot had been achieved to serve the objectives of the IMO.

“When the statistics show a decline in casualties, a significant drop in the number of pollution incidents and the waning of piratical attacks off the coast of Somalia, then the contribution of the legal committee cannot be overlooked,” he said.