Liberia Representative To IMO Raps On Opportunities, Challenges

Liberia’s Alternate Permanent International Maritime Organization (IMO) Representative, Harry T. Conway has rapped on opportunities and challenges on greening ports on Africa with emphasis on Liberia.

Harry T. Conway

According to a release, the Permanent Representative in the United Kingdom has also outlined several progress and challenges facing Africa’s maritime sector with specific emphasis on Liberia.

The vice chairperson of the IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee said Liberia is responding to the needs of its customers of the international market through its management of the Liberian Maritime Training Institute situated in Marshall, Margibi County.

Conway told delegates at the International Maritime Organization Conference in the United States of America when he recounted the significant efforts that the Liberian Government had made in improving Liberia’s Maritime sector.

He reported to the IMO delegates that the National Port Authority (NPA) has entered into concession partnership with APM Terminals, the Firestone Rubber Company, China Union Mining, Western Cluster and ArcelorMittal, the United Kingdom based mining as the mean of revamping Liberia’s maritime sector.

The country’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization stated that turnaround time for vessels calling at the Freeport has improved due to the installation of aid to navigation in 2016 leading to the provision of 24 hours service for the first time since 1990.

Conway said Liberia continues to make significant progress in modernization of its ports. He asserted that there are prevailing challenges in meeting its environmental regulations, particularly on port reception facilities and ballast water management treatment facilities which are very prominent.