Jordan: first beneficiary to embark on VIMSAS process

The Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS) was the subject of a national workshop organised from 7th to 9th February 2010, in Aqaba, Jordan, as part of the SafeMed II Project.

The Audit Scheme is an initiative to ensure compliance with statutory international maritime requirements. This is an objective that is at the core of the SafeMed II Project. Apart from being a thorough process that needs to be well planned, audit is a perfect tool to gain management experience for all officials responsible for the implementation of international maritime standards. The Project assists those beneficiaries that request support in their preparations for the respective VIMSAS audit.

Jordan is the first SafeMed partner to have embarked on this process. The national workshop was organised in close cooperation with the IMO and delivered to 15 participants from the Transport Ministry, the Maritime Authority and the Royal Naval Force of Jordan.

Among the lecturers were the Head of the Member State Audit and Internal Oversight Office at IMO Mr Lawrence D. Barchue Sr, and Capt Cahit Yalcin from Turkey and Eng Ioannis Efstratiou from Cyprus who both have extensive experience in VIMSAS implementation.

Active participation was sought and obtained from the audience, in the form of an intensive programme of lectures, exercises and open discussions on the current maritime practices in Jordan. In concluding the workshop, Mr Barchue strongly encouraged Jordan to pursue its efforts and officially volunteer for the Audit Scheme.

Workshop Picture Gallery