IMO’s Action on Maritime Security

It is indeed an honour for me to be here at the 2004 International Symposium on the Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Materials (PATRAM) and speak at the opening of the Symposium on behalf of the International Maritime Organization. I note that this is the second time that IMO has been associated with symposia organized by PATRAM. As PATRAM is a series of symposia that brings together worldwide experts from the government, industry and research organizations to exchange information on all aspects of packaging and carriage of radioactive materials, its contribution to the development of international rules and regulations governing the carriage of radioactive materials by all modes of transport is well recognized and very much appreciated. The close association and involvement of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the European Commission, the World Nuclear Transport Institute and the German Nuclear Society only reinforce my view and provide an international dimension to the development of international regimes dealing with the safe transport of radioactive materials.