ANTAQ participates in IMO and PIANC summits

The Brazilian Waterway Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) participated in two international missions this week. It attended the 33rd General Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, England, and the 96th edition of the meeting of the Inland Navigation Commission of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) in China.

For the IMO Assembly, ANTAQ sent an international delegation led by the Agency’s director, Wilson Lima Filho, who held meetings with representatives from IMO committees and institutions based in London, such as the Nautical Institute. The director also had bilateral meetings with the current Secretary-General of the IMO, Mr. Kitack Lim, and the future Secretary, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez.

IMO is an agency within the United Nations (UN) that provides mechanisms for cooperation between governments, establishing international standards for maritime safety and navigation efficiency. It also sets standards for preventing and controlling naval pollution caused by ships.

This marks the Agency’s first participation as a member of the IMO Agency Affairs Coordinating Committee following the signing of Decree 11,773/2023.

It is worth noting that ANTAQ has a permanent Working Group, composed of 12 staff members, responsible for analyzing documentation discussed at the IMO and presenting the Agency’s proposed statements to the IMO’s CCA.

Additionally, ANTAQ is currently responsible for feeding the IMO’s Gisis system with information regarding companies accountable for waste collection on vessels in Brazil. The Agency also answers to the IMO regarding reported inadequacies during the hiring and provision of these services.

PIANC

Regarding the PIANC meeting in China, representatives from ANTAQ participated in meetings and technical visits to the Yellow River waterway, the Yangtze, and the Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), the Chinese hydraulic and waterway research center. The conference also included seminars with the presentation of projects and waterway structures from PIANC member countries.

PIANC is a global organization established in 1885. It is non-political and non-profit, composed of members from national governments, private companies, industry, academic experts, and young professionals.

The organization fosters the creation of forums where professionals gather to offer specialized advice on economic issues, as well as sustainable infrastructure to facilitate maritime transport growth. It is a key partner of the government and the private sector in designing, developing, and maintaining ports, waterways, and coastal areas.

The international association has members in 66 countries, including 44 qualified members, about 500 corporate members, and 1,800 individual members. The institute aims to provide guidance and technical consultancy for sustainable waterborne transport infrastructure.

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