International Maritime Organization’s Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, utilized the yearly IMO Awards event as a possibility to pay unique homage to the late William A. O’Neil, IMO Secretary-General Emeritus, that passed away in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2020, aged 93. O’Neil was Secretary-General of IMO from 1990 to 2003.
Lim invited those participating in the 2022 IMO Awards Ceremony, the very first time because prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that the Awards have actually been held in-person. Addressing the target market, that includedO’Neil’s widow, Lim claimed O’Neil had actually made “a huge personal contribution to securing globally applicable safety, security and environmental standards,” throughout his 14 years as IMO Secretary-General
Describing him as “a great friend to the Organization and to all of us, the Secretary-General went on to detail the ” long lasting heritage” Mr. O’Neil left on the Organization through his commitment to the universality of IMO, and the significant increase in membership that he oversaw. “He motivated vast as well as efficient engagement in the Organization from all stakeholders in the maritime industry”, Lim said.
O’Neil’s support for developing States, his persistence in searching for new sources of funding and his tireless work to strengthen the relevance and capacity of IMO’s educational institutes, the World Maritime University and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute were highlighted. Lim also cited the many new treaties adopted during Mr. O’Neil’s tenure, and his work to tackle contemporary issues, from maritime security after the September 2001 attacks to the management of ballast water to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species.
The Secretary-General spoke of O’Neil’s drive to address fundamental safety issues, reminding the audience that he had personally acted to urge the IMO membership to address key safety concerns, including the safety of bulk carriers and large passenger ships. Following the sinking of the Estonia ro-ro ferry in 1994, O’Neil established a team of experts to investigate ro-ro safety which led to important amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS).
As part of his crucial work on the environment, O’Neil oversaw the adoption in 1997 of the MARPOL Annex VI on Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships – now expanded to include energy efficiency requirements – and the revisions of the MARPOL Convention to accelerate the phase out of single hull tankers.
Amongst O’Neil’s other landmark achievements whilst in office highlighted by Lim were the introduction of the mandatory International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the key 1997 revisions to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978.
Lim drew attention to what is, perhaps, the most visible manifestation of O’Neil’s time as Secretary-General: the striking public memorial to seafarers’ sculpture that confronts all who arrive at the IMO Headquarters building.
“He desired it”, Lim said, ” to talk delegates, site visitors as well as passers-by an easy yet considerable message – that seafaring as well as seafarers issue Surely, all of us concur with this belief as well as identifyMr O’Neil’s real devotion to all points maritime”.
Turning to speak directly to Mr. O’Neil’s widow, Lim ended his tribute to her late husband, saying, “Mrs O’Neil, Olga– I initially satisfied Bill O’Neil as a delegate to IMO. He was my advisor as well as close friend– as well as I am honoured to have actually understood him”.
After the audience had watched a video tribute to Mr. William O’Neil, Mrs. O’Neil thanked the Secretary-General for his tribute to her husband about whom she said,
“He symbolized whatever that was excellent. Bill took pleasure in quite his time at IMO. It is a benefit to review several warm inspiring minutes. Secretary-General– thanks quite for your kind words. It is a fantastic convenience to me as well as Bill’s family members.”
