[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 40 (Monday, October 7, 1996)]
[Pages 1942-1943]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Convention on the International 
Maritime Organization

October 1, 1996

To the Senate of the United States:

    I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to 
acceptance, amendments to the Convention on the International Maritime 
Organization, signed at Geneva, March 6, 1948 (the IMO Convention). The 
amendments were adopted on November 7, 1991, and November 4, 1993, by 
the Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at its 
seventeenth and eighteenth sessions. I also transmit, for the 
information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State 
describing the amendments, their purpose and effect.
    The United States is the world's largest user of international 
shipping. These amendments strengthen the International Maritime 
Organization's capability to facilitate international maritime traffic 
and to carry out its activities in developing strong maritime safety and 
environmental protection standards and regulations. The IMO's policies 
and maritime standards largely reflect our own. The United States pays 
less than 5 percent of the assessed contributions to the IMO.
    The 1991 amendments institutionalize the Facilitation Committee as 
one of the IMO's standing committees. The Facilitation Committee was 
created to streamline the procedures for the arrival, stay and departure 
of ships, cargo and persons in international ports. This committee 
effectively contributes to greater efficiencies and profits for the U.S. 
maritime sector, while assisting U.S. law enforcement agencies' efforts 
to combat narcotics trafficking and the threat of maritime terrorism.
    The 1993 amendments increase the size of the IMO governing Council 
from 32 to 40 members. The United States has always been a member of the 
IMO governing Council. Increasing the Council from 32 to 40 Member 
States will ensure a more adequate representation of the interests of 
the more than 150 Member States in vital IMO maritime safety and 
environment protection efforts worldwide.
    The 1991 amendments institutionalize the Facilitation Committee as 
one of the IMO's main committees. The 1993 amendments increase the size 
of the Council from 32 to 40 members, thereby affording a broader 
representation of the increased membership in the IMO's continuing 
administrative body.
    Support for these amendments will contribute to the demonstrated 
interest of the United States in facilitating cooperation among maritime 
nations. To that end, I urge that the Senate give early and favorable 
con- 

[[Page 1943]]

sideration to these amendments and give its advice and consent to their 
acceptance.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
October 1, 1996.