One International Board meeting, two national co-ordinators meetings, an AGM, four study tours , two dinners and a conference later, KIMO International can look forward to the coming year with renewed hope and purpose.
With an organisation that is distributed across 6 countries, the annual AGM provides a rare opportunity to discuss the important environmental issues that affect us all. High on the agenda this year were issues such as maintaining clean beaches, addressing microplastic pollution, shoreside power for docked vessels, adequate Emergency Towing Vessel (ETV) provision in the North Sea, the problem of paraffin pollution and the need for international collaborative planning to regulate marine traffic in the North Sea.
We are pleased to announce that two KIMO resolutions were passed at the AGM. Please feel free to read and distribute these resolutions as widely as possible:
KIMO Resolution 3/09 – Microplastics (revised)
KIMO Resolution 2016/1 – Connection of Vessels to Shoreside Power
Besides the important work accomplished in the various meetings, the informal events provided an invaluable opportunity for international networking. There were whispers in the corridors about the possibility of an International Green Deal. Watch this space…
The Annual Report was published and noted at the AGM and is now available for public download:
The conference saw some high profile speakers such as Jan van Zanen (President of the Association of Dutch Municipalities), Stan Kerkhofs (Senior Advisor, Conversion from Waste to Resources, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment), Jaap Smit (Kings Commissioner in the Province of Zuid-Holland) and Gerard Doornbos (President of the Water Board Council of Rhineland) addressing the organisation.
A statement of support for the project ‘Juttersgeluk 2017’ (Beachcomber’s Delight Project 2017) was signed by representatives from VNG, KIMO and the Beachcomber’s Delight Foundation.
The highlight of the conference for many was the presentation by Dutch astronaut, André Kuipers. The audience was transfixed in rapt attention as Mr Kuipers shared photographs of earth taken from the International Space Station. The presentation ended on a particularly poignant note with Mr Kuipers telling the audience about how the experience of seeing a fragile blue dot hanging in the cold hostile expanse of space drives home the realisation that the earth is the only home we have and that we need to take care of it.
Many thanks to the organisers at Noordwijk for a fruitful and enjoyable Conference/AGM 2016. Special mentions to Jack de Vos, Bianca Rensen-de Haas and Karin van der Valk for all the work done behind the scenes to make the 3 days a resounding success. And lastly, thanks to Herman Compier, possibly the friendliest doorman in the Netherlands, for his helpfulness and infectious good humour.