International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
In 2017, two of our Maritime Law LLM students, Jiancuo Qi from China and Capt Philip Corsano from the United States of America, were accepted as interns by the IMO after a rigorous selection process, and spent several weeks at the organisation's headquarters in London. Both students got the opportunity to observe the meetings of the 7th session of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee and the 67th session of the Technical Cooperation Committee. Commenting on his experience at the IMO, Mr Qi said: “Undertaking an internship at IMO has been a very good experience and has benefitted me in many aspects, including some ways that I did not foresee. I am really grateful for the help, encouragement and kind support the staff have provided me during my studies at Swansea University.”
Captain Corsano continued in a similar fashion: “I attended the technical sessions of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) plenum, and was struck by the deep levels of industry expertise within IMO and its consultants. I was particularly impressed with the head of the MSC, Mrs Sandra Allnutt, who is one of the few women in the industry to achieve senior status.”
Mr Qi with the Secretary General of the IMO Mr Kitack Lim
In 2019, several of our students were given an opportunity to act as interns at the IMO. Here is what some of them had to say about their experience:
Faudzan Farhana
“The opportunity to participate as a research intern in the International Maritime Organization was one of extreme value for me since it is a specialized agency of the United Nations, with responsibility for the safety and security of international shipping. My internship was about the legal framework of piracy and armed robbery; new effective measures to repress modern piracy and the role of Private Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP). My staying in the Maritime Knowledge Centre with some of my fellow Swansea University LLM peers gave us the opportunity to enlarge our research fields. Undoubtedly, the internship in IMO was a unique and highly recommended experience in order to expand my knowledge in maritime law.”
Nikolaos Karampatzos
"I had an amazing three week internship in the IMO. It was such a privilege to meet wonderful people from various backgrounds, being able to discuss and talk with representatives of my country in IMO, and get access to the IMO extensive library for the purpose of writing my dissertation. Everyone is so helpful and friendly. Words could not describe my gratitude for this opportunity. It exceeded my expectations."
Aneta Kiryakidou, Nikolaos Karampatzos and Faudzan Farhana at IMO during their internship in the summer of 2019
In 2020, two of our LLM students benefited from our strong ties with the IMO by securing internships at the organisation.
Aurélia Pyneeandee
"Being a research intern at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for a full month was a unique and fulfilling experience. I firstly started by working on the open registries question then extended my research to other contemporary issues such as autonomous vessels, pollution (greenhouse gas emissions), maritime safety (piracy). I also had an opportunity to be part of the IMO’s 'Women Empowerment in Maritime' project. The internship enabled me access to the IMO’s Center of Knowledge. As a result, I not only managed to consolidate what I learned at Swansea University but also had the opportunity to experience the maritime community from a more practical perspective. I would like to thank to my teachers at Swansea especially Dr. Tabetha Kurtz-Shefford and Dr. Youri Van Logchem for their support throughout my studies."
Nikola Marku
"This experience has significantly improved my practical and academic knowledge in maritime law and affairs. Especially, the debates I had with the Secretary General, Mr. Kitack Lim, High Commissioner of South Africa, Mr. Sipho Mbatha, and many other experts helped me to expand my understanding and as a result I have developed different perspectives on current problems affecting the maritime sector. In addition, the research work I undertook on piracy and greenhouse gas pollution and various interviews with different organisations such as REMPEC, PPR will undoubtedly help me in shaping my professional future in maritime world."