Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United Kingdom Meets Officials from the UK Hydrographic Office to Discuss Strengthening Cooperation in Maritime Safety

His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United Kingdom and Permanent Representative of Iraq to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Dr Salih Husain Ali Al-Tamimi, met with Mr Chris Hunt, Partnership and Engagement Manager for the Middle East and Africa at the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), accompanied by a number of senior officials from the Office.

The meeting focused on ways to enhance cooperation between the Republic of Iraq and the UK Hydrographic Office in support of maritime safety within Iraq’s territorial waters and the navigational channels leading to Iraqi ports. Discussions explored opportunities to benefit from the Office’s extensive technical expertise in hydrographic surveying and the production of nautical charts.

During the meeting, His Excellency the Ambassador reaffirmed the importance of continuing and completing the procedures required for the signing of the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between Iraq and the UK Hydrographic Office. The Memorandum is intended to open new avenues for technical cooperation, strengthen national capacity in the field of hydrographic surveying, and support the development of accurate nautical charts providing up-to-date information to help ensure the safety of navigation in the waters leading to Iraqi ports and within Iraq’s national waters.

Both sides underscored the importance of moving forward with the completion of the procedures for signing the Memorandum of Understanding, which will strengthen institutional cooperation between Iraq and the UK Hydrographic Office and support efforts to develop navigational infrastructure and enhance maritime safety in accordance with international standards.

The UK Hydrographic Office provides the nautical charts required for the safe navigation of approximately 90 per cent of the world’s commercial shipping fleet.

The meeting was also attended by the Iraqi Naval Attaché, Captain Mazen Al-Kaabi.