Cochin University of Science and Technology alumnus to head UN agency

Thiruvananthapuram: Aji Vasudevan, an alumnus of Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, has been appointed chairman of the sub-committee of Implementation of IMO Instrument (III) for the year 2017. This is the first time an Indian has occupied the position in the London-based UN agency which sets global standards for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.

Mr Vasudevan is at present the deputy chief ship surveyor-cum senior deputy director-general with the directorate-general of shipping under the ministry of shipping, and is based in Mumbai. Mr Vasudevan was elected at the plenary session of IMO in London on a nomination from Bahamas.

“The global decision-making on most of the maritime regulatory matters happens at IMO,” Mr Vasudevan, 50, said. “As many as 171 of the 193 nations in the UN are members of the IMO.” The challenge will be to take a neutral position and balanced view on matters in which a lot of nations have their interests, he said. A Chengannur native, Mr Vasudevan took his B.Tech in ship technology in 1988 and masters from World Maritime University, Sweden on a Japanese scholarship.