A veritable flotilla of colourful and imaginative maritime craft has been created in the paintings submitted by local schoolchildren in an art competition organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the London-based United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety, security and efficiency of shipping and the prevention of pollution by ships.

The Organization recently returned to its newly refurbished Headquarters building on the Albert Embankment and, as part of a series of events to mark the occasion, invited the children from the Year 2 Ebury class of St. Barnabas' Church of England Primary School, in nearby Westminster, to submit their artwork in a competition to depict "shipping in the future".

Twenty-three children and their teacher, Miss Kirsty Shardlow, accompanied by the School's Headteacher, Ms. Ann Townshend, came to the IMO building on Thursday, 19 June, where the winner and two runners-up received special prizes. Miss Shardlow said the children had thoroughly enjoyed participating in the competition and had learned a lot about shipping in the process.

"The children have been really pleased with the experience. It has given them the opportunity to learn all about ships and develop their skills in art and design. It has also helped them to understand that designs of the future need to be environmentally friendly and the ways in which this could be achieved," she said.

The winners were:

The prizes were presented by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Efthimios E. Mitropoulos.

"I am delighted that the children of St. Barnabas' School took wholeheartedly to our special project and thrilled that they rose to the challenge with such imagination and energy. Their vision of the ships of the future - in terms of design, what they will carry, and how they will move - is fascinating, and they have shown much flair and innovation. We thank and congratulate them all for their great efforts, in particular the three prize winners", said Mr. Mitropoulos.

"I hope that, in this process, we have sparked in them an interest in the work and achievements of IMO and the shipping industry, and that they, and many other young people throughout the world, will grow to consider a career in the maritime sector - who knows, we may have here the genesis of a whole new generation of naval architects!", he added.

All the children ate a hearty lunch among the IMO delegates and staff and received a "goody bag" of IMO memorabilia.

Note: the children's artwork competition was part of a series of celebrations and events held this week to mark a number of major milestones in the history of IMO. In addition to hosting the 100th session of the IMO Council, the week of 16-20 June sees IMO inaugurate its newly-refurbished Headquarters, commemorate 60 years since the adoption of the IMO Convention and 50 years since that Convention entered into force, as well as mark the 25th and 20th anniversaries, respectively, of the World Maritime University and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute.

Briefing 31, 19 June 2008

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