THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA WILL OBSERVE ALONG WITH 169 OTHER COUNTRIES THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME DAY, DUE TO BE ORGANIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO) THURSDAY. MINISTER OF TRANSPORT DR JUBARA AL-SIREISIRI SAID IN A STATEMENT TO SPA THAT OBSERVATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME DAY EMBODIES THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION FOR CONFRONTING THE CURRENT AND FUTURE CHALLENGES. HE NOTED THAT THE IMO IS ONE OF THE ORGANS OF THE UN, AND IT AIMS AT ENHANCING COOPERATION AMONG THE COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED WITH SHIPPING IN THE WORLD. THE IMO IS CONCERNED WITH SHIPPING SAFETY AS WELL AS THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE SEAS AND OCEANS FROM POLLUTION, HE NOTED. EMPHASIZING THE KEENNESS OF SAUDI ARABIA ON IMPLEMENTING THE DECISIONS ISSUED BY THE IMO, AL-SIREISIRI SAID THE KINGDOM HAS JOINED MORE THAN 20 AGREEMENTS AND PROTOCOLS PERTAINING TO THE SHIPPING SAFETY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.