John Østergaard has been working with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office on an important project relating to the development and strengthening of Maritime Administrations in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with a potential expansion to Turkmenistan.

High-level meetings have been held in Baku and Astana with key Government Ministries and agencies, in order to discuss and explain the international framework for the implementation and enforcement of IMO Conventions. These Conventions, which form the basis of safe shipping, are not fully ratified or implemented in the Caspian region. John drafted an information paper as a basis for these meetings and Chaired both events.

John's long experience at IMO, his broad knowledge of the Conventions and his detailed knowledge of existing initiatives in the Caspian means he is well qualified to assist in this effort.