International Maritime Organization News

Spotlight on Women in Maritime Security

"The bottom line is that doubling your talent pool just makes sense", said Chris Trelawny,  International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s special Adviser on Maritime Security, as he opened the Women in Maritime Security conference held at IMO Headquarters (24 May). Women are increasingly present at sea, as they defy traditional expectations. Their full and meaningful participation in the economy, political decision-making, and society is key to addressing maritime challenges, but gender equity in the maritime space is too often overlooked.

The Bellona Foundation, Carnival Partner in Sustainable Cruising

The Bellona Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc have signed an agreement to work together to continue improving environmental and sustainability impact. The newly formed cooperation is based on the two parties’ shared vision of an even more sustainable cruise industry in a future zero emission society.The agreement's overall purpose is to contribute to and promote sustainable operations in the shipping industry. The arrangement will focus on solutions, regulations and legislation favoring the use of environmentally friendly vessels for the benefit of the environment…

U.S. Coast Guard Employee IMO Secretary General Candidate

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that a civilian employee of the service is the U.S. candidate for Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization. Jeffrey Lantz, the Coast Guard’s Director for Commercial Regulations and Standards, will be a candidate in the International Maritime Organization’s elections scheduled for the 106thInternational Maritime Organization Council in London, June 27 to July 1, 2011. Lantz is responsible for developing U.S. national maritime safety and environmental protection regulations and policies. He also oversees U.S.

Singapore, Japan to Collaborate in Development of Ports

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the Ports and Harbours Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) at the sideline of the International Symposium on LNG bunkering in Yokohama, Japan. The areas of cooperation under the MOC include port planning, port management and technological development in the port sector. Signed today by Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA, and Mr Michio Kikuchi…

Pacific Maritime Sector Lures Women

Regional commitment of the Pacific on the advancement of women and gender equality in the maritime sector was at the forefront of a meeting held by The Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA) in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, April 24-28. Thanks to International Maritime Organization (IMO) funding, the association was able to meet and discuss the regional strategy for Pacific women in the maritime sector, e launching their new website and collaborating with the World Maritime University`s Women’s Association.

Day of the Seafarer 2017

In less than two months, the Day of the Seafarer 2017 will be celebrated across the globe with a special focus on ports and seafarer centres. Under this year’s theme #SeafarersMatter, the campaign aims to engage the people working in ports and seafarer centres to demonstrate how much seafarers matter to them. International Maritime Organization (IMO) is also launching a new Day of the Seafarer logo. The Day of the Seafarer logo seeks to celebrate those people working in the industry, making it clear that seafaring is inclusive and a career at sea is suitable for both men and women.

Saudi Arabia Ratifies BWM Treaty

Saudi Arabia has become the latest State to become a Party to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.   The treaty will enter into force on September 8, 2017 and aims to counter the threat to marine ecosystems by potentially invasive species transported in ships' ballast water.   Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession with IMO on April 27, 2017, bringing the number of contracting Parties to the BWM Convention to 55, or 53.67 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage.

Global Shipping Regulations for a Level Playing Field

The relationship between global shipping regulation, through  International Maritime Organization (IMO), and regional implementation can be strong and very effective. This was the message from IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, speaking at the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in Lisbon, Portugal (24 May). Lim highlighted that EU Member States have made an invaluable contribution to IMO’s work, which, over several decades, has laid the foundation for shipping to become progressively safer, more efficient, cleaner and greener.

Ballast Water Management Treaty Ratifications Boost

Last week has seen four more States become Party to International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Ballast Water Management Convention, designed to counter the threat to marine ecosystems by potentially invasive species transported in ships' ballast water. The Convention enters into force on 8 September 2017 and will require ships to manage their ballast water, which can contain thousands of aquatic or marine microbes, plants and organisms, which are then carried across the globe.

South Africa to Host World Maritime Day Conference in 2020

The world is expected to turn its eyes on South Africa’s maritime sector as South Africa is expected to host the 2020 World Maritime Day Conference by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly in 2020, right here in Durban. This is according to Sindisiwe Chikunga, Deputy Minister of Transport who announced this week that all eyes will be on South Africa’s maritime sector and Operation Phakisa when more than 230 countries will participate in the WMD. She made this announcement on the eve of the celebrations of the Day of the Seafarer…

"It is Easy for Seafarers to Feel Lonely and Isolated" Says UN

Highlighting the challenges faced by seafarers – women and men sailing and working aboard ships – the United Nations International Maritime Organization has called on everyone around the world to show appreciation for their vital contributions. “Even though seafaring can provide the basis for a fulfilling and life-long career, it is still a very difficult and demanding job,” Kitack Lim, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said in his message on Day of the Seafarer.

Climate Agreement for Shipping Is Now One Step Closer to Reality

After two weeks' intensive debate in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) , steps have been taken towards specific measures to reduce shipping's greenhouse gas emissions, says a statement from Danish Maritime Authority (DMA). However, difficult negotiations lie ahead in order to reach the necessary milestones. ​Last year, United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) decided that a final climate strategy should be adopted in 2023. As one important milestone in this connection, an initial climate strategy for the shipping industry should be ready in 2018.

Singapore, Japan Feasibility Study LNG-Fuelled Car Carriers

To promote LNG bunkering in Asia, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Ports and Harbours Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) will helm a working group to conduct a feasibility study on LNG bunkering for car carriers plying between Japan and Singapore. This working group will include Japan’s big three shippers – Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). The study…

New Study Looks at LNG Bunkering for Car Carriers

To help promote liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering in Asia, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Ports and Harbors Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) will helm a working group to conduct a feasibility study on LNG bunkering for car carriers plying between Japan and Singapore. This working group will include Japan’s big three shippers – Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL).

Sub-Committee on III Meets

​The third session of the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) has been opened by International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim. The agenda includes the regular casualty analysis work to review marine safety investigation report and produce lessons learned from marine casualties. The review of port State control procedures and the updates to the survey guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) and the non-exhaustive list of obligations under instruments relevant to the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code).

IMO Workshop in Morocco Promotes Energy Efficiency Measures

An International Maritime Organization (IMO) workshop is raising awareness of the organization’s regulatory regime dealing with improving energy efficiency and the control of GHG emissions from ships. Participants from Moroccan governmental departments, port authorities and maritime training institutes are attending the three-day “MARPOL Annex VI and Technology Transfer” workshop, taking place in Rabat, Morocco (19-21 July). The event is the latest in a line of workshops organized under IMO’s GloMEEP project…

Can Shipping Nations Act on Global Emissions?

Shipping was not included in the global temperature-reduction targets agreed in the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, yet the shipping industry pledged to move forward “in the spirit of Paris,” says a report in the WSJ. There is much businesses and shipping nations can do to act on global emissions standards, says the report. The fight against climate change “a top priority,” says Kitack Lim, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s secretary-general. But the shipping nations within IMO have fallen well short of following the Paris model.

Mozambique Workshop Supports Seafarer Training and Assessment

An International Maritime Organization (IMO)-led workshop in Maputo, Mozambique is supporting countries in south-eastern Africa in implementing the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping ) Convention, which establishes international standards for training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers. The workshop (25-29 July) is familiarizing maritime administrations and maritime training institutes with all recent amendments to the STCW Convention and Code…

IMO’s Maritime Security Work Highlighted

Recent security exercises in the English Channel involving military personnel on board ships have sparked heightened media interest in maritime security in the region. As a result, International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s work in this field has been highlighted on the UK news channel Sky News (2 August) by Chris Trelawny, IMO Special Advisor on Maritime Security and Facilitation. Asked about ferry security in the context of terrorism, Trelawny told the programme that “IMO has developed a range of guidance and measures to protect shipping…

e-Navigation Underway (North America) 2016

San Jacinto College and the Seamen’s Church Institute will host e-Navigation Underway (North America) 2016, the third in the annual North American series of conferences focusing upon the development and application of e-navigation. The event will be held at the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center, La Porte, Texas, a new facility that opened in Spring of this year. e-Navigation is an initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the goal of which is to provide a decision support environment for the maritime community.

MARACAD 2016 - Strategic Platform for Maritime Education, Training

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure, Chairman of the Federal Transport Authority – Land and Maritime (FTA)  inaugurated the second edition of MARACAD 2016 the Maritime Academic Conference and Expo at Sheikh Maktoum Hall, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. During MARACAD 2016, which is organized by Cham Events and will continue until September 21, the latest maritime training and educations topics and challenges will be discussed and suggested solutions will be offered…

Qatar Accedes to BWM Convention

​Sixty-eight countries have now signed up to International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Ballast Water Management Convention, with Qatar being the latest to accede to the treaty helping to protect the marine environment. The signatories now represent more than 75% of the world's merchant fleet tonnage. Under the treaty, ships are required to manage their ballast water, which can contain thousands of aquatic or marine microbes, plants and organisms, which are then carried across the globe. H.E. Mr.

IMO Celebrates 70 Years with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Seventy years to the day since the treaty establishing the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) was adopted, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marked the occasion at IMO Headquarters in London on Tuesday (6 March). Accompanied by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a commemorative plaque and cut an anniversary cake. Her Majesty also met some of the guests attending the event, including representatives of IMO Member States, inter-governmental and international non-governmental organizations, and IMO Secretariat staff.

IMO Sets Regulations to Cut SOx Emissions from 2020

The United Nations' shipping agency on Thursday set global regulations to limit the amount of sulphur emissions from vessels which will come into force from 2020. The shipping industry is by far the world's biggest emitter of sulphur, with the sulphur oxide content in heavy fuel oil up to 3,500 times higher than the latest European diesel standards for vehicles.

Clean Arctic Alliance Response to Arctic HFO Ban

“The Clean Arctic Alliance welcomes AECO’s reconfirmation of its support for an international ban on heavy fuel oil in Arctic waters. AECO’s decision demonstrates the growing conviction within the shipping industry that the Arctic is simply too vulnerable and too fragile to allow the use of this dirtiest of fuels, and that HFO can no longer be considered an option for powering Arctic shipping in the future”. “By acknowledging the threats posed by spills and black carbon emissions from heavy fuel oil…

IMO Newcomer Belarus Accedes to Further Treaties

Just one week after becoming the 172nd member state of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Belarus has acceded to three IMO treaties covering a variety of ship safety measures, including conventions on load lines and facilitation of maritime traffic. Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the U.K., Sergei Aleinik, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO headquarters in London on December 5 to deposit the instruments of accession. Belarus deposited its instrument…