Whats New 2015
Mine tailings impacts debated
The first international meeting on the impacts of mine tailings disposal in the marine environment is being held in Lima, Peru (10-12 June) under the auspices of GESAMP, supported by the Parties to the London Convention and Protocol. The GESAMP International Workshop aims primarily to increase the scientific understanding of impacts on the marine environment of the disposal of mine tailings. more...
The Sudan establishes Permanent Mission to IMO
H.E. Mr. Mohammed A. Eltom, Ambassador of the Republic of the Sudan to the United Kingdom, has been appointed the Sudan’s first Permanent Mission to IMO. Mr Eltom presented his credentials to IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu at IMO Headquarters today (10 June). The Sudan has been a Member of IMO since 1974.
Finland establishes Permanent Mission to IMO
H.E. Mr Pekka Huhtaniemi, Ambassador of Finland to the United Kingdom, has been appointed Finland’s first Permanent Representative to IMO. Mr Huhtaniemi presented his credentials to IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu at IMO Headquarters today (10 June). Finland has been a Member of IMO since 1959.
Workshop boosts preparedness for pollution incidents
IMO is running a workshop to improve
preparedness and response to pollution incidents by hazardous and
noxious substances (HNS), in Hurghada, Egypt (8-10 June). Hosted by the
Regional Organization for the Conservation of Environment of the Red Sea
and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), the
workshop will help to develop national and regional contingency plans
for HNS spills in the PERSGA region, which is an important shipping
route known for its unique and diverse ecosystem. more...
preparedness and response to pollution incidents by hazardous and
noxious substances (HNS), in Hurghada, Egypt (8-10 June). Hosted by the
Regional Organization for the Conservation of Environment of the Red Sea
and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), the
workshop will help to develop national and regional contingency plans
for HNS spills in the PERSGA region, which is an important shipping
route known for its unique and diverse ecosystem. more...
Unsafe migration requires urgent action
Urgent action is needed to prevent huge losses of life at sea given the forecast increase in unsafe mixed migration by sea, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) agreed, following a special session on the issue (9 June). UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, addressing the MSC via video message, said this global issue required everyone to work together with a comprehensive approach, which would protect human rights, uphold international law and recognize the benefits of migration. (click to read more)
Bahamas accedes to wreck removal convention
The Bahamas has become the 22nd Contracting State to the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal
of Wrecks. High Commissioner H.E. Eldred Bethel, Permanent
Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to IMO, today (5 June)
met IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu to deposit the instrument of
accession to the Convention.
of Wrecks. High Commissioner H.E. Eldred Bethel, Permanent
Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to IMO, today (5 June)
met IMO Secretary-General Sekimizu to deposit the instrument of
accession to the Convention.
IMO at World Ocean Summit
IMO’s role and responsibilities in
relation to ocean governance and the “blue economy” were highlighted by
Stefan Micallef, Director of the IMO Marine Environment Division, during
a panel discussion at the World Ocean Summit 2015
in Lisbon, Portugal (3-5 June). The session “Tug-of-war? The trade-offs
in building a blue economy” centred on how to build a fully functioning
blue economy, including the key challenges and possible conflicts.
relation to ocean governance and the “blue economy” were highlighted by
Stefan Micallef, Director of the IMO Marine Environment Division, during
a panel discussion at the World Ocean Summit 2015
in Lisbon, Portugal (3-5 June). The session “Tug-of-war? The trade-offs
in building a blue economy” centred on how to build a fully functioning
blue economy, including the key challenges and possible conflicts.
Training on ballast water management underway
A training workshop on sampling and analysing ballast water is being held in Gebze, Turkey (2-4 June). Taking part are Port State Control officers and marine biologists from several Lead Partnering Countries (LPCs) of the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloBallast Partnerships Programme (GloBallast), which aims to address the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms and pathogens in ships’ ballast water, thereby reducing the negative impact on marine ecosystems. The training involves shipboard sampling followed by practical laboratory analysis of the sampled ballast water. It aims to equip participants with the skills to replicate the training at a national level.
African maritime transport project extended
The joint European Union/African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States project on "Support to Maritime Transport Sector in Africa" is to run to the end of 2016, beyond its planned March 2016 completion date, due to implementation delays in some of the beneficiary countries caused by the Ebola crisis. IMO is one of three implementing partners in the programme, through its FlagPort WACAF project team. The decision to extend was taken at a two-day meeting of the project steering committee in Brussels (2-3 June) at which IMO’s project team presented progress reports on flag state implementation of IMO conventions and on port state control.