Whats New 2016
Website launched for GloMEEP energy efficiency project
IMO’s continuing efforts to promote environmentally sound shipping received a boost today with the launch of Glomeep.imo.org. The new website provides important information and updates on the Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships (GloMEEP) project – a GEF-UNDP-IMO initiative that supports the uptake and implementation of energy efficiency measures for shipping, thereby reducing the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. A key feature of the site is an information portal on energy efficiency technologies – covering areas such as machinery, propulsion and hull improvements, and energy recovery. more...
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, 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, Mr. Trelawny told the programme that “IMO
has developed a range of guidance and measures to protect shipping, and to
protect the ports serving shipping – including the International Ship and Port
Facility Security Code”. Watch extended clips of the interview here
and here. more...
Guatemala accedes to convention covering civil liability for oil pollution damage
Guatemala has become the 136th State to accede to the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (CLC 1992 Protocol). The Convention ensures that adequate compensation is available to people who suffer oil pollution damage from maritime casualties involving oil-carrying ships, and places liability on the owner of the ship from which the polluting oil escaped or was discharged. H.E. Mr. Acisclo Valladares Molina, Ambassador of Guatemala to the United Kingdom, met IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim at IMO Headquarters, London (2 August) to deposit the instrument of accession.
Mozambique workshop supports seafarer training and assessment
An IMO-led workshop in Maputo, Mozambique is supporting countries
in south-eastern Africa in implementing the STCW
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, including
the 2010 Manila Amendments, and supports maritime training
institutions in the region to improve teaching and assessment of seafarers in
accordance with the Convention. more...
Protecting sensitive sea areas in south-east Asia
Further progress towards identifying and designating Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) in south-east Asia has been made during a regional meeting in Lombok, Indonesia (27-28 July). Some 30 participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Viet Nam and observers from Singapore met to identify any gaps in knowledge in potential areas to be selected and proposed to be designated as a PSSA by IMO. They also discussed additional assistance which may be required in developing final submissions to IMO. more...
Supporting maritime security in Mauritius
An IMO-led maritime security table top exercise is taking place in
Mauritius (26-27 July) for participants from around 20 government agencies. The
exercise is highlighting the need for an integrated national approach to
implementation of maritime security measures, with particular reference to
IMO's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
convention and International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS)
Code. The exercise involves a range of security and related scenarios
involving policy decisions, crisis/emergency management and response.
Participants are jointly identifying areas of improvement,
including future areas of assistance from IMO and other development
partners. more...
Mixed migration by sea on agenda at Jakarta workshop
Migration
should be managed so that migrants are not put in the dangerous position of
having to be rescued at sea. This was the message of IMO’s Chris Trelawny,
Special Advisor on Maritime Security and Facilitation, speaking at the
“Maritime Security and Migrant Protection in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea”
workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia (26-27 July). Addressing
the point that merchant ships are not designed for mass rescue, Mr. Trelawny
said that rescues will continue, but safe, legal, alternative pathways to
migration must be developed, including safe, organized migration by sea, if
necessary. more...
IMO workshop in Morocco promotes energy efficiency measures
An 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, which is supporting uptake and implementation of energy efficiency
measures for shipping in developing countries. Morocco is one of the 10 GloMEEP
lead pilot countries. more...
Sub-Committee on implementation meets
The third session of the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) has been opened by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. The agenda includes casualty analysis; 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). The session (18-22 July) is being chaired by Captain Dwain Hutchinson (Bahamas). Click for photos. more...