Whats New 2016
Towards safe, clean ship recycling
Nine West and Central African countries have agreed to start working towards ratifying IMO’s ship recycling treaty, the Hong Kong Convention, following a workshop in Accra, Ghana (14-16 November). The event allowed for in-depth discussions and provided details on the specific requirements of the Convention and its Guidelines, with representatives from Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe and Sierra Leone taking part. more...
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Honduras accedes to key pollution prevention treaties
Honduras has acceded to two important IMO instruments covering the prevention of pollution from ships – MARPOL Annex VI, which deals with prevention of air pollution from ships and energy efficiency, and the international treaty on oil pollution preparedness, response and cooperation (OPRC). more...
Focus on maritime security measures at Guinea-Bissau workshop
A range of maritime security scenarios are being played out
in a table top exercise for officials in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (14-16
November). Participants from Government departments and national agencies,
including the Maritime Authority, are focusing on security measures in IMO
treaties. These include SOLAS
chapter XI-2 and ISPS Code, to which Guinea-Bissau acceded to last month,
as well as the convention covering suppression of unlawful acts against the
safety of maritime navigation (SUA
treaties), which the country has also ratified. more...
Environmental updates
IMO’s recent Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 70) completed a packed agenda, illustrating the Organization’s strong commitment to the protection of the marine environment and the atmosphere. An update on the main outcomes was provided to a wide range of stakeholders at the recent Green Ship Technology North America conference, held in Washington DC, United States (15 November). more...
IMO’s climate change mandate
An audience of lawyers and academics have heard that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) gives a clear mandate for IMO to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from or through the atmosphere and to address climate change. IMO’s Fred Kenney, speaking at seminar in London (14 November), said that Article 212 of UNCLOS complemented the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to give IMO Member States a clear role to continue to build on the work already done to address the energy efficiency of ships. more...
Recent moves on ballast water management
IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention was the topic of a panel discussion during the Marshall Islands Quality Council meeting in London, United Kingdom (15 November). With the Convention set to enter into force in September 2017, requiring ships to manage their ballast water to help prevent the spread of potentially harmful invasive aquatic species, IMO’s Theofanis Karayannis gave an update on the Convention’s latest developments, outlining the decisions taken during the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee’s 70th session in October, which include adoption of revised guidelines to update the approval procedures for ballast water management systems (BWMS).
East Asia environmental treaties project mulls next steps
Participating States in a highly successful IMO-Norad environmental project have wrapped up the project in a final meeting, during which they pledged to continue to forge ahead with the implementation of key IMO marine environmental conventions. During the meeting in Bali, Indonesia (9-11 November), the six east Asian beneficiary countries highlighted the major goals reached during the project, including the development of national legislation for the ratification of key treaties. more...