Whats New 2017
Oil spill preparedness
Dealing with an oil spill requires
effective management of waste created by a spill. A national workshop
in the Republic of the Congo (27-29 June) has provided an opportunity
for officials who may be involved in dealing with a spill under national
contingency plans to get updated on the latest technical and regulatory
knowledge and best practices to establish and manage effective waste
management operations. The workshop was organized under the auspices of
the Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI WACAF) – a joint IMO-IPIECA project. more...
Port co-operation and maritime security
A regional workshop focusing on this year’s World Maritime Day theme - Connecting Ships, Ports and People – has been held in Buenos Aires, Argentina (26-29 June). The event, organized by IMO in collaboration with the Argentine Maritime Authority (Prefectura Naval Argentina), aimed to promote cooperation between ports and designated authorities of participating countries through an open discussion and by sharing experiences and best practices related to maritime security. The workshop also reviewed the implementation of maritime security in the region and evaluating new or evolving threats. more...
Caribbean cooperation for low-carbon shipping
Work to promote energy-efficient shipping is underway at the
newly-established Caribbean Maritime Technology Cooperation
Centre (MTCC) with a
conference at the Centre’s headquarters at the University of Trinidad and
Tobago (27-28 June). The Centre is part of the global network for
energy-efficient shipping under the GMN project, funded by the European Union and run by IMO. The conference is the first regional event to take place
under the project, which has established a network of five such regional MTCCs.
Together, they are promoting technologies and operations to improve energy
efficiency in the maritime sector and help navigate shipping into a low-carbon
future. more...
Supporting maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea
IMO was represented at the recent meeting in Rome, Italy (26-27 June), of the G7 Friends of the Gulf of Guinea Group (G7++FOGG). The meeting focused on the fight against piracy; illicit trafficking of narcotics, weapons, human beings and goods; illegal fishing; marine litter; and on the development of the maritime economy. IMO has been supporting countries in the region to implement all of the key areas identified in the Code of Conduct concerning the repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships, and illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa. IMO was represented by Gisela Vieira at the meeting, which was hosted by the Italian Presidency of the G7++ FoGG.
Focus on GHG emissions
Nearly 300 delegates from IMO Member States, international NGOs and intergovernmental organizations have gathered for the first meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships (26-30 June). Click here for photos. The group, which is meeting in a closed session, will provide a report to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71) (full preview here). The working group report will form the basis for further deliberation in relation to the elements set out in the Roadmap for developing a comprehensive IMO strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships. more...
Seafarers’ rights
Seafarers’ rights to be treated fairly in all circumstances was the focus for an international workshop hosted at IMO (23 June), ahead of the Day of the Seafarer. Addressing the Workshop on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers, organized by the International Transport Workers' Federation and Seafarers' Rights International, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim highlighted Guidelines on fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident adopted by IMO in 2006. (click for Mr. Kitack Lim’s speech). more...
Inspection training for energy-efficient shipping
IMO’s work to support
countries to implement air pollution and energy efficiency measures for ships
was underway at a workshop in Durban, South Africa this week (22-23 June). The
event involved Port State Control Officers from South Africa and Kenya
responsible for inspection and enforcement of the provisions
in IMO’s MARPOL Annex VI treaty. This is the
latest training workshop delivered under IMO’s GloMEEP project, and was
carried out by a team of IMO consultants and hosted by the Department of
Transport of South Africa.
Abandonment of seafarers on the agenda
Seafarer abandonment was the subject
of a seminar held at IMO Headquarters, London (22 June) – a joint
IMO-Consular Corps of London event. Diplomats and consular officers
involved in dealing with abandonment cases heard speakers provide a
variety of perspectives on the subject, including on the legal
framework, seafarer support, the representation of seafarers' interests,
and the flag State perspective. Click for photos. more...
Keeping abreast with IMO standards
To keep abreast of the latest IMO
standards, a three-day workshop to update Nigeria's National Maritime
Transport Policy (NMTP) was held in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
(19-21 June). Through IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme
(ITCP), the event highlighted relevant legislative and administrative
actions to be taken in order to ensure that the maritime sector
continually contributes to the country's sustainable development. more...