Whats New 2017
New World Maritime Day video launched
Connecting ships, ports and people, this year`s theme for World Maritime Day highlights the importance of coherent and connected development across all maritime sectors. To illustrate this concept, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim visited the port of Felixstowe to record his annual message for the event. The busiest container port in the United Kingdom features as the backdrop, emphasizing the clear link between ships and ports and the people that operate them. Watch the video here.
Lessons learned to enhance seafarer training
Ways to enhance seafarer training by utilizing lessons learned from marine casualty investigations are under discussion this week. The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 4) is meeting at IMO Headquarters (30 January-3 February). The Sub-Committee will also continue its work to update and revise guidelines on fatigue. The meeting was opened by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Ms. Mayte Medina (United States). Photos here. more...
The benefits of self-assessment
The ability to plan and conduct effective
self-assessments and internal audits for port facilities is at the core of a
maritime security training workshop taking place in Kingston, Jamaica (24-27
January). The four-day event will equip participants, which
includes port security officials and managers, with the skills required by
IMO`s International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) to carry
out controls, monitoring, audits and inspections. more...
Microplastics found in supermarket shellfish - report
Microplastics - tiny pieces of plastic or fibres increasingly found in the oceans - have been found in a variety of commercial fish and shellfish, including samples purchased from retail outlets, according to a new study. The report, the second part of a global assessment of the sources, fates and effects of microplastics in the marine environment, provides a new section devoted to the potential impacts of microplastics on commercial fish and shellfish species. Further research is needed to determine how and if microplastics pose a risk for food safety and potentially food security, the report says. more...
Energy management in the spotlight
IMO’s global energy efficiency rules are key to a sustainable future for shipping. This was the message from IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim to the MARENER 2017 conference on maritime energy management, taking place at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden (24-25 January). Mr. Lim emphasized the importance of energy management and outlined the numerous on-going IMO projects to help implement global energy efficiency measures for shipping. The conference also saw IMO’s Edmund Hughes chair a session on the regulatory framework of energy management. more...
Treaty lecture
World Maritime University (WMU) students on Monday (23 January) gained expert insight into the development, entry into force and amendment processes with respect to IMO instruments, from visiting lecturer Frederick Kenney, Director, Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, IMO. The students are beginning their postgraduate programme on Maritime Administration and International Institutions.
Regulating polar shipping
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim today (23 January) spoke to delegates at the Arctic Frontiers conference about new regulations for ships operating in polar waters. With more and more ships navigating in polar waters, IMO has addressed international concern about the protection of the polar environment and the safety of seafarers and passengers with the introduction of the Polar Code, which entered into force on 1 January this year. more...
Mining wastes report identifies research gaps
More scientific research needs to be done to understand and assess the environmental impacts of wastes from mining operations which have been disposed into the marine environment, a new report shows. The Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) report, Impacts of mine tailings in the marine environment, provides the findings of an international workshop held in Lima, Peru (in 2015) and makes a number of recommendations for future work. more...
0.5% sulphur cap implementation on agenda
Work to support the smooth and effective implementation of the 0.5% m/m global sulphur cap on fuel oil used by ships will be a main focus for the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR), 4th session, which meets this week (16-20 January). The Sub-Committee will consider what additional measures may be needed to promote consistent implementation and will report with a justification and scope for further work to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71).The meeting was opened by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Mr Sveinung Oftedal (Norway). Click for photos. more...