Whats New 2018
UN Secretary-General visits IMO
On Friday (4 May), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited the Headquarters of IMO. He was welcomed by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. Addressing representatives of IMO Member States and IMO staff, Mr. Guterres highlighted the important contribution of IMO’s work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He welcomed, in particular, the recent adoption by IMO of an Initial Strategy on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, as a major step forward in global action to combat climate change. more...
Halting biodiversity loss - a key challenge
In every region, the survival of species is increasingly threatened, both at sea and on land. IMO’s role in protecting marine biodiversity was highlighted at the United Nations Environment Management Group (EMG) Nexus Dialogue on Biodiversity held in Geneva, Switzerland (2-3 May). Biodiversity Mainstreaming in the context of Human Security and Wellbeing was the theme of the meeting, involving more than 20 different entities, primarily from within the UN system. more...
First IMO training event for Libyan port facility security officers
IMO maritime security training
is underway for Libyan port facility security officers, managers and designated
authority officials (30 April – 4 May). The workshop, delivered entirely in Arabic, aims to assist the Libyan Government in enhanced
security risk assessments and controls on maritime transport through its
territory. It is the first IMO maritime security workshop for Libya since the
country's civil war. more...
Progress for Pacific maritime women
Women in maritime are a key contributor to the maritime transport sector. This was the message of Helen Buni from IMO's gender programme as she opened the second regional conference for Pacific Women in Maritime held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, (26–28 April). The conference highlighted the significant progress made by the women in maritime association (WIMA) in the Pacific to integrate more women into the industry. more...
IMO highlights GHG strategy at Bonn Climate Change talks
IMO has reported on the recent landmark adoption of an initial IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships at the Bonn Climate Change Conference (30 April-10 May). IMO’s Edmund Hughes informed the opening of the plenary session that the vision set out in the strategy confirms IMO’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions from international shipping and, as a matter of urgency, to phasing them out as soon as possible in this century. more...
Momentum for treaty covering hazardous and noxious cargo
The
IMO treaty covering compensation for damage caused by Hazardous and
Noxious Substances (HNS) transported by sea is the subject of a workshop
underway at IMO Headquarters,
London (26-27 April). The event (photos) is focused on helping governments to
understand and implement the HNS Convention, and follows excellent
progress made earlier this week, when Canada and Turkey signed
up to the treaty. This brings the total contributing cargo to 28.7 million tonns – 72% of that needed for the treaty
to enter into force. more...
First Arabic-language port security workshop held
For the first time, a national workshop on IMO's International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code) was delivered in Arabic during a five-day training course held in Doha, Qatar (22-26 April). Designated authority and port facility security officers had the chance to improve their knowledge and understanding through practical exercises as well as class-based training in how to implement the relevant provisions of the ISPS Code. more...
Japan-funded maritime security courses get underway in Djibouti
The first in a series of regional maritime security courses, funded by the Government of Japan, has been held at the Djibouti Regional Training Centre. During a five-day workshop (22-26 April 2018), officials from 10 countries were able to learn about and share ideas on best practices for maritime domain awareness, including measures to promote coordination and sharing of information at national level as the basis for effective regional cooperation, in line with the objectives of the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct. more...