Whats New 2019
Strengthening emission limits in Thailand
Reducing atmospheric pollution from ships and improving air quality is an integral part of IMO's work. Under MARPOL Annex VI this principle is clearly enshrined. As a result a regional workshop on MARPOL Annex VI was held in Bangkok, Thailand (24-26 June). The workshop, aimed at shipping stakeholders, strongly encouraged ratification and implementation of MARPOL Annex VI including regulations on ships' energy efficiency. more...
Progress and extension for IMO initiative on low carbon shipping
A key IMO initiative supporting ship decarbonisation – the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) – is set to be extended to 2023, in line with the
timeframe of IMO’s Initial GHG Strategy. The extension follows two years
of good progress by the initiative, whose 6th Task Force meeting took place in
Gothenberg, Sweden this week (25 June). more...
Supporting Kenya’s coast guard
Senior officials from the newly established Kenya Coast Guard Services are undergoing training on coast guard functions at a national workshop in Mombasa, Kenya (24-28 June). Fifteen participants are taking part in the training, which is using scenario development methodology and plenary discussions to highlight issues, identify insights and develop deeper understanding of effective ways to meet coastguard functions – with a view to enhancing maritime security in Kenya. more...
IMO celebrates 30 years of outstanding legal training
The 2019 academic year marks the 30th anniversary of the Malta-based IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI). A special event to celebrate the occasion was held at IMO Headquarters (25 June). Malta's Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat (bottom left), spoke of his country's continuing commitment to hosting such an important global institution, while IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim highlighted IMLI's firm commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. IMLI provides training in all aspects of international maritime law, as well as in legislative drafting techniques. See photos here. more...
Committed to implementation
IMO is committed to ensuring the implementation of all its treaties. By carefully matching the needs of recipient countries with resources available from donors, the Organization's technical cooperation programme is the essential component in helping all governments to fulfil their responsibilities. IMO's Technical Cooperation Committee (TC 69) is meeting (25-27 June) to review activities carried out in 2018 and approve the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme for 2020-2021. (Photos) more...
Training Montenegro to combat oil spills
A national training course in oil spill response has been delivered in Montenegro by REMPEC, the IMO-administered pollution emergency response centre in the Mediterranean (19-21 June). The course was designed to prepare the competent national authorities to co-ordinate and manage responses and make decisions on strategies and tactics to be used in clean-up operations. It was aimed at supervisors and on-scene commanders. more...
Safety management training takes centre stage
IMO training on the International Safety Management (ISM) Code is underway for nine countries* in the eastern and southern Africa subregion. The code sets international standard for safe ship management and operation. Thirty-two participants are taking part in the event, which is hosted by the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania (17-21 June). more...
Preparation is the key in ballast water management
Identifying organisms and microbes in
ballast water, as well as monitoring port marine life where ballast water may
be released, are key for countries preparing to enforce IMO's Ballast Water
Management Convention. The treaty involves measures to counter the
threat to marine ecosystems by potentially invasive species transported in
ships' ballast water. A regional workshop in Malé, Maldives
(18-20 June) is training participants from four countries* in compliance
monitoring and enforcement of the Convention. more...
Spotlighting IMO's actions on climate change
IMO is at the UN climate change conference in Bonn, Germany (17-27 June), where governments are meeting to work towards significantly accelerating the pace of climate action. IMO is reporting to the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA 50) on the latest and ongoing work to implement the Initial IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships. The strategy sets out a vision confirming 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...