Whats New 2019
Keeping abreast of maritime security measures in Asia
Emerging maritime challenges were at the forefront of discussions at the 11th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Inter-Sessional Meeting (ISM) on Maritime Security in Da Nang, Viet Nam, (14-15 March). Participants had the opportunity to exchange views on regional maritime issues, review progress of their maritime security work plan, and discuss proposed activities over the coming year. more...
Strengthening oil spill response in the Wider Caribbean Region
Training is
underway for oil spill response managers in the wider Caribbean region at a
course in St Kitts and Nevis (11-14 March). Participants
from 15 countries are attending the IMO-funded
event, which is focused on tactical aspects of spill preparedness and response,
and applying incident management systems to assist effective coordination of spill response. The event is showcasing success
stories of several countries in
ratifying relevant international preparedness and response
conventions, adopting national oil spill legislation and developing oil spill response capacity. more...
How to monitor plastics in the oceans
A new set of publicly-available guidelines for monitoring plastics and microplastics in the oceans will help harmonize how scientists and others assess the scale of the marine plastic litter problem. The Guidelines for the monitoring and assessment of plastic litter and microplastics in the ocean are published by GESAMP, a UN advisory body. more...
Sea-based sources of marine litter
Understanding the impact of plastic litter found at sea and how to get rid of it was at the heart of discussions in Nairobi Kenya, (11-15 March) at a side-event called Sea-Based Sources of Marine Litter, in the margin of the UN Environment Assembly. Sea-based sources of marine litter, in particular from the fishing and shipping industries are a significant component of marine litter with severe impacts on the marine environment, food security, animal welfare and human health, safety and livelihoods. more...
Addressing invasive aquatic species
IMO contributes to the protection of biodiversity through its Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, which requires ships to manage their ballast water to limit the spread of potentially invasive aquatic organisms. Work on the experience-building phase of the BWM Convention (EBP) was highlighted at the annual meeting (6-8 March) of the joint International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) and IMO (ICES/IOC/IMO) Working Group on Ballast and Other Ship Vectors. more...
Think equal: empowering women in the maritime community
On International Women’s Day 2019 (8 March), IMO is putting the spotlight on women in the maritime sector. This year's World Maritime Day - "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community" - gives particular resonance to International Women’s Day. Today, IMO launches a trailer for a forthcoming film which will showcase how IMO’s Women in Maritime programme has benefitted women in ports, on the shoreside and on ships. A series of profiles of individual women also launches, helping to inspire the next generation. more...
IMO training for Central America maritime administrations
A regional workshop has provided senior maritime administration officials in Central America with the latest information on current and future developments at IMO. The training was organized by IMO and the Central American Commission on Maritime Transport (COCATRAM) in Medellin, Colombia (4-6 March). The workshop also provided a platform for information exchange between Central America maritime administrations and facilitated the identification of technical assistance priorities for the region for the 2020-2021 biennium. more...
Sharing information to enhance maritime security
Sharing information among the various
different agencies involved is vital for maintaining maritime security,
especially where there is a strong multi-national element. That’s why IMO is
running a workshop in Djibouti on maritime security in the Gulf of Aden and
western Indian Ocean area. The participants* are developing best
practices to help develop common templates and standard operating procedures
for sharing security-related information including on maritime crimes, legal
frameworks, training programmes and national initiatives. more...
Spotlight on IMO's gender programme
IMO's Women in Maritime programme and this year's World Maritime Day theme were given increased visibility at the Houses of Parliament, London, UK (4 March 2019), during a session on Women, Peace and Conflict Resolution. Information was provided on the strategic approach IMO has taken towards enhancing the contribution of women as key stakeholders over the last 31 years. more...