Whats New 2019
Making lifting and winching operations safer
Draft mandatory regulations to make lifting appliances such as onboard cargo cranes safer are being developed by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE), which meets this week (4-8 March). The Sub-Committee aims to finalise the draft SOLAS regulations and related guidelines. The SSE 6 meeting was opened by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Dr. Susumu Ota (Japan). See photos. more...
Promoting port security in Mexico
The second in a planned series of interactive workshops to prepare countries for a wide range of potential threats and security situations has been held, in Veracruz, Mexico (26-27 February). The interactive Port Facility Security/Port Security Officer Tabletop Exercise was run by IMO in collaboration with the Organization of American States Inter American Committee Against Terrorism (OAS-CICTE), following a successful pilot in Panama 2018. more...
Caribbean commitment to IMO standards to support the blue economy
Caribbean
States and Territories have re-affirmed their commitment to
implementing IMO standards for safe, secure and sustainable shipping.
This is part of wider efforts to intensify investments and harness the
full potential of the oceans, rivers and
lakes to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and fight poverty.
Ministers responsible for maritime transport and other participants
representing the Governments in the region* met at a High Level
Symposium (27 February) in Montego Bay, Jamaica, under the
theme, “Maritime Transportation: Harnessing the Blue Economy for the
Sustainable Development of the Caribbean”. More than 90% of trade in the
Caribbean is carried by ship. more...
Uptake of alternative fuels in the spotlight
Green technology for reducing GHG emissions from ships
How can green technology and innovation help deliver IMO’s initial strategy on reducing GHG emissions from
ships? This was one of the questions being addressed this week at the Greentech in Shipping Global Forum in Hamburg, Germany
(26-27 February). Speaking
at the conference, IMO’s Camille Bourgeon addressed maritime sector
experts in green technology and innovation,
saying that their work will be important in delivering IMO’s Initial GHG
Strategy and achieving the goal to make shipping carbon free. more...
United Arab Emirates accedes to air pollution and energy efficiency rules
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the latest State to accede to the IMO instrument providing rules for the prevention of air pollution from ships and energy efficiency requirements. This brings the total number of ratifications of MARPOL Annex VI to 93, representing 96.6% of world merchant shipping tonnage. more…
The Netherlands ratifies ship recycling convention
IMO's treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling has received another boost. The Netherlands has become the eighth country to become a Party to the Hong Kong Convention. The Convention covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships, and preparation for ship recycling in order to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships. more...
IMO treaties ratified by Guyana
IMO Secretary-General urges all aboard for GHG reduction
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has called for Member States and the entire maritime sector including shipping and ports, to come on board to achieve the ambitions set out in the IMO initial strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. “We need to focus on technology transfer and research and development; we need expertise; we need IMO’s Member States to come together as one; we need the Member States to bring forward concrete proposals to IMO. We need to involve all maritime sectors – not just shipping. Investment in port infrastructure is just as important,” Secretary-General Lim said at the High Level Conference on Climate Change and Oceans Preservation, in Brussels, Belgium (19 February). more...