Whats New 2019
Looking at barriers to transboundary carbon capture and storage
Carbon capture and storage under the seabed is recognized as one tool in climate change mitigation. An IMO treaty, the London Protocol, provides the basis in international environmental law to allow CO2 storage. This week, a proposal to agree the early application of an amendment to allow sub-seabed geological formations for sequestration projects to be shared across national boundaries will be put before the annual meeting (7-11 October) of Parties to the London Protocol (LP) and its forerunner, the London Convention (LC). more...
Demonstration ships delivering data for better energy efficiency in Asia
Fifteen demonstration ships in the Asia region have, to date, provided 68,517 sets of data relating to ship fuel consumption and ship optimum trim. It is this kind of data-gathering and analysis that is helping the regional Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC-Asia) deliver on its commitment to promote innovative technologies and operations to improve energy efficiency in the maritime sector. MTCC-Asia - one of the centres in the IMO-led, European-Union funded Global MTCC Network project (GMN) - held its Second Regional Workshop in Yangon, Myanmar (30 September-2 October). more...
Future maritime leaders learn policy
IMO's World Maritime University (WMU) trains future maritime leaders, many of whom will be involved with formulating maritime policy in their home countries. To assist them, a three-day seminar on maritime transport policy is being delivered to students following the MSc in Maritime Affairs (2-4 October). Maritime transport policy formulation is being promoted by IMO as a good governance practice. more...
Implementing IMO emissions rules
What are the barriers to implementing IMO regulations to cut emissions from ships and how can these be overcome? These were key questions explored during an IMO regional workshop on effective ratification and implementation of MARPOL Annex VI and the initial IMO strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships, held in Viña del Mar, Chile (30 September-2 October). Participants identified existing barriers preventing ratification of MARPOL Annex VI, and identified ways to overcome them. more...
Maritime security training for Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is the
latest IMO Member State to receive maritime security training. A
self-assessment and audit training workshop took place in in Port of Spain,
Trinidad (23-27 September). Participants were trained in self-assessing how two key IMO
maritime security instruments – SOLAS Chapter XI-2
and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS)
Code – are implemented at the port facility level. This is done using
established, industry-standard IMO and ISO
procedures to identify areas for improvement. more...
Updating Thailand's oil spill preparedness plan
Supporting countries to prepare for contingencies is an important part of IMO's capacity building work. Thailand is the latest country to benefit from IMO assistance to update its oil spill contingency plan at a National Workshop on National Contingency in Bangkok (24-27 September). more...
Benefits of maritime single window highlighted in Georgia
The maritime single window enables all information required by public authorities in connection with the arrival, stay and departure of ships, people and cargo, to be submitted electronically via a single portal, without duplication. This is recommended by IMO's Facilitation (FAL) Convention, to make cross border trade simpler. Officials have been attending a National Seminar on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic in Batumi, Georgia (24-26 September). more....
UN Secretary-General highlights shipping progress at Climate Summit
In a cautious yet upbeat message at the close of the Climate Action Summit in New York (23 September), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the progress made by shipping in the race against the climate crisis, describing it as a "huge step up".He referred to efforts being made by key players in the maritime industry to chart a course for carbon neutrality by 2050 in order to implement IMO's initial greenhouse gas reduction strategy. The strategy, adopted in 2018, is driving activities to reduce emissions throughout the sector. more...
IMO showcasing tangible progress at global Climate Action summit
The UN Climate Action Summit in New York (23 September) is giving global leaders the chance to show the world concrete proposals and tangible actions being taken in the fight against climate change. IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has been reporting on the solid progress being made by the Organization to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG 13 on Climate change. more....