Archive 2020
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IMO Secretariat continues work despite COVID-19
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the IMO Secretariat continues to function effectively. The majority of staff are working remotely, making full use of telecommuting and teleconferencing technology. A number of IMO Committee and Sub-Committee meetings have been postponed (see press briefing here for details). more...
Fishing vessel safety treaty gets further boost
The entry into force of IMO's Cape Town Agreement on fishing vessel safety will be crucial for improved safety at sea for fishers and will support the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. During a European Union High-level Ministerial Maritime Conference in Opatija, Croatia (10-11 March), participants including IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim highlighted the urgent need to bring the Cape Town Agreement into force. more...
Focus on information sharing to boost maritime security in Western Indian Ocean
Regional efforts to enhance maritime security are dependent on good information sharing, through multi-agency National Maritime Information Sharing Centres. An IMO-led regional workshop on information sharing in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden ((3-5 March) brought together participants from 14 signatory States to the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) and its Jeddah Amendment, which aims to counter and suppress crime in the maritime domain. more...
Keeping up to date in the Caribbean
Senior maritime administrators in the Caribbean have had the chance to network and bring themselves up to speed with the latest IMO regulatory developments, during a recent IMO-led regional workshop for senior maritime administrators, held in Castries, St. Lucia (5-6 March). Participants received detailed information about activities organized under IMO's Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) aimed at building capacity in the region to comply with international rules and standards related to maritime safety and the prevention of maritime pollution. more...
Somalia's maritime development boosted with completion of shipping code
Maritime development in Somalia has moved a significant step forward with the completion of the Somali Shipping Code. The Code is the culmination of some six years of work, supported by IMO and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), to build Somalia's capacity to grow and sustain a burgeoning blue economy and to ensure the necessary legal and administrative processes are in place. more...
IMO Member States declare support for “full and equal rights” for women
To mark International Women's Day, celebrated on 8 March each year, Member States and observer delegations at an IMO sub-committee meeting this week have highlighted the importance of the Day and the continuing struggle for women's rights and gender equality. In a powerful statement, they point out that women are often exposed to violence, hardship and discrimination in all spheres, everywhere, and women and girls are the first to be affected by poverty, conflict and climate change. more...
Working together for better border management in the Maldives
Multi-agency cooperation at national and international level is key to enhancing maritime security, protecting global trade and countering transnational organized crime. A workshop (2-5 March) in the Maldives has brought together UN agencies and senior officials from various government departments, whose mandates cover counter-terrorism, migration, border security and law enforcement. The workshop focused on best practices in border security and counter-terrorism. more...
Maritime security needs-assessment mission in the Philippines
Needs assessment missions are one of the ways in which IMO can support member States in effective implementation of IMO's maritime security measures, at the country's request. The Philippines is the first country in the ASEAN region to undergo an IMO security needs assessment. The assessment took place in Manila (24 to 28 February). more...
Safe operation of on-shore power supply to ships
In addition to choosing cleaner, greener fuels, utilizing onshore power supply service ( is another solution to reduce air pollution and emissions from ships, as well as limiting local noise. IMO is addressing the need for global standards for the process of providing shoreside electrical power to a ship at berth, while its main and auxiliary engines are turned off. Draft guidelines on safe operation of on-shore power supply to ships are set to be finalized by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE), which meets this week (2-6 March). more...