Archive 2020
Major IMO-industry alliance broadens scope of action to cut ship emissions
A key IMO initiative supporting ship decarbonization – the Global Industry Alliance (GIA) to Support Low Carbon Shipping – will intensify its work on the ship-port interface to reduce emissions from ships. This is one of the outcomes of a GIA task force meeting, which took place over videoconference on 14-15 May. During the meeting, 21 participants from the industry and the IMO Secretariat discussed progress on a number of ongoing projects and set tangible goals for the GIA up to 2023. more....
IMO issues COVID-19 guidance for personal protective equipment and for interactions between ship and shore-based personnel
Shipping is vital to the world supply chain. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial that all personnel involved are protected from infection, including those onboard ships and shore personnel who may need to temporarily go on ships or interact with seafarers. IMO has circulated World Health Organization (WHO) guidance on the safe and effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE), to minimize the risks of COVID-19 infection for seafarers, marine personnel, fishing vessel personnel, passengers and others on board ships. This guidance also applies to shore personnel intending to go on board. IMO has also circulated practical measures to address COVID-19 risks for all people involved on ships and in ports when they may need to interact with each other. more...
Crew changeovers needed urgently to support safe flow of commerce by sea
The need for crew changeovers to take place is of the utmost urgency, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and shipping industry representatives agreed, during a virtual IMO-industry meeting hosted by IMO (30 April). Many seafarers on board ships (and personnel in the offshore industry) have been on enforced extended contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, with restrictions on travel making it difficult for crew to leave ships and for new crew to join ships. more...
Partnership agreement signed for maritime digitalization to support flow of trade by ship
When ships enter and leave ports, vital information about cargoes, dangerous goods, crews, vessel details and many other things has to be exchanged with the authorities ashore. Under IMO's FAL Convention, public authorities are now required to set up systems so that all this happens digitally. A new partnership between IMO, the World Customs Organization, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the International Organization for Standardization has been signed to support this increased maritime digitalization. more...
Seafarers and climate change - key issues highlighted during IMO virtual meeting
The challenges faced by seafarers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to keep on track with IMO’s work to combat climate change were two key issues highlighted during a virtual meeting organized by IMO (23 April), to brief permanent representatives and liaison officers from 78 IMO Member States and one Associate Member. IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim thanked Member States for detailing their arrangements to address the fallout of the pandemic, in particular concerning extending seafarers’ certificates, in notices that are made available on the IMO website. He highlighted the need for seafarers to be designated as keyworkers. more...
Teaching moves online at World Maritime University amid pandemic
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UN agencies formally cement partnership to tackle maritime litter and help deliver SDG 14
Partnerships are essential in tackling the global issue of marine plastic litter. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have formally signed an agreement to move forward and jointly implement the GloLitter Partnerships Project, initially launched in December 2019, with funding from Norway, to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from shipping and fisheries. more...
IMO Secretary-General seeks UN support over "keyworker" designation for seafarers
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has asked the United Nations system agencies to support IMO in its request to governments to declare seafarers, port personnel and other crucial maritime workers as key personnel. Mr. Lim made the plea during a virtual meeting (1 April) with other UN chiefs and the UN Secretary-General. The meeting addressed the impact of COVID-19 on, among other things, disruption and restrictions to travel, trade flows, global logistics, supply of food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. more...
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Tackling invasive aquatic species introduced through biofouling
What is biofouling and why does it matter? How do ships and other ocean structures spread invasive aquatic species? How does it contribute to Greenhouse gas emissions? A new IMO video animation here shows how aquatic organisms can build up on surfaces and structures exposed to the sea - a process known as biofouling. These organisms can be potentially invasive and spread across oceans, with sometimes dramatic consequences on biodiversity and economy. more...