Archive 2023
Captain David Bruce
Captain David J.F. Bruce, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and Senior Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs, RMI Maritime Administrator, has passed away.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said: “It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Captain David Bruce, who represented the Republic of the Marshall Islands at IMO, as Permanent Representative, since 2002 – but whose links with IMO go back nearly 50 years.
Supporting Cuba to implement and enforce Anti-fouling Systems Convention
A national in-person workshop to assist Cuba with ratifying and implementing the IMO Anti-Fouling Systems (AFS) Convention has taken place in Havana, Cuba (26-27 September). The AFS Convention sets controls on certain harmful substances in anti-fouling systems, including organotin compounds such as tributyltin (TBT) and (from 2023) cybutryne, and provides a mechanism for the introduction of controls on further substances in the future.
Strategy on Biofouling Management adopted in East Asia Sea region
Protecting the ocean’s biodiversity and reducing the threat of invasive aquatic species was at the core of discussions during the 3rd Regional Task Force meeting on Biofouling Management held Surabaya, Indonesia (20-23 September).
Getting ready for audits in the Africa region
IMO Member States in Africa are being supported to be ready for audits under the mandatory IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS). An in-person and online training course in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (18-22 September) was aimed at officials from maritime administrations who are, or will be, involved in preparing their respective countries for audit, and who may be nominated as auditors under IMSAS.
Port security training in Comoros
A workshop on strengthening port security in Comoros took place in Moroni, Comoros from 18 to 22 September 2023. Participants consolidated their knowledge and skills in developing and implementing port facility security plans (PFSPs) in order to perform their duties in accordance with the relevant provisions of pertinent IMO regulations – SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code).
Regional port security audit training for Asia
A Regional Training Course for Port Facility Security Auditors took place in Bangkok, Thailand from 19 to 22 September 2023. The workshop aimed to help build participant knowledge and skills in effective oversight procedures in line with key IMO maritime security measures, including the relevant provisions of SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code.
Supporting regional mechanisms for dealing with oil spills in Pacific Islands
IMO's commitment to supporting regional mechanisms dealing with oil spills in the Pacific Islands was strengthened through delivery of a regional workshop which included the introduction of the RETOS tool for assessing levels of oil spill preparedness in Brisbane, Australia (15-17 September).
Strengthening the Gambia's oil spill response planning
The Gambia is being supported to develop its National Oil Spill Contingency Plan, which is the foundation for an effective and sustainable oil spill preparedness and response framework. An in-person national workshop in Banjul, the Gambia (11-15 September), was delivered under the framework of the GI WACAF Project.
IMO submits 2023 IMO GHG Strategy to first Global Stocktake
IMO regularly updates appropriate UNFCCC bodies and meetings on its action to address GHG emissions from international shipping. Following a request from the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), IMO has submitted the 2023 IMO Strategy on reduction of GHG emissions from ships to the First Global Stocktake (GST).