The world economy is heavily dependent on maritime transport, as most of the international trade is carried out by sea. Delay in shipping can result in severe financial loss, especially for the management team in the distribution channel. This heavy dependency makes the shipping industry an attractive target for cyber criminals. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitization of the world,…
STCW training provisions on bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 9), 6-10 February 2023, agreed to draft amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including…
The decarbonization of international shipping is a priority for IMO and by mid-2023, IMO aims to have in place a revised and more strengthened Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships. A new IMO project aims to provide an assessment of the state of availability and readiness of low- and zero-carbon ship technology and marine fuels, in…
Ammonia, hydrogen, ethane and Dimethyl Ether (DME) are among the alternative marine fuels which may need future regulatory work. This assessment is the result of a regulatory mapping exercise conducted by the Alternative low- and zero-carbon fuels workstream of the GreenVoyage2050 Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA), with inputs and contributions from the International Chamber…
Draft revised Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life have been agreed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 9), which met 23-27 January. The draft guidelines recognize that commercial shipping is one of the main contributors to underwater radiated noise (URN) which has adverse effects on…
The conclusion of a successful 5-year initiative to protect the marine environment in South-East Asia from the negative effects of ships and shipping has been marked at a high-level meeting (25-27 October 2022) in Viet Nam with the adoption of a MEPSEAS-Halong Statement by the participating countries. The Marine Environment Protection of the South-East Asian Seas (MEPSEAS) project has seen…
The Fourth IMO GHG Study Executive Summary has been published. This study is the first iteration since the adoption of the Initial IMO Strategy on Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships in 2018, under which IMO Member States have pledged to cut GHG emissions from international shipping and to phase them out as soon as possible. The study…
Ships that fail to comply with cybersecurity code of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) may face detention from 1-January-2021. This comes as the IMO identified the management of cybersecurity as a key aspect of safety as technology becomes essential in ship operations. The group has identified cybersecurity as a major risk to be addressed in safety management systems. The handling…
Some 400,000 seafarers from across the globe are now stranded on ships, continuing to work but unable to be relieved, in a deepening crew change crisis which threatens trade and maritime safety. During a high-level event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (24 September), Captain Hedi Marzougui, who was in command of a vessel between December 2019…
Amendments to an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of potentially invasive species in ships’ ballast water entered into force on 13-October-2019. Ships regularly take on sea water in tanks to ensure their stability. Known as ballast water, this can contain many aquatic species, including in microscopic or larval form. These can become invasive and harmful if the ballast…
Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet has been selected as the World Maritime theme for 2020. This will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and showcase the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States are undertaking to achieve the targets. The IMO Council, meeting for its 122nd session…
A mandatory requirement for national governments to introduce electronic information exchange between ships and ports came into effect on 8-April-2019. The aim is to make cross-border trade simpler and the logistics chain more efficient, for the more than 10 billion tons of goods which are traded by sea annually across the globe. The requirement, mandatory under IMO’s Convention on Facilitation…
Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship. Ship recycling yards are required to provide a “Ship Recycling Plan” specifying the manner in which each ship will be recycled, depending on its particulars and its inventory. The Netherlands recently became the 8th country to become a…
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a new logo for its Women in Maritime program, as part of its mission to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Program lead Helen Buni said: “The IMO Women in Maritime program supports the participation of women in both shore-based and sea-going…
Asahi Tanker and partner Exeno-Yamamizu Corporation Tokyo have developed the new domestic shipping tanker design, which incorporates “zero emission electric propulsion.” In anticipation of future adaptations to regulatory conformity, ClassNK has been appointed to provide technical advice on ship design and electric propulsion. Commercial model development of e5 design is underway for all bunker supply vessels trading in Tokyo Bay….
On 16-May-2018, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) –responsible for regulating international shipping– began efforts on the regulation of autonomous ships with the 99th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 99). The MSC began looking at how the safe, secure and environmentally sound operation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) may be introduced in IMO instruments. With a myriad of…
Seafarers’ rights to Shore Leave have been strengthened through amendments, which entered into force globally on 1-January-2018, under the revised treaty, which aims to achieve the smooth transit in ports of ships, cargo and passengers. The amendments to the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) also bring in a new requirement for national governments to introduce electronic…
Officials from various government entities in the Philippines have received training in how to develop a National Maritime Transport Policy (NMPT). The concept is being promoted by IMO as a good governance practice to guide planning, decision making and legislation in the maritime sector, and as a key driver for a country’s sustainable development. The event took place in Manila,…
How can ports cut emissions to ensure cleaner air and contribute to the battle against climate change? First, ports need to quantify emissions in ports, and they need to identify measures to cost-effectively reduce port-related emissions. A strategic partnership between the IMO-executed GloMEEP energy efficiency project and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) is helping selected countries to…
IMO has issued a new warning that bauxite may become unstable when carried in bulk on a ship, potentially causing the vessel to capsize. Bauxite is one of the world’s major sources of aluminum with around 100 million tons (MT) transported annually by sea. In 2015, a bulk carrier sank while transporting bauxite, with the loss of 18 seafarers. Research…
A large number of abandoned or no-longer usable fiberglass vessels – including fishing vessels and leisure craft – are dumped at sea each year, possibly due to a lack of land-based disposal facilities. This was a concern raised by Pacific delegations to the Parties to the treaties, which regulate the dumping of wastes at sea. However, full data on the…
When it comes to fishing vessel safety, the mission is clear, says Sandra Allnutt of the International Maritime Organization (IMO): enhance safety to save lives. “We want to reduce loss of life in one of the most dangerous professions in the world, and we want to enhance safety on board fishing vessels,” said Ms Allnutt, Head of Maritime Technology in…