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Draft Assembly News

11 Jul 2023

MEPC 80: Action Taken on Range of Environmental Regulations

Source: IMO

The IMO’s MEPC 80 session adopted the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships and advanced other environmental initiatives.The revised IMO GHG Strategy includes an enhanced common ambition to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping close to 2050, a commitment to ensure an uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030, as well as indicative check-points for 2030 and 2040:1. to reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008; and2.

19 Jun 2023

IMO to Review GHG Strategy and More at MEPC 80

MEPC 79 (Source: IMO)

The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) - 80th session will meet at IMO Headquarters in London from July 3-7, and amongst key agenda items, the MEPC 80 session is expected to adopt an upgraded IMO greenhouse gas strategy.The revised IMO GHG Strategy will contain concrete greenhouse gas reduction targets for the sector and is expected to outline a range of technical and economic measures. Negotiations have been ongoing and will continue during the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 15)…

18 Jul 2017

IMO for Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals

International Maritime Organization (IMO) has a key role in implementing a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which relate directly or indirectly to the oceans, protection of the environment and the maritime industry. How to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and implement the UN SDGS is therefore a key theme which underpins the work of IMO's Technical Co-operation Committee, which oversees IMO's integrated technical co-operation programme (ITCP). The Committee is meeting for its 67th session (17-19 July). The Committee will be invited to approve the proposed ITCP for 2018-2019, which includes 10 global programmes.

27 Apr 2017

IMO’s Legal Committee to Promote HNS 2010

International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Legal Committee is expected to consider adopting a resolution to encourage the ratification and implementation of the 2010 HNS Convention, when it meets for its 104th session (26-28 April). Norway recently became the first country to become a Contracting State to this key compensation treaty covering the transport of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) by ship. Also up for consideration is a draft Assembly resolution to allow for the delegation of authority to issue insurance certificates under the CLC and the HNS Convention. The Committee is also expected to confirm the addition of mandatory insurance certificates into the consolidated draft list of certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships, 2017.

26 Nov 2014

MSC Approves SOLAS Amendments

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met at the Organization's London headquarters for its 94th session, from November 17-21, 2014, approved draft SOLAS amendments to make mandatory the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low- flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code); adopted other SOLAS amendments; continued its work on its action plan on passenger ship safety; and approved and adopted a number of items put forward by the subcommittees. The MSC also adopted the Polar Code and related amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to make it mandatory.

21 May 2013

Intertanko Applauds IMO Progress on Ballast Water Management

In line with the Intertanko-led joint proposal last year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed to a rescheduling of the International Ballast Water Management Convention implementation dates, which will smooth the installation scheduling for ships installing ballast water management systems (BWMS), a trial period for port state control and new guidance on BWMS type approvals. At its 65th session, the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 65) of IMO approved a draft Assembly resolution which recommends that ships not be required to install a BWMS until its first renewal survey after entry into force of the BWM Convention.

21 May 2013

IMO MEPC Implements Further Energy Efficiency

Photo: IMO

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) met for its 65th session from May 13-17 2013, at IMO Headquarters in London. The committee made significant progress in its work on further developing energy-efficiency regulations; adopted an MEPC resolution on rromotion of technical cooperation and transfer of technology relating to the improvement of energy efficiency of ships; and gave the go-ahead to carry out an update to the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions’ estimate for international shipping.

12 Feb 2002

IMO To Address Maritime Security Issues

Experts in maritime security from governments and industry will gather in London next week at the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for an inter-governmental meeting devoted to maritime security and counter-terrorism issues. A special intersessional working group of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) will convene for a week-long session (February 11th-15th) to begin in earnest the process of reviewing and revising all existing IMO measures and procedures to deal with acts of terrorism which threaten the security of passengers and crews and the safety of ships. Among the many topics scheduled for discussion will be issues related to the installation of automatic identification systems on ships…

16 Oct 2002

MEPC Focuses on Environmental Issues

As environmental issues took center stage at IMO during the 48th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) last week (October 7 to 11), delegates from more than 80 countries discussed a range of topics relating to the protection of the marine environment from pollution by ships. Under the chairmanship of Australia's Mike Julian, the Committee progressed its work in several key areas, including ship recycling, ballast water management and greenhouse gas emissions from ships. Draft IMO Guidelines on ship recycling were discussed in detail, with a view to producing a final draft for adoption by the next IMO Assembly in 2003. The draft guidelines note that, in the process of recycling ships, virtually nothing goes to waste.

05 Dec 2002

IMO Addresses Policy on Places of Refuge

What happens when a ship in distress requires a "place of refuge"? In the aftermath of the incident involving the fully laden tanker Castor which, in December 2000, developed a structural problem in the Mediterranean Sea, IMO Secretary-General William O'Neil suggested that the time had come for the Organization to undertake, as a matter of priority, a global consideration of the problem of places of refuge for disabled vessels and adopt any measures required to ensure that, in the interests of safety of life at sea and environmental protection, coastal States reviewed their contingency arrangements so that such ships are provided with assistance and facilities as might be required in the circumstances.

20 Nov 2002

IMO Addresses Prestige Sinking

The Prestige incident has been followed closely by IMO since events began to unfold some days ago. The IMO Secretariat established contact immediately with the authorities of Spain and with the Flag State authorities of the Bahamas. As in any situation such as this, the prime concerns of IMO have been for the safety of human life and the protection of the marine environment. Despite the adverse conditions, no human life has been lost in this incident and the search and rescue authorities of Spain deserve much credit for dealing with this matter promptly and effectively and in accordance with the provisions of IMO instruments, in particular the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.

05 Jan 2000

The Coating Conundrum

Incorporating Good Environmental Science in the Current Organotin Regulatory Debate. A draft Assembly Resolution (Annex 21/11) prepared by the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) of International Maritime Organization (IMO) was recently approved by the 21st Meeting of the IMO General Assembly. In it, the General Assembly "agrees that the legally-binding instrument to be developed by the Marine Environment Protection Committee should ensure a global prohibition of the application of organotin compounds which act as biocides in antifouling systems on ships by 1 January 2003, and a complete prohibition of the presence of organotin…

27 May 2003

IMO Issues Preview for Maritime Safety Committee

A revised Annex B to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol and amendments to the enhanced survey programme for bulk carriers and oil tankers are expected to be adopted when IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meets at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 77th session from 28 May to 6 June. Other major issues on the MSC agenda include the implementation of security measures adopted in December 2002, places of refuge, the safety of bulk carriers, the proposed IMO Model Audit Scheme and implementation of the revised STCW Convention. The MSC (including Parties to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol) is expected to adopt what amounts to a comprehensive revision of the technical regulations of the original Load Lines Convention.

08 Nov 2002

IMO Conducts MPEC 48

At the 48th Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 48), which met in London on October 7-11, 2002 draft guidelines on ship recycling were discussed, with a view to producing a final draft for adoption by the Assembly in 2003. The Committee recommended that a Diplomatic Conference be convened in early 2004 to adopt a convention on ballast water management. The Committee made progress in developing a draft Assembly resolution on greenhouse gas emissions from ships.