London Headquarters News

The IMO’s commitment to the preservation of the marine environment is being highlighted on World Maritime Day, September 28, 2023, with the theme "MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on."This year sees the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the primary global treaty for the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from intentional, operational or accidental causes.IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim notes that achievements have already made in regulating to protect ocean health…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) said its meetings scheduled to be held in July, including the next regular session of the IMO Council, have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the UN shipping agency moves to revise its meeting program for the remainder of 2020.The IMO said it  has drawn up a priority list of meetings to be considered by the Council at its 32nd extraordinary session that will be held by correspondence from May to July. This follows the 31st session of the Council that took place…

Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) has agreed to lift its shareholding in the 576-MW Gwynt y Mor offshore wind farm in the UK by purchasing an additional 10% stake for an undisclosed sum.MIRA has managed a 10 per cent stake in Gwynt y Môr since 2017 following Macquarie Group’s acquisition of the Green Investment Bank.Gwynt y Môr is a 576 MW offshore wind farm positioned 13 kilometers off the coast of North Wales. Operational since 2015, Gwynt y Môr is comprised of 160 3.6 MW wind turbines spread across 80 square kilometers. Each year, the wind farm provides enough clean electricity to power approximately 430,000 UK homes.Leigh Harrison, Head of MIRA EMEA, said: “We are delighted to announce an additional investment in Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been preparing ahead of the implementation date. From 1 January 2020, under IMO's MARPOL convention for the prevention of pollution from ships.Accordingly, the sulfur content of fuel oil used by ships operating outside designated emission control areas shall not exceed 0.50% - representing an 80% cut from the current 3.50% limit. New requirements for ships to cut sulfur oxide emissions enter into effect on 1 January 2020, marking a sea change in fuel used by ships, globally, which will significantly reduce air pollution from ships with positive benefits for human health and the environment.At a roundtable industry meeting hosted by IMO at its London Headquarters (21 June)…

To help its Member States gain a better understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role International Maritime Organization (IMO)  can play in achieving them, IMO and the United Nations System Staff College held a workshop (11 January) for Member State delegations at IMO’s London headquarters.Among the topics covered in the workshop were how to integrate different stakeholders and develop coherent policies with regard to sustainable development, and how to generate engagement and buy-in among potential partners.As part of the United Nations family, IMO is actively committed to helping its Member States achieve the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has welcome a decision by the International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) to add a new item to its agenda to address concerns about fuel safety, separating the subject from discussions around the implementation of the new 0.50% sulphur limit under  the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI.According to an IBIA release, the decision was made at the 100th session of MSC held at IMO’s London headquarters in the first week of December. It followed discussion of a proposal put forward by Liberia and a group of shipping organisations to bring all fuel safety related requirements of regulation 18 of MARPOL Annex VI under MSC…

World Maritime Day is celebrated all over the world and every year International Maritime Organization (IMO) sanctions an official “Parallel Event” to formally mark the occasion away from the Organization’s London headquarters. This year it is Poland's  turn to host the Parallel Event, in the port city of Szczecin, from June 13-15. The 2018 Parallel Event will focus on four key aspects of IMO’s overall theme for its 70th anniversary year, "IMO 70: Our Heritage – Better Shipping for a Better Future". It will examine in detail green and smart shipping, big data and cyber security, new transport routes and the future of the maritime labour market.

World Maritime Day (28 September) has been marked around the world in a series of events and celebrations led by International Maritime Organization (IMO) from its London headquarters. Seafaring nations, coastal states and the shipping industry staged conferences, seminars and public events under the 2017 theme “Connecting Ships, Ports and People”. At IMO, the traditional diplomatic reception was preceded by a special visit for maritime students and young professionals from the maritime industries. After a tour of the headquarters building they received presentations on some of the key topics IMO is dealing with, including safety, security and humanitarian issues.

South Africa has become the seventh state to ratify the 2012 Cape Town Agreement. The treaty, which implements the Torremolinos Protocol, covers various fishing vessel safety requirements including radio communications, life-saving appliances and arrangements, and emergency procedures, musters and drills. Peace Kennedy, Counselor at the South African High Commission in London, presented the instrument of ratification to International Maritime Organization (IMO) Senior Legal Officer Jan De Boer at IMO’s London headquarters on August 19.

Inmarsat welcomed the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Xi Jinping to its London headquarters, as part of the President’s historic State Visit to the UK. The visit reflects the close working relationship between Inmarsat and China. China was one of the eighty-six countries that came together to found Inmarsat with a maritime safety mandate and over thirty five years later Inmarsat continues to contribute to safety and security in Maritime and Aviation and more recently during disaster situations in China. President Xi, accompanied by HRH The Duke of York, the Chinese Ambassador to London, Mr Liu Xiaoming, The Right Honourable Greg Hands and Inmarsat executives…

The new mandatory code for ships fuelled by gases or other low-flashpoint fuels was adopted by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), when it met at the Organization's London headquarters for its 95th session from June 3-12, 2015. The Committee also placed unsafe mixed migration by sea on its agenda and considered cyber security matters and passenger ship safety. It adopted new ships’ routing measures and approved a number of circulars arising from items put forward by the subcommittees.

On 27 January 2015 Braemar Shipping Services Plc exchanged contracts for the sale of our leasehold interest in our Marylebone corporate headquarters to Greenhouse Sports Ltd for a net consideration of £9.5m before tax. The leasehold had a net book value of £4.0m, leading to an exceptional gain of £5.5m. The transaction is expected to complete on 26 February 2015. The consideration will be used to reduce Group indebtedness and will provide the Group with greater financial flexibility. The sale follows the successful merger of Braemar with ACM Shipping Group Plc (“ACM”) in 2014. The combined enlarged group is moving, as previously announced, to a new head office at One Strand, Trafalgar Square, London on 2 February 2015.

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.

IMO informs that its Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has adopted important SOLAS amendments related to inert gas systems as well as amendments to a number of treaties to bring into force the mandatory IMO audit scheme. In addition it has approved, in principle, the draft Polar Code and related amendments to make the Code mandatory under SOLAS, with a view to formal adoption at its next session in November. The MSC met at the Organization's London headquarters for its 93rd session, from 14 to 23 May 2014. The MSC approved, for consideration with a view to adoption at its November 2014 session (MSC 94), the draft new SOLAS chapter XIV “Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters”…

The MSC is expected to adopt amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) related to lifeboat safety; continue its action plan of work on passenger ship safety, following the Costa Concordia incident; review the draft mandatory Polar Code and related draft SOLAS amendments; adopt amendments to SOLAS and other treaties to make mandatory the IMO Member State Audit Scheme; adopt a number of other important amendments; and consider items submitted by the sub-committees. SOLAS amendments set to be adopted: the MSC is expected to adopt draft amendments to SOLAS chapter III to make mandatory the requirements for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats and rescue boats…

Marine design and engineering company Houlder announced the formation of an LNG project team in its London headquarters. Ian Meaden, Des Upcraft and Lijo Thomas joined the team this month to work exclusively on developing LNG projects in response to market requirements. The company said its new talent investment means it can build on its current LNG equipment projects to help with all aspects of marine design, engineering and project management from initial FEED study to implementation.

Veson Nautical, a developer of software that propels the commercial maritime industry, announced the opening of a new office in London, just steps from London Bridge. The new office will serve as a headquarters for Veson Nautical in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and will house dedicated sales, consulting, and technical professionals for these regions. “Europe has always been a key market for Veson Nautical. The new London location will serve as a hub to the entire region. We’re delighted to expand our team to best serve our clients’ needs,” said President, John Veson.

IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meets at its London Headquarters for its 92nd session from 12 to 21 June 2013. The MSC is expected to adopt amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) relating to passenger drills; discuss preliminary recommendations arising from the Costa Concordia incident. The MSC is expected to adopt draft amendments SOLAS regulation III/19 to require musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure, instead of “within 24 hours”, as stated in the current regulations. The MSC is also expected to establish a working group on passenger ship safety to consider relevant issues, including the action plan drawn up at the last session following the Costa Concordia incident in January 2012.

Key international marine environment protection convention celebrates 40 years of progress. The use of the world’s oceans as a dumping ground for harmful wastes has been systematically regulated and reduced under the terms of an international convention that, this year, celebrates 40 years since it was first adopted. The "Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972", usually referred to as the "London Convention", was one of the first global conventions designed to protect the marine environment from human activities. It has been in force since 1975. The objective of the London Convention…

Recommended interim measures aimed at enhancing the safety of passenger ships, in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident in January, were agreed by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), when it met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 90th session from 16 to 25 May 2012. The MSC adopted a resolution, which invites Member States to recommend that passenger ship companies conduct a review of operational safety measures, to ships flying their flag, on a voluntary basis and “with all possible urgency and efficiency”, taking into consideration the recommended interim operational measures listed in an MSC circular. • limiting access to the bridge to those with operational or operationally related functions…

Piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean will be high on the agenda when IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meets at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 90th session from 16 to 25 May 2012. A High-Level Segment will be held on the opening day (16 May), intended to provide an opportunity for a full policy debate among Member Governments on how the international community should deal with issues…

Following Tuesday’s conference on Somali piracy organised by the UK’s Foreign & Commonwealth Office and held at the IMO’s London headquarters, Giles Heimann, Chair of the SOS SaveOurSeafarers campaign, said, “We welcome the acknowledgement of the importance of the continuing partnership between the shipping industry, the naval forces and governments, and their ongoing commitment in tackling the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia. We look to reinforce these relationships.

Planning to Expand Further in the Region. London Offshore Consultants (LOC), one of the world’s leading independent marine and offshore industry consultancy firms, is set to expand its activities and office network in Asia Pacific, it announced. LOC provides a range of specialist consultancy services on planning, design and execution of high value, complex marine and energy based operations through to technical advice on major shipping casualties. Its customers include the world’s leading oil and gas majors…