IMO News - Issue 4 - 2015

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NEWS

IMO welcomes adoption of sustainable development goals

NEWS

The magazine of the International Maritime Organization Issue 4 • 2015

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FEATURE

World Maritime Day 2015: Maritime Education and Training

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FROM THE MEETINGS

IMO warns on bauxite liquefaction dangers

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Recycle, re-use, regenerate.

The ship recycling industry in Bangladesh

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IMO NEWS

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CONTENTS

OPINION

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A challenging period ahead.

A message from IMO Secretary General Koji Sekimizu

NEWS

FEATURES

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Connect and Recruit: the IMO World Maritime Day Symposium

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Recycle, re-use, regenerate: ship recycling in Bangladesh

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World Maritime Day 2015 – a celebration

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Around the world in 70 days.

Elyx, the first digital ambassador for the United Nations

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IMO welcomes adoption of Sustainable Development Goals

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UN Security Council resolution on migrant smugglers welcomed

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Conference debates energyefficiency barriers

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Project for low-carbon maritime future launched in Singapore

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IMO Member State audit module now online

IMO AT WORK

24-27 and 31-34 News and stories from around the world on IMO’s work to promote safe, secure and sustainable shipping on clean oceans

MANAGING EDITOR Lee Adamson Email: ladamson@imo.org 4, Albert Embankment London SE1 7SR United Kingdom

ASSISTANT EDITOR Natasha Brown Email: nbrown@imo.org

Tel: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 3210

EDITORIAL PRODUCTION Mark Combe

Email: imonews@imo.org Website: www.imo.org

ADVERTISING Sally McElhayer Email: SMcElhay@imo.org Tel: +44 (0)20 7735 7611

Ref N154E

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FROM THE MEETINGS

on Carriage of 12 Sub-Committee Cargoes and Containers (CCC); 2nd session; 14-18 September 2015 Convention/London 22 London Protocol (LC/LP); 37th/10th sessions; 12-16 October 2015

IMO News is the magazine of the International Maritime Organization and is distributed free of charge to qualified readers. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of IMO and the inclusion of an advertisement implies no endorsement of any kind by IMO of the product or service advertised.

The contents may be reproduced free of charge on condition that acknowledgement is given to IMO News.

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IMO NEWS • ISSUE 4 • 2015 A message from IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu

OPINION IMO AT WORK

A challenging period ahead

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of new strategic directions and the Endowment Fund for the future sustainable growth of the University at the state-of-the-art, award-winning new campus in Malmö.

After a period of intensive collaboration over the past four years, I am pleased to observe a dramatic reduction in piracy incidents off the coast of Somalia. I think we have made good progress in all the activities of IMO and the Organization is well equipped to face new challenges and move forward into a new era.

Looking ahead, demand for shipping services over time will never cease, as shipping is the servant of world trade. The global population has passed 7 billion and is still rising. Shipping is indispensable for the world. But, to secure a successful and sustainable future, shipping needs to attract investment, to attract high-calibre people and to stimulate creative thinking and technological innovation. Shipping needs to be safe, secure, efficient and environment-friendly.

Technical innovation and the regulatory imperative will continue to ensure that shipping becomes cleaner, greener and even more efficient, especially as newer, more eco-friendly vessels constitute a greater percentage of the fleet. We should aim at a low-emission and low-sulphur shipping industry. This can only be achieved by the development and rigorous application of new technologies, new operational standards and investments in logistics and the provision of clean fuels. In IMO’s field of responsibility, for legislation and implementation, we will continue to face major challenges, such as the smooth introduction of the mandatory audit scheme, continuous contribution to the global efforts to deal with climate change and emissions, maritime migrants, piracy in west Africa, enhanced technical cooperation and promotion of new technologies.

I would like to encourage IMO Member Governments to make further efforts to reduce the ...to secure a successful vulnerability of passenger ships and sustainable future, against hull damage, to develop and introduce safety standards for shipping needs to attract domestic passenger ships in the investment, to attract Safety of Life at Sea Convention, high-calibre people and to to implement the Ballast Water stimulate creative thinking Management Convention and continue to reduce CO2 emissions and technological innovation from ships by introducing emission reduction targets per ship.

The United Nations has long been at the forefront of efforts to secure the peaceful, cooperative, and legal use of the seas and oceans for the benefit of mankind. I truly believe that the recently-adopted Sustainable Development Goals provide a clear pathway for the future of the world. If growth and prosperity are to be sustainable, international maritime transportation will be a necessity and a key component, supporting trade and helping to build sustainable economies. IMO stands ready to support the development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and I am confident that all IMO Member States will engage in discussions on how best to realize them, through the Organization’s work.

hen I took office as Secretary-General in 2012 I highlighted a number of challenges that would face IMO in the coming years. These included the difficult financial situation for Member Governments after the economic downturn; combatting piracy; the debate on greenhouse gas emissions as well as on ballast water management; the IMO Member State Audit Scheme; preparation of a new set of international rules for navigation in the Polar regions; sustainable financing for the World Maritime University and its future operation; and the need to review and strengthen the Organization’s technical cooperation and capacity-building efforts.

I also referred to the fact that 2012 would mark 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic and that the anniversary would provide an excellent opportunity for IMO and the maritime community to review past achievements, consider present challenges and contemplate the future of ship safety; and I emphasized the significance of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, held in June 2012, and that IMO should play a critical role for the world economy in ensuring environmentally sound and sustainable shipping.

I also instigated a process of review and reform of all activities within the Organization itself, covering the financial stability of the Organization; a total review of the sub-committee structure; the Secretariat’s meeting-support arrangements; human resources management in the Secretariat; application of the latest information and communication technologies to the work of IMO; strengthening our outreach programmes by extensive use of social media; and establishing the IMO Maritime Ambassador Scheme. I further commissioned the sustainability study on the World Maritime University resulting in the adoption

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IMO welcomes adoption of Sustainable Dev

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MO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has welcomed the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the UN as an ambitious set of targets with the potential to transform the world.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Summit adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets on 25 September, to follow on from and build on the millennium development goals (MDGs), which were agreed by governments in 2001. The Summit was attended by several Heads of State who further discussed how to implement the SDGs. The SDGs are intended to be integrated and indivisible and to balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

The SDGs form part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity which seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom.

It recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme

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poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

IMO develops the international standards for global shipping, an international transportation system which supports

IMO fully supports an agenda aimed at discouraging unilateral economic, financial and trade measures to ensure growth for all sustainable development across the globe, by providing a dependable, low-cost means of transporting goods globally, facilitating commerce and helping to create prosperity among nations and peoples. IMO has a comprehensive technical cooperation programme which supports the effective implementation of those global standards (including those relating to maritime safety and security and prevention of pollution form ships) through capacity-building activities. Technical cooperation projects and

programmes also serve to strengthen and promote the maritime transportation industry in developing countries, including those which provide the international labour force for shipping.

International shipping is inherently indispensable for economic growth and sustainable development and therefore indirectly plays a role in all of the SDGs. However, three of the SDGs have particular resonance for IMO: Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

IMO participated in the Sustainable Development Summit and has been engaged in the development of the SDGs through various mechanisms including the UN Chief Executives Board, which gathers together all the heads of the specialized agencies of the UN.

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UN Security Council resolution on migrant smuggling welcomed

velopment Goals IMO has also developed the concept of a sustainable maritime transportation system (SMTS), which identifies the various ‘imperatives’ that must be met to implement an SMTS, and the activities that will need to be undertaken to achieve them. The concept was developed to draw attention to the vital importance of shipping, but also highlight that cooperation is needed among all maritime stakeholders to realize the potential.

“IMO’s role in the UN system is to set standards for international shipping, an international transportation system which supports sustainable development across the globe, moving goods including food and energy at low cost. IMO fully supports an agenda aimed at discouraging unilateral economic, financial and trade measures to ensure growth for all,” Secretary-General Sekimizu said. “I would also like to welcome the fact that the 2030 agenda calls upon partnerships not just among countries, but also other stakeholders including the private sector. IMO has been working with many different partnerships in its global and regional projects and I look forward to further strengthening these links.”

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IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu has welcomed the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of a resolution authorizing Member States to intercept vessels suspected of migrant smuggling off the Libyan coast.

UN Security Council Resolution 2240 (2015), adopted on 9 October, authorizes Member States, for a period of one year, and in accordance with international law, to inspect, on the high seas off the coast of Libya, any vessels that they have reasonable grounds to believe had been, were being, or imminently would be used by organized criminal enterprises for migrant smuggling or human trafficking from Libya, including inflatable boats, rafts and dinghies.

Since the current migrant crisis in the Mediterranean started in early 2014, Mr Sekimizu has consistently called for concerted action to be taken to tackle people smugglers.

Echoing his recent statement to the side event on migration, held on 30 September 2015 and convened by the United Nations Secretary-General during the high-level segment of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Sekimizu stated: “As the United Nations specialized agency with the remit for safety of life at sea, IMO closely monitors the global crisis involving the unsafe transport of mixed migrants by sea and strongly condemns the criminals involved in people smuggling

– sending completely unseaworthy ships to sea without the slightest consideration for the safety of those onboard. This disregard for even the most basic of the safety regulations embodied in the IMO regulatory regime has resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent people. As any experienced mariner knows, even in calm weather, the sea is a dangerous place, and the risk of death and injury can only be properly mitigated through adherence to IMO standards. These grossly overloaded, unfit, unsafe vessels should never take to sea at all and should be stopped before they leave port.”

IMO has been addressing the issue of unsafe mixed migration by sea and the international maritime search and rescue (SAR) system in various fora, including the high-level inter-agency meeting hosted at IMO in March, and during IMO’s Legal and Maritime Safety Committees and the IMO Council. IMO also hosted a recent informal meeting to review the legal framework for the rescue of mixed migrants at sea.

Mr Sekimizu added, “There is a clear recognition among IMO Member States that using the SAR system to respond to mass mixed migration was neither foreseen nor intended, and that although Governments and the merchant shipping industry will continue rescue operations, safe, legal, alternative pathways to migration must be developed, including safe, organized migration by sea, if necessary.”

(Pic: UNHCR A D’Amato)

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Conference debates energy efficien

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he concept of a global network of maritime technology cooperation centres to accelerate capacity building and technology transfer in the maritime field was one proposal discussed during the two-day inaugural Future-Ready Shipping Conference, a joint IMO-Singapore international conference on maritime technology transfer and capacity building, held in Singapore on 28-29 September 2015.

With strong private- and public-sector engagement, such a global network could act as a sustainable institutional framework to catalyze capacity building and technology transfer, delegates to the conference agreed during a breakout session.

Another idea floated at the conference looked at the possibility of using domestic shipping in developing countries to demonstrate new technologies and to gain experience, thus acting as a pull factor for technology transfer.

It was also noted that the knowledge gap and readiness of maritime companies to effectively deploy new technologies could be addressed through the use of testing facilities, such as the “Maritime Energy Test Bed” at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. Beyond the “hardware” aspect, the conference also noted that seafarers should have a greater voice in initiatives to improve ships’ energy efficiency.

Some 200 maritime leaders and professionals attended the conference, which kick-started a global dialogue on removing barriers to energy-efficiency technologies and measures. Discussions focused on how these efforts might be accelerated.

IMO’s regulations on energy efficiency of international shipping include a requirement for States to support each other through capacity building and technology transfer.

Speakers to the conference gave presentations spanning the entire spectrum of technology development, technology transfer and capacity building as well as policy, economic and regulatory developments. The speakers shared information on the creation of enabling environments; the current state of green ship technology and what might be expected in the future; and how to continue to promote and sustain capacity building and technology cooperation.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said that it was important to understand the concept of technology transfer as actions of cooperation and partnership and not just as purely commercial transactions between developed and developing countries.

“My message to this Conference is three-fold. First, it is critically important to

develop global partnership and networking mechanisms to accelerate cooperation in maritime technology transfer. Second, it is important to institutionalise the technology transfer and capacity building effort to meet the unique needs of maritime industry – the most international industry of all; and third, Government and industry leaders need to support this concept and to contribute to building this global partnership and network,” Mr Sekimizu said.

Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, pledged his country’s support for this process.

“Climate change is one of the most significant threats facing the world today. Singapore is committed to be an integral part of IMO’s process to encourage the deployment and diffusion of environmentally-friendly ship technologies.

We will continue to support platforms like Future-Ready Shipping 2015 where maritime leaders and professionals can gather to explore feasible, scalable and practical approaches to a more energyefficient and low-carbon shipping. Working together, MPA and IMO will ensure strong pillars are in place within the maritime community to carry out global efforts in addressing ships’ greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Tan said.

Project for low-carbon maritime future la T

LNG as a fuel is expected by many to play an important role in a low-carbon future for shipping (pic: Fjord Line, Espen Gees)

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he Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnerships Project (GloMEEP), which aims to support increased uptake and implementation of energy-efficiency measures for shipping, was formally launched on Monday 28 September in Singapore, at the IMO-Singapore Future-Ready Shipping conference.

The project, formally designated “Transforming the Global Maritime Transport Industry towards a Low Carbon Future through Improved Energy Efficiency”, will focus in particular on building capacity to implement technical and operational measures in developing countries, where shipping is increasingly concentrated.

The aim is to promote a low-carbon maritime sector, in order to minimize the adverse impacts of shipping emissions on climate change, ocean acidification and local air quality.

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Innovative propulsion systems were among energyefficiency technologies under discussion at the symposium (pic: Wärtsilä)

NEWS

IMO Member State audit details now online A new module containing information on audits carried out under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme has been launched on IMO’s web-based information portal, GISIS (the Global Integrated Shipping Information System).

The IMO Member State Audit Scheme is intended to provide an audited Member State with a comprehensive and objective assessment of how effectively it administers and implements mandatory IMO instruments covered by the scheme. Currently voluntary, the scheme will become mandatory for all IMO Member States from 1 January 2016.

The new GISIS module has been designed as a common platform for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme, and will serve as the vehicle for the release of audit reports.

Although audit reports are designed primarily for use by IMO Member States, the Member States themselves have an option to make the reports more widely available to the public through GISIS. The IMO Council has requested Member States that have already been audited to authorize the release of any reports and associated plans for corrective action from audits carried out since the scheme began (the first audits were carried out in 2006),

aunched in Singapore A particularly interesting aspect of the project is its expected role in catalysing an innovative public-private sector partnership within the project framework, though a new Global Industry Alliance (GIA) for maritime energy efficiency.

Participation is anticipated from leading private sector companies, including classification societies, ship builders, ship owners, ship operators, marine equipment suppliers, port operators, and marine consultancy and management system providers.

Ten IMO Member States have signed up to the GloMEEP project as lead pilot countries: Argentina, China, Georgia, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Morocco, Panama, Philippines and South Africa. The lead pilot countries will be supported in taking a fast-track approach to pursuing relevant legal, policy and institutional reforms, driving national and regional government action and

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industry innovation to support the effective implementation of IMO’s energy efficiency requirements.

IMO will execute the project, which marks the beginning of a new blueprint for creating global, regional and national partnerships to build the capacity to address maritime energy efficiency and for countries to mainstream this issue within their own development policies, programmes and dialogues.

Funding for the two-year project was agreed in July. IMO, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have allocated US$2.0 million to the project.

Besides the GEF financing for GloMEEP, other funds will be mobilized in the form of in-kind and financial donations, to a projected total of some US$13.8 million.

so that as many audit reports as possible can be made available to all Member States or to the public via the new GISIS module.

Each Member State has also been invited to provide the IMO Secretariat with details of one individual designated to receive access to those audit reports that are available for Member States only.

The mandatory scheme is expected to bring many benefits, such as identifying where capacity-building activities (for example, the provision of technical assistance

by IMO to Member States) would have the greatest effect. Targeting of appropriate action to improve performance would be greatly improved. The Member States themselves would receive valuable feedback, intended to assist them in improving their own capacity to put the applicable instruments into practice; and generic lessons learnt from audits could be provided to all Member States so that the benefits could be widely shared.

Moreover, the results of the audits could be systematically fed back into the regulatory process at IMO to help make measurable improvements in the effectiveness of the international regulatory framework of shipping.

The mandatory IMO instruments included in the scope of the scheme cover: • safety of life at sea (the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) and its 1988 Protocol); • prevention of pollution from ships (the MARPOL Convention); • standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW 1978); • load lines (LL 66 and its 1988 Protocol); • tonnage measurement of ships (Tonnage 1969); and • prevention of collisions at sea (COLREG 1972).

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Connect and recruit

Internet on ships a key to recruiting and retaining

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asy access to the internet aboard ships is a key requirement if young people are to be attracted into the seafaring profession and shipping needs to be more visible in the public eye, according to speakers who addressed an IMO symposium on maritime education and training, held on World Maritime Day (24 September 2015).

The IMO symposium provided an opportunity for a discussion on the future of maritime education and training and how it can meet the demands of the shipping industry and aimed to address the World Maritime Day theme: “Maritime Education and Training”, through targeted discussion on the topic: “Shipping’s future needs people: Is global maritime education and training on course?”

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Ensuring a high proportion of students moved into the maritime professions after completing their maritime training was an important issue, according to Professor Jingjing Xu, Associate Dean, Research, Faculty of Business, Plymouth University, who said conditions for seafarers on board ships needed to be appealing if the predicted lack of officers and rating in the future is to be addressed.

Poor internet access on board ships was the largest disincentive to young people taking up seagoing roles, she said.

Maritime opportunities Speakers from the shipping and maritime industry and academia addressed three sessions, covering: opportunities for the young generation in the maritime industry; seafaring

as a profession; and developing seafarer skills through quality maritime education and training.

IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu, who opened the symposium (above), reiterated the need for high-quality maritime education and training as the bedrock of safe and secure shipping industry. Attracting new recruits into the industry was highly important, he said.

All speakers at the symposium stressed the need to raise the profile and the image of shipping in general, in order to attract young people into the maritime professions. Opinionformers, including teachers, politicians, and those managing education policies, were key targets who should be informed about shipping and the maritime world.

Other speakers brought up the paucity of training berths. A cadet, one of 32 from

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Cadets and other young professionals in the maritime world gave the symposium a genuine relevance

seafarers, IMO symposium told 16 countries attending the symposium, highlighted the fact that her country did not have training ships to offer seagoing experience, so this was a key issue which needed to be resolved so that their training did not go to waste due to lack of sea experience.

Government policies, particularly those of flag States, at national level could impact on maritime education and training and

on recruitment. The percentage of women seafarers was still very low and this was still a matter that needed to be addressed.

Other speakers raised the important issue of ongoing quality assessment of seafarer training courses, as required under IMO’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Following a career at sea,

Symposium presentations are available on the IMO website at www.imo.org former seafarers needed to be supported into maritime careers onshore, including any necessary re-training.

Summing up, IMO Assistant SecretaryGeneral Andy Winbow said that the panels of speakers had provided much food for thought. Shipping clearly needs people and its image – or lack of one – needed to be addressed.

PORT STATE CONTROL SOUTHAMPTON, 24 – 29 April 2016

This comprehensive 28th annual international short course, provides detailed authoritative coverage of latest regulatory developments affecting port state control, as well as the changing international port state practices.

The course includes port and vessel visits and covers the IMO conventions and codes associated with all ship types including; bulk, tanker, LNG, cruise and coastal ferry inspection. A separate section focuses on fishing vessel safety and PSC inspections. Environmental areas include MARPOL annex amendments, special area and EAS. New policy developments for managers and inspectors for 2016 include PSC auditing and accident investigation. The course is fully residential and designed for officials in national marine departments, port and terminal operators, ship owners, ship managers, ship operators and senior sea going officers.

The course is taught by an experienced team of academics and practitioners from the UK and Europe.

Venue: Holiday Inn, Southampton Fees: Sterling £2,850 to cover all tuition, course documentation, meals, accommodation and ship and port visits.

The course is conducted by the International Maritime Bureau of the International Chamber of Commerce.

Further details can be obtained from: The Course Co-ordinator, ICC International Maritime Bureau Cinnabar Wharf, 26 Wapping High Street, London, E1 W 1NG United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7423 6960

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Fax: +44 20 7423 6961

Email: imb@icc-ccs.org

Website: www.icc-ccs.org

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SUB-COMMITTEE ON CARRIAGE OF CARGOES AND CONTAINERS (CCC) • 2ND SESSION • 14–18 SEPTEMBER 2015

The safety of bulk cargoes was again under scrutiny at the CCC Sub-Committee

IMO warns on bauxite liquefaction dangers

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circular approved by IMO’s SubCommittee on Carriage of Containers and Cargoes (CCC) warns ship Masters of the possible dangers of liquefaction associated with carriage of bauxite. It followed consideration of findings from the investigation into the loss of the 10-year-old Bahamas flag bulk carrier Bulk Jupiter, which was carrying 46,400 tonnes of bauxite when it sank rapidly, with 18 fatalities, in January 2015.

The circular notes that while bauxite is currently classified as a Group C cargo (cargoes that do not liquefy or possess a

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chemical hazard) under the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, there is a need to raise awareness of the possible dangers of liquefaction associated with it. If a Group A cargo (cargo which may liquefy) is shipped with moisture content in excess of its transportable moisture limit, there is a risk of cargo shift, which may result in capsizing.

The mandatory IMSBC Code requires Group A cargoes to be tested, before loading, to determine their TML and their actual moisture content. The testing should confirm the cargo is below the maximum moisture

content considered safe for carriage.

Research to evaluate the properties of bauxite is being carried out by Australia and Brazil, while an ongoing research project in China suggests that bauxite has various behaviours, based on the parent rock and how the materials weather.

The Sub-Committee also established a correspondence group to evaluate the properties of bauxite and coal (some types of coal may liquefy) and consider any necessary amendments to the IMSBC Code.

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FROM THE MEETINGS

SUB-COMMITTEE ON CARRIAGE OF CARGOES AND CONTAINERS (CCC) • 2ND SESSION • 14–18 SEPTEMBER 2015

Use of database encouraged for container examination

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he Sub-Committee encouraged governments to utilize the Global approved continuous examination programme (ACEP) Database, located at www.bic-acep.org, in order to comply with the requirements to make information on approved continuous examination programmes publicly available.

Proposed draft amendments to the Revised Recommendations on harmonized interpretation and implementation of the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972, as amended (CSC.1/Circ.138/Rev.1), and to the Guidelines for development of an approved continuous examination programme (ACEP) (CSC.1/Circ.143), were agreed, to make reference to the database

and encourage its use. The Sub-Committee also agreed draft Instructions for use and information concerning the Global ACEP Database, and an associated draft CSC circular, for submission to MSC 96 for approval.

The International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972, as amended, requires containers to be examined regularly to determine whether a container has any defects which could place any person in danger. Containers are examined according to a periodic examination scheme (the first examination must take place within five years of the date of manufacture of the container, with subsequent surveys at intervals of not more than 30 months) or a continuous examination programme which is approved by a CSC 1972 Contracting Party if satisfied, on evidence submitted by the owner, that such a programme provides a standard of safety not inferior to the periodic examination scheme. Examinations under approved continuous examination programmes are performed in connection with a major repair, refurbishment, or on-hire/off-hire interchange, not less than once every 30 months. Many container owners and operators follow approved continuous examination programmes.

Fuel-cell requirements in the IGF code developed

Guidance on older IMO type tanks A Revised guidance on the continued use of existing IMO type portable tanks and road tank vehicles for the transport of dangerous goods was agreed. The circular (CCC.1/Circ.3) clarifies the process for assessing the continued use of IMO type portable tanks and road tank vehicles which were approved prior to the entry into force of amendment 30-00 of the IMDG Code.

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Draft amendments on harmful cargoes The Sub-Committee further developed draft amendments to MARPOL Annex V, to make mandatory the classification criteria and the shipper’s declaration of solid bulk cargoes as to whether or not they were harmful to the marine environment, for submission to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) for further consideration.

Draft amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Lowflashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), regarding fuels cells, were developed.

These will be further considered by a correspondence group, with a view to being finalized at the next session of the Sub-Committee.

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Recycle, re-use, regen IMO and the Ministry of Industries of Bangladesh have been cooperating in a project to improve safety and environmental standards in the country’s shiprecycling industry.

Encouraging progress is being made to improve conditions in Bangladeshi ship-recycling facilities. The industry has a huge beneficial impact on the local and national economies

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he project, aimed at improving standards and sustainability within the industry, consists of five work packages, covering studies on economic and environmental impacts and on the management of hazardous materials and wastes, recommendations on strengthening the Government’s One-Stop Service (in which all the various ministries with a responsibility for ship recycling – e.g. Industries, Environment, Labour, – offer a single point of contact for related matters), a review and

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upgrade of existing training courses and the development of a detailed project document for a possible follow-up project to implement the recommendations of the initial phase.

The Bangladeshi ministry has been coordinating input from different stakeholder ministries within the country, while IMO has led collaboration with other relevant UN agencies including the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations

Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

With an annual gross tonnage capacity of more than 8.8 million, the Bangladesh ship recycling industry is one of the world’s largest and represents a significant source of revenue for the country. These poignant photographs from IMO’s Simone Leyers capture the sometimes difficult working conditions in this important industry and illustrate how almost every part of a ship can be recycled and put back into use.

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WORLD MARITIME DAY 2015

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Guests to this year’s traditional World Maritime Day reception were greeted by retiring senior IMO officials (from left) Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General, and directors Andrew Winbow, Olga O’Neil and Jo Espinoza

World Maritime Day 2015 Maritime education and training

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n a series of events throughout the week of 21-25 September, IMO led the annual celebrations of World Maritime Day, culminating in the traditional diplomatic reception, which, this year, was held on 24 September.

World Maritime Day is an official United Nations observance day, celebrated every year, providing an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO’s work. Individual governments are encouraged to mark the day, on a date of their choosing but usually in the last week of September.

Each World Maritime Day has its own theme, which is reflected in IMO’s work throughout the year. The World Maritime Day theme for 2015 was “Maritime Education and Training”.

The theme was adopted to focus attention, throughout the year, on the wider spectrum of maritime education and training, in particular its adequacy and quality, as the bedrock of a safe and secure shipping industry. Shipping needs to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources, in order to ensure its sustainability.

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The 1978 STCW Convention and Code, as amended, set the international benchmark for the training and education of seafarers.

While compliance with its standards is essential for serving on board ships, the skills and competence of seafarers, and indeed, the human element ashore, can only be adequately underpinned, updated

Without a quality labour force, motivated, trained and skilled to the appropriate standards, shipping cannot thrive and maintained through effective maritime education and training.

“Without a quality labour force, motivated, trained and skilled to the appropriate international standards, shipping cannot thrive,” IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said, in his annual World Maritime Day message.

“Not only that, all the many advances that have been made, in terms of safety and environmental impact, are at risk if personnel within the industry are unable to implement them properly,” Mr Sekimizu said. “The importance of training and education for the

maritime personnel of today and tomorrow is greater than ever before.”

Mr Sekimizu also highlighted the need for greater efforts to be made to bring new generations into seafaring as a profession, noting that seafaring must be seen to appeal to new generations as a rewarding and fulfilling career. “The world depends on a safe, secure and efficient shipping industry; and the shipping industry depends on an adequate supply of seafarers to operate the ships that carry the essential cargoes we all rely on,” Mr Sekimizu said.

Open days To encourage young people to choose further education and careers in the maritime world and to raise awareness, IMO’s London Headquarters opened its doors to more than 300 primary and secondary age school children, from local and international schools based in London, for special World Maritime Day events.

These young people engaged with seafarer cadets from all over the world and representatives from maritime training institutes and international shipping organizations, who outlined the benefits and attractions of a career at sea and in the broader maritime professions.

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The first open day was for primary school students. The pupils enjoyed an interactive session where they learned about ships, the cargoes they carry, regulations for ships and the whole range of careers in the maritime world. They then took turns on ship simulators, loaned

by ARI World, and were interviewed about what they had learned.

The second day was for secondary school students, who heard speakers from Southampton Solent University (Warsash Maritime Academy); the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST); Plymouth University (School of Marine Science and Engineering and Plymouth Business School); and from the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. The event was supported by Careers at Sea, Institute of Chartered shipbrokers, IMarEST, Plymouth University and Southampton Solent University (Warsash Maritime Academy).

In keeping with this year’s World Maritime Day theme of “Maritime Education and Training” IMO threw open its doors to young people keen to learn more about the maritime world

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Cadets visiting IMO as part of the celebrations visited the UK’s National Maritime Museum in Greenwich

IMO has established the IMO Maritime Ambassador Scheme, to promote the rich and varied career opportunities for young people, both at sea and ashore, in the multi-faceted maritime world. An inaugural meeting of IMO Maritime Ambassadors was held during the World Maritime Day celebrations.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also issued a message for World Maritime Day, “Today, shipping is a modern, highly technical, professional discipline that requires a great deal of skill, knowledge and expertise from the maritime workforce. A safe, secure and clean shipping industry can only be built on effective standards of education and training, which is the theme for this year’s World Maritime Day,” Mr Ban said.

World Maritime Day also saw the inaugural meeting of IMO Maritime Ambassadors

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FROM THE MEETINGS

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LONDON CONVENTION/LONDON PROTOCOL • 37TH/10TH SESSIONS • 12–16 OCTOBER 2015

Revised guidance on radioactive waste adopted

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pdated guidelines for the application of the de minimis (exempt) concept for radioactive substances which may be considered for dumping at sea have been adopted by Contracting Parties to the treaties which regulate the dumping of wastes at sea.

The 2015 Guidelines for the application of the de minimis concept include recognition of the effects of radiation on marine fauna and flora. They were adopted by the 37th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties (London Convention 1972) and 10th Meeting of Contracting Parties (London Protocol 1996), during their regular joint meeting at IMO in London.

The guidelines refer to the latest advice from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including a new procedure to assess doses to workers and members of the public and a similar approach for assessing doses to marine flora and fauna, based on the updated IAEA Safety Standards for protection of people and the environment and recent recommendations by the International

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Radiological Protection Commission (ICRP) on protection of humans and the environment.

While both the London Convention and Protocol ban the dumping of radioactive wastes, certain materials may assigned as “de minimis” (exempt), including natural radionuclides (atoms that have excess nuclear energy, making them unstable) in the environment and in raw materials. De minimis materials could also include materials which have undergone some process which could affect the natural radionuclide composition, but which are deemed not to warrant radiological control since the potential exposure to radiation is too small to warrant regulatory control.

The guidance notes that all materials contain natural radionuclides. Sometimes human activities can result in changes to their concentrations, thus potentially increasing radiation doses. If this occurs, an activity could be subjected to radiological control.

Previous human activities, particularly nuclear weapons-testing in the atmosphere, have

also introduced new radionuclides to the environment and slightly enhanced the overall concentrations of radionuclides. The IAEA advice provides for two distinct categories in relation to the de minimis question: first, cases in which the radionuclide constituents of a candidate material can be automatically (i.e. without further consideration) defined as de minimis; and second, cases in which a specific assessment is required to determine whether the candidate materials are de minimis or not.

In deciding whether candidate materials for dumping at sea could be regarded as ”non-radioactive” (ie de minimis) and therefore may be disposed of at sea, the guidelines recommend that authorities take steps to determine that the radiation risks to individuals caused by the exempted practice or source are sufficiently low that they do not pose any risk and that the exempted practices and sources are inherently safe.

A similar assessment should be carried out in relation to possible impacts on flora and fauna.

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LONDON CONVENTION/LONDON PROTOCOL • 37TH/10TH SESSIONS • 12–16 OCTOBER 2015

Marine geoengineering study initiated A new international experts’ working group has recently been established to explore the possible environmental impacts of marine geoengineering activities, such as those which involve the deliberate introduction of certain elements into the sea in order to stimulate CO2 uptake.

Working Group 41 of the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP), an advisory body that advises the United Nations (UN) system on the scientific aspects of marine environmental protection, will work with relevant organizations with a view to producing a study aimed at providing a better understanding of the potential ecological and social impacts of different approaches to marine geoengineering.

Marine geoengineering is defined as “a deliberate intervention in the marine environment to manipulate natural processes, including to counteract anthropogenic climate change and/or its impacts, and that has the potential to result in deleterious effects, especially where those effects may be widespread, long-lasting or severe”.

An example of such activity is “ocean fertilization”, which involves the introduction of iron, nitrogen or phosphorus compounds into the ocean with the aim of stimulating CO2 uptake by the oceans.

An amendment to the London Protocol adopted in 2013 prohibits the dumping of material for marine geoengineering, except for those activities listed in an annex.

Currently, the annex only contains ocean

fertilization activity. This may be considered for a permit, if it is assessed as constituting legitimate scientific research taking into account a specific placement assessment framework. The assessment framework provides criteria for an initial assessment of a proposal and detailed steps for completion of an environmental assessment, including risk management and monitoring. Importantly, it does not contain a threshold below which experiments would be exempt from its assessment provisions. Every experiment, regardless of size or scale, should be assessed in accordance with the entire assessment framework. The anticipated report from the GESAMP Working Group could assist London Protocol Parties to identify other marine geoengineering techniques that could be considered for a permit.

At its recent annual meeting, GESAMP noted that many proposed marine geoengineering techniques or activities are often little more than concepts, but most of them involve potentially large-scale interventions in the ocean with the potential for significant impacts on the marine environment. In addition, many of these

Satellite imagery of an algal bloom, creation of which may stimulate CO2 uptake by the oceans (pic: Earth Observatory)

activities would likely take place on the high seas, beyond national jurisdictions, and therefore may raise international concerns.

While a number of reviews of geoengineering to date have considered a small number of such techniques, mainly for their efficacy, none has reviewed the wider range of marine geoengineering techniques for their marine environmental impacts.

Marine disposal of mine tailings discussed

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he meetings continued their discussion on how best to approach the issue of marine and riverine disposal of mine tailings around the world, in the context of the London Convention and Protocol.

A correspondence group was established, to review and finalize draft terms of reference for a GESAMP Working Group, which would be tasked with identifying and providing a better understanding of potential environmental impacts of marine disposal of tailings or other wastes from land-based mining operations, taking into account potential linkages between deep-water ecosystems at the disposal site and the overlying water column.

The correspondence group was also

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tasked with continuing to gather information on best practices and existing guidance and legislation relating to marine and riverine disposal of tailings from mining operations on land. The group will also identify any gaps in best practices and existing guidance. The work of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will also be monitored.

A 2012 report noted that a total of 15 mines (i.e. 0.6%) out of approximately 2,500 large scale mines worldwide used marine or riverine disposal for mine tailings, under Government permits, and

that a number of mines around the world are in the early stages of development and are considering marine disposal of mine tailings.

A mine-tailings “pond” ( pic: Paulo Tomaz)

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Getting to grips with criminal investigation at sea A two-week course on criminal investigations was held in Crete, Greece (24 August-14 September). The course, designed for national maritime law enforcement officials such as the marine police, coast guard and navy, focused primarily on the investigation of piracy and other criminal acts. This initiative was developed under a partnership between IMO and the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC) and enabled Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC) signatory States to be trained in diverse disciplines at the centre.

For the first time, the course was offered to west African States and DCoC States as a joint programme.

Workshop boosts port security drills in Peru A workshop on advanced port security drills and exercises took place in Lima, Peru (25-28 August). Attended by port security officials, managers and designated authority officials, the workshop was designed to improve the implementation of special IMO measures to enhance maritime security and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) by encouraging drills and exercises to be held and promoting the concept of emergency preparedness. The event was organised by IMO, the Asia Pacific Economic Community (APEC) Maritime Security Working Group, the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism of the Organization of American States (CICTE-OAS) and the National Port Authority of Peru (APN).

Stepping up port security in Oman​ A 10-day workshop for port security officials, managers and designated maritime authority officials was held in Salalah, the Sultanate of Oman (30 August-10 September). The workshop included intense table top exercises and drills to help officials prepare for maritime security incidents and to ensure they are able to fully implement IMO measures to enhance maritime security, including the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). It was jointly organised by IMO and Oman’s Ministry of Transport and Communications.

Ghana to develop robust national maritime security strategy ​ four-day meeting (28 August) in Accra, Ghana, saw IMO, as part of A its West and Central Africa Maritime Security project, assisting Ghana to develop a framework for its national maritime security strategy. IMO helped improve collaboration among departments and agencies with an interest in maritime security to encourage a broader implementation of IMO instruments as well as to build more robust maritime security measures in the region. The Ghana Maritime Authority and the Ghana National Maritime Security Committee (NMSC) also took part in the meeting.

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Communication skills put to the test Incident response workshop in Qatar ​ regional workshop in Qatar (6-8 September) brought together A participants from Member States of the Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine Environment (ROPME) to review preparedness for responding to oil spills and incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances (HNS). The workshop, attended by more than 60 participants from six countries, was organized

by ROPME’s Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC) in cooperation with IMO. Participants reviewed the status of the ROPME regional HNS spill contingency plan and considered the different response techniques for HNS and oil.

A two-day bilateral exercise between the Congo and Gabon to test the lines of communication in case of a trans-boundary oil-spill incident concluded in Pointe-Noire, the Congo and Libreville, Gabon (14-15 September). The exercise, which was conducted in real-time with a prearranged script, simulated an oil-spill incident impacting the Gabonese and Congolese coastlines. The objective was to identify gaps in oil spill contingency plans in both countries and help improve communication procedures between the two countries in the case of a real trans-boundary oil spill incident. The exercise also sought to encourage the sharing of technical information to better coordinate the response as well as to initiate discussions on topics such as mutual aid and allocation of resources.

This exercise was organised within the framework of the Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI WACAF Project), a partnership between IMO and IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues. The event gathered delegates from different ministries and agencies as well as representatives from the Oil & Gas industry. The Department of Environmental Affairs of Gabon and the Ministry of Transport, Aviation and Shipping of the Congo hosted the exercise simultaneously.

Audit preparation inTimor-Leste

Biofouling alert Maritime single window for logistics ​ revised version of the IMO Convention on the Facilitation of A International Maritime Traffic (FAL) is set to be adopted in April 2016.

It will include an important new standard relating to the obligation of public authorities to establish systems to exchange arrival and departure information electronically when ships enter or leave port.

An IMO project is underway to develop a so-called “single window” for such exchanges, and it was presented at the first Logistics Information Standardization Forum by IMO’s Julian Abril. Held on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea (9 September), the forum was organized by the Korea Maritime Institute and attended by participants from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

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​ regional workshop on the A management of biofouling was held in Egypt (14-16 September).

The workshop, which also aimed to raise awareness of the IMO biofouling guidelines, was organized in cooperation with The Regional Organization of the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, (PERSGA). Around 23 participants attended, from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Djibouti and the Sudan.

National officials from the port Administration and maritime transport directorate of TimorLeste participated in a national training course on implementation of IMO instruments (14-18 September). The course aimed to inform on the obligations of States to effectively implement IMO conventions and provide preparatory work ahead of the entry into force on 1 January 2016 of the mandatory IMO Member State Audit Scheme.

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Cleaning up in Gabon

Reinforcing anti-fouling implementation A national workshop aimed at boosting port State control and flag State implementation of the Anti-Fouling Convention was held in Egypt (16-17 September). The workshop aimed to raise awareness of the implications of implementing and enforcing the convention.

Technical issues, such as environmentally sound practices for the disposal of waste generated in applying and removing anti-fouling systems, were also discussed. The workshop was hosted by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) and organized under a Memorandum of Understanding between IMO, the Government of Egypt and the AASTMT.

Drafting for drafters IMO has been helping some of its Member States with the task of drafting national legislation to reflect the provisions of key IMO instruments. A regional workshop on legislative drafting was held in Kingston, Jamaica (14-18 September), aimed at government lawyers, parliamentary drafters and legal advisers to ministries. The overall objective was to assist IMO Member States in the region to implement their rights and duties as States Parties to various IMO treaty instruments, including those dealing with maritime safety, security, protection of the marine environment and liability and compensation.

The workshop was attended by 36 participants from 15 countries.

An IMO workshop on effective shoreline clean-up and waste management operations was held in Libreville, Gabon (16-17 September). Participants from ten French-speaking countries in the region, as well as the oil and gas industry, covered topics such as incorporating shoreline clean-up and waste management into national oil spill contingency plans, spill management and related decision-making processes and waste management and shoreline clean-up techniques. The workshop was organised within the framework of the Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (the GI WACAF Project), a partnership between IMO and IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues.

Supporting Africa’s growth IMO facilitated a week-long workshop in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, aimed at helping countries in the region prepare for the IMO Member State audit scheme, which becomes mandatory from January 2016.

Ten Francophone countries from west and central Africa participate ates (ACP), the FlagPort WACAF project seeks to enhance safety and security, port efficiency and protection of the marine environment, and improve the working and living conditions of personnel on board ships. The overall objective is to support Africa’s economic growth, connectivity and the promotion of regional integration.

Women of Asia for improved safety of domestic ferries Encouraging women to advocate for domestic ferry safety was the central theme of a regional conference held in Manila, Philippines.

(21-25 September). Participants from Asian countries gained knowledge and looked at how to step up measures to promote safety consciousness among the players and stakeholders in domestic ferry operations. The conference was organized by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Women in Maritime Philippines Association (WIMAPHIL), in collaboration with IMO and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea.

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Marine environment protection measures highlighted IMO measures concerning the protection of the marine environment were highlighted at the 3rd International Green Marine Summit held in Shanghai, China (24-25 September). Ballast water management, air pollution and energy efficiency, greenhouse gases, black carbon, the Polar Code and ship recycling were all covered.

The focus of the conference reflected IMO’s continuing commitment to the development of energyefficiency technology. Among the topics examined were gasfuelled main engines for ships, after-treatment systems for emissions’ control and hull and propulsion design to improve energy efficiency including the increasing use of continuous monitoring and engine control systems to optimise ship fuel consumption. The conference also highlighted the growing impact that these new technologies are having on the operation and management of ships, and that the technologies are likely to require highly trained and motivated crew, whose decisions are supported by shore staff, to ensure that the potential energyefficiency savings that these technologies offer are fully realised.

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Supporting oil-spill response in Southeast Asia IMO supported the development of a regional plan for joint oil-spill preparedness and response at a workshop in Singapore (29 September-2 October) in a continuation of the organization’s on-going work to enhance marine environment protection measures in Southeast Asia. Representatives from all ten Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) participated in the event.

The workshop was organized under the Singapore-IMO Third Country Training Programme and co-hosted

by Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Academy.

Safety and sustainability in straits of Malacca and Singapore Indonesia updated on ballast water management The processes for ratification and implementation of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM Convention) were discussed during a national seminar held in Indonesia (5-6 October). Information on the convention, management options and the latest developments in BWM research and development were outlined during the seminar, which was facilitated jointly by the IMO’s Marine Environment Division and the Directorate General of Sea Transportation (DGST) of the Ministry of Transportation of Indonesia. The seminar was held under the auspices of the IMO-Norwegian Development Cooperation Agency (Norad) project to support participating countries in south-east Asia to ratify and implement key IMO treaties.

Littoral States and stakeholders of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS), one of the busiest waterways used for international shipping, met in Singapore for the 8th Cooperation Forum (5-6 October) to discuss the application of technology in navigational safety and sustainable port and shipping initiatives. The Co-operative Mechanism is the key platform for the littoral States of the SOMS, user States, the industry and other stakeholders to engage in dialogue, exchange information and share perspectives on important issues relating to the SOMS. The Co-operative Mechanism was launched at an IMO-Singapore Meeting in 2007 following a series of IMO-sponsored meetings on the SOMS under IMO’s “Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes” initiative.

Building capacity in Côte d’Ivoire A two-day national workshop on maritime legislation review, flag State implementation and port State control was held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, (8-9 October) following a three-day needs-assessment exercise, under the IMO/ACP/EU FlagPort WACAF Project. Both were aimed at building human and institutional capacities in the maritime sector and assisting Côte d’Ivoire to prepare for the IMO Member State Audit Scheme, which becomes mandatory from January 2016.

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Around the world in 70 days

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magine a brand ambassador with no nationality, no race or gender, no carbon footprint, and who does not speak – yet can express approval, pleasure, surprise, joy, indeed just about every human emotion you can imagine. That’s exactly what the renowned French artist Yak created for the United Nations to help the Organization celebrate its 70th birthday year of 2015.

Elyx is the UN’s first digital ambassador, and this year he went on a virtual journey around the world in 70 days to shed light on the work of the United Nations in the field. UN agencies and other bodies were asked to get creative and show Elyx interacting with different areas of their work, and share the results via social media.

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The result is a wonderful montage depicting the truly diverse and global efforts being undertaken by the UN family to improve the lives of people all over the world. You can track Elyx’s travels by visiting http:// www.elyx70days.org/, and on these pages you can see where we took Elyx when he popped in to IMO. And, along with UN Headquarters in New York, we also turned our headquarters building UN blue, too!

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UN agency IMO has developed measures to protect ships and people aboard them in the harsh, remote polar regions

The world relies on safe, secure & environmentally friendly shipping – aided by UN specialized agency IMO

Elyx helps cadets in Manila on their way to becoming maritime professionals. UN agency IMO supports seafarers

Elyx visits the IMO-funded regional anti-piracy training centre under construction in Djibouti – one of many measures undertaken to address piracy

Elyx is shocked to find invasive species in a ship’s ballast water.

IMO helps prevent and mitigate the damage they cause

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Elyx is in Bangladesh to learn about IMO’s efforts to promote safe and environmentfriendly ship recycling

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Facilitation exercises in Papua New Guinea

Islamic Republic of Iran steps up for BWM implementation

​ or countries dependent on maritime trade, effective clearance F processes for the arrival and departure of ships are highly important.

At a national seminar on facilitation of international maritime traffic in Papua New Guinea (12-14 October), participants from maritime, customs and immigration authorities, alongside industry representatives, took part in exercises to simulate a national maritime facilitation committee – recommended under IMO’s Facilitation (FAL) Convention to encourage the adoption and implementation of facilitation measures across government departments and other entities such as port authorities and ship owners.

The seminar highlighted the importance of ratifying the FAL Convention and effectively implementing its standards and recommendations. Participants were also updated on IMO’s ‘Maritime Single Window’ project and on proposed amendments to the FAL Convention, set to be adopted in April 2016. These will include a mandatory requirement for electronic information exchange and a recommendation to use the ‘single window’ concept, to enable all the information required by public authorities in connection with the arrival, stay and departure of ships, persons and cargo, to be submitted without duplication.

A three-day national workshop on compliance monitoring and enforcement aspects of the Ballast Water Management Convention was held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran (10-12 October). The workshop focussed on port and flag State control, including sampling and analysis of ballast water for compliance purposes. The Islamic Republic of Iran acceded to the BWM treaty in 2011 and was one of the pilot countries which participated in the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloBallast Pilot Project from 2000. Opening the workshop, jointly organized by IMO and the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Jalil Eslami, Member of Board and Deputy Managing Director of PMO, emphasised the importance of the BWM Convention to the Islamic Republic of Iran which has long coast lines which need to be protected from the harmful impacts of marine invasive species as well as an important and growing shipping fleet. The training workshop was attended by high-ranking officials of various government organizations, academia, class societies and the shipping industry and was facilitated by a team of IMO staff and consultants.

Container safety training in Viet Nam A visit to the Saigon Premier Container Terminal provided an opportunity for participants on a national container safety workshop (12-15 October) to engage in hands-on mock container inspections and to see and participate in practical demonstrations of testing, inspection, examination, maintenance and control of containers. The class-based part of the workshop on container safety was held in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. The workshop covered all aspects of the International Convention for Safe Containers, the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code) and relevant parts of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), including the amendments which will make mandatory the verification of the mass of containers, from 1 July 2016. The workshop was held at the request of the Viet Nam Maritime Administration.

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Workshop addresses harmful anti-fouling systems The control of harmful anti-fouling systems was on the agenda at a national workshop, led by IMO, in Dar es Salaam, the United Republic of Tanzania (14-15 October). Since the adoption of the convention prohibiting the use of harmful anti-fouling systems on ships (AFS Convention) in 2001, IMO has been holding national and regional workshops to encourage and assist countries in the ratification of the convention and in the development of relevant national legislation. As a result, the number of States signing up to the convention continues to rise, thereby improving protection of both the marine environment and workers involved in the maintenance of ships’ hulls.

Environmentally-sound practices for the disposal of waste generated in applying and removing anti-fouling systems were presented and discussed at the workshop.

National security training in Barbados ​ national workshop on ‘International Ship and Port Facility Security A (ISPS) Code Training for Port Facility Personnel with Designated Security Duties’ was held in Bridgetown Port, Barbados (19-22 October). The workshop provided training for personnel to perform their duties in accordance with relevant IMO maritime security measures, including chapter XI‐2 of SOLAS, the ISPS code and the IMO/ILO code of practice on security in ports. Held at the request of the Ministry of International Business and Transport of Barbados, it also equipped participants to train others with similar responsibilities.

Bridgetown is the major port of entry for the majority of materials and goods used in Barbados’s manufacturing and retail sectors.

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Global forum targets people-smuggling I​MO has participated in a global forum aimed at addressing the migrant smuggling challenge at INTERPOL’s General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France (15-16 October). As the United Nations specialized agency with the remit for safety of life at sea, IMO closely monitors the global crisis involving the unsafe transport of mixed migrants by sea and strongly condemns the criminals involved in people smuggling, who send completely unseaworthy ships to sea without the slightest consideration for the safety of those on board. The forum brought together participants from some 50 source- transit- and destination-countries affected by irregular migration flows, as well as representatives from international and regional organizations and the private sector.

Capacity building in Somalia ​​ part of IMO’s maritime capacity building programme for Somalia, a high As level meeting aimed at harmonizing IMO’s work for Somalia with the work of other UN agencies was held in Nairobi, Kenya (16 October), hosted by the Kenya Maritime Authority. The meeting was briefed by the Honourable Nur Farah Hersi, Minister of Ports and Marine Transport of Somalia, representing the Federal Government of Somalia, and was also attended by representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO), the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), EU-CAP NESTOR and INTERPOL. IMO initiated a programme aimed at assisting Somalia establish a Maritime Administration in 2014, involving workshops, the review of the 1959 Somalia Maritime Code and the creation of a stakeholders’ forum.

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Improving maritime situational awareness in Latin America ​ regional seminar on maritime surveillance monitoring and A communication systems has been held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia (13-16 October). More than 70 participants from countries in the region attended the seminar and shared their experiences on maritime communications and ship tracking and monitoring systems for maritime security, safety of navigation, protection of the marine environment and search and rescue of persons in distress at sea.

The event was organized by IMO in collaboration with the Colombian Maritime Authority (DIMAR).

Advancing ship recycling through technical cooperation​​ Officials from Bangladesh visited Turkey to learn from the country’s ship-recycling sector (19-22 October), in a programme facilitated by IMO under the project dealing with the safe and environmentally sound ship recycling in Bangladesh (SENSREC). Hosted by the Government of Turkey in Ankara and Izmir, the visit consisted of technical site visits, including waste management centres; a seminar including sessions on IMO’s ship recycling convention (Hong Kong Convention) and legislation issues; and meetings with ship recycling industry representatives.

IMO at ballast water management conference I​MO’s Ballast Water Management Convention is ready for implementation – that was the message delivered by IMO’s Markus Helavuori at the 13th Ballast Water Management Summit in Rotterdam, the Netherlands (21 October). In a keynote speech addressing shipowners, operators and other stakeholders, an update on the convention was provided, including the points that the main obstacles for ratification have been removed and that early entry into force would have several benefits for all stakeholders – minimizing the risk of invasions by alien species and providing a level playing field from a regulatory perspective.

The BWM Convention will enter into force 12 months after ratification by 30 States, representing 35% of world merchant shipping tonnage.

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IMO NEWS

IMO AT WORK

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ISSUE 4

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2015

Developing maritime transport policy in the Pacific ​ four-day workshop was held in Suva, Fiji (20-23 October), aimed A at boosting the knowledge and skills needed to develop, adopt, implement and update national maritime transport policies in relation to IMO instruments and with respect to shipping engaged in international trade. The workshop also aimed to support wider regional and national maritime-related needs and objectives and show that these can be addressed while pursuing IMO-related goals. IMO pays special attention to the shipping needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the least developed countries, under its strategic plan. Of all the SIDS around the world, more than a third are located in the Pacific region and all but one are either IMO Members States or territories of IMO Member States. Some 26 participants from Pacific Island countries attended the workshop, which was jointly organized

by IMO and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).

Harmonising flag and port State efforts in the Pacific A regional workshop in the Pacific focussed on ways to strengthen cooperation between States and move towards a harmonized system for flag State implementation and port State control. A total of 24 participants representing 13 Pacific Island Countries and Territories and New Zealand met in Suva, Fiji (26-29 October) to determine the terms of reference for a proposed Memorandum of Understanding on flag State implementation and port State control in the Pacific region.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and IMO.

Ballast water bugs under scrutiny Participants got up close and personal with some potentially invasive species in ballast water during a practical workshop on sampling and analysis of ballast water, held in Duluth, United States (19-21 October). The IMO-GloBallast “Train-the-Trainer” workshop provided training for port State control officers and marine biologists from South America and the wider Caribbean region, in preparation for the implementation of the Ballast

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Water Convention. The workshop was hosted by the Great Ships Initiative (GSI) of the Northeast Midwest Institute (NEMWI), a ballast water management system testing facility located on the Great Lakes. A total of 14 participants from Argentina, Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Jamaica, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago gained hands-on experience of sampling and analysis onboard a ship and at the NEMWI marine laboratory.

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GMDSS

GLOBAL MARITIME DISTRESS AND SAFETY SYSTEM

MANUAL 2015 EDITION

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