IMO – Officer of the Watch

A Challenging Period Ahead

December 13, 2015 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

This article initially appeared in IMO News Issue 4, 2015 and is reproduced here with the organization’s and author’s kind permission.

When 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; combating 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.

IMO Adopts Polar Code Enviro Provisions

May 15, 2015 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

Ships trading in the Polar Regions will have to comply with strict safety and environmental provisions specific to the harsh conditions in the Arctic and Antarctic, following the adoption of the environmental part of the International Code for ships operating in polar waters (Polar Code) and associated MARPOL amendments to make the Code mandatory by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: HSSQE, IMO, Polar Code

Wreck-Removal Convention to Enter Into Force

April 16, 2014 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal Wrecks will enter into force on 14 April 2015 following the deposit, on 14 April 2014, of an instrument of ratification by Denmark, with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: HSSQE, IMO, Nairobi International Convention, Shipwreck

IMO and Bangladesh Collaborate to Improve Ship-Recycling

April 13, 2014 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have signed a landmark agreement to work together to improve safety and environmental standards in the country’s ship-recycling industry.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: Bangladesh, HSSQE, IMO, Ship Recycling, Ship Recycling Convention

Ship Systems and Equipment IMO Sub-Committee 10 to 14 March 2014

March 17, 2014 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment held its 1st session from Monday 10 through Friday 14 March 2014 under the chairmanship of Dr S Ota (JAPAN) and his Vice-Chair, Mr K Hunter (UK) both were subsequently re-elected for 2015.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: fire safety, HSSQE, IACS, IMO, life saving appliances, lifting appliance

The Administrative Burdens of a Modern Shipmaster

October 15, 2013 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

During the April session of the IMO FAL Committee, Denmark hosted a presentation where the Danish Captain Christian Rørbeck shed light on the administrative burdens faced by ships on a daily basis around the world. The specific examples of administrative burdens for a container ship in service were an eye-opener.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: Captain Christian Rørbeck, IMO, Operations, paperwork

IMO Regulatory Update for 2013

July 22, 2013 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

The present publication is an effort to gather and summarize all new IMO regulations that entered or are to enter into force during 2013. Active links to relevant documents/circulars/resolutions have been also included to make it easier for the reader to have a direct reference to the actual text of each regulation, or to documents analyzing the regulatory requirements.

IMO Work on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimate

April 24, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

Work to update the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions estimate for international shipping moved forward during an Expert Workshop at IMO Headquarters during 26 February to 1 March 2013. A final study is expected to be delivered in 2014. The second IMO GHG Study 2009 had estimated that international shipping emitted 870 million tonnes, or about 2.7% of the global man-made emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2007.

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Filed Under: OOW FOCUS Tagged With: CH4, CO, Emissions, Estimate, GHG, greenhouse gas, HFCs, IMO, N2O, NMVOC, NOx, PFCs, PM, Safety & Quality, SF6, SOx

MARPOL Annex VI Requirements for Technical and Operational Measures

April 12, 2013 by Officer of the Watch 1 Comment

During last February a very interesting article from Edmund Hughes, Technical Officer, Marine Environment Division, IMO was published in IMO’s website, explaining the new regulations aimed at improving the energy efficiency of international shipping, which entered into force on 1 January 2013 and make mandatory the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) for all ships. Other amendments to MARPOL Annex VI add new definitions and the requirements for survey and certification, including the format for the International Energy Efficiency Certificate. The regulations apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above. However, under regulation 19, the Administration may waive the requirements for new ships up to a maximum of 4 years.

IMO MSC 91 Decisions Summary

February 13, 2013 by Officer of the Watch Leave a Comment

IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met at the Organization’s London Headquarters for its 91st session from 26 to 30 November 2012 adopted a number of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), including a new mandatory requirement for new ships to be constructed to reduce on-board noise and to protect personnel from noise; and considered a range of other issues, including piracy and armed robbery against ships and other items submitted by the IMO sub-committees.