IMO Archives - SHIP IP LTD

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Overview: New IMO Requirements for Reporting Lost Containers at Sea

Effective January 1, 2026, new amendments to SOLAS Chapter V (Regulations 31 & 32) and MARPOL Protocol I (Article V) will mandate the reporting of containers lost or observed drifting at sea Lloyd’s RegisterWorld Shipping CouncilMFAME.

These changes solidify international efforts to enhance maritime safety, prevent environmental hazards, and improve traceability of lost containers World Shipping CouncilSeatrade Maritime.


Key Provisions of the New Regulations

Regulation V/31 – Immediate Reporting by the Master

  • The ship’s Master must immediately report any container loss or observation of drifting containers to:

    • Nearby vessels

    • The nearest coastal State

    • The Flag State

  • If the ship cannot report, the Company assumes reporting obligations Lloyd’s Register.

  • The Flag State must forward this information to the IMO via GISIS (Global Integrated Shipping Information System) Lloyd’s RegisterWorld Shipping Council.

Regulation V/32 – Details Required in Reports

  • Reports must include:

    • Incident type (lost containers or drifting containers)

    • Ship identity (IMO number, name, call sign, MMSI)

    • Time (UTC) and position (actual, estimated, or discovered)

    • Number or estimated number of containers lost

    • Whether dangerous goods are involved (including UN number, if known)

    • Container descriptions (size, type, emptiness, etc.)

    • Any additional relevant context (weather, sea state, cargo spill)

  • A follow-up “final” report must be filed after verification of the lost containers Lloyd’s RegisterSeatrade Maritime.

Alignment with MARPOL

  • Corresponding amendments in MARPOL Protocol I (Article V) align waste and environmental protocols with SOLAS reporting rules Lloyd’s Register.


Why This Matters

  • Enhances navigational safety by ensuring timely alerts to hazards.

  • Supports environmental protection, reducing risks from drifting containers and pollution.

  • Strengthens accountability and transparency in the maritime sector through improved traceability.


Actions for Ship Operators & Masters

Action Item What to Do
Update SMS Embed SOLAS V/31 & V/32 procedures into your Safety Management System.
Train Bridge Teams Conduct drills and briefings on reporting protocols and GISIS submissions.
Test Communication Protocols Ensure swift reporting lines to nearby vessels, coastal and flag authorities.
Logging Systems Prepare to record container losses, observations, and follow-up verifications accurately.

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🌍 The International Maritime Organization (IMO) officially opened the 110th session of its Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) on June 18, 2025 in London, focusing on crucial safety concerns and new maritime regulations.

As the global regulatory authority for shipping, the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee plays a vital role in developing and updating safety standards across the industry. The 110th session comes at a critical time as the industry continues to face emerging threats such as fires onboard car carriers, autonomous vessel operations, and cyber risks.

🔹 Key Highlights of MSC 110:

  • Review of recent major marine casualties, including fires and collisions

  • Strengthening fire protection measures aboard ro-ro and vehicle carriers

  • Updates on GMDSS modernization and navigational safety systems

  • Progress on safety regulations for autonomous vessels (MASS)

  • Discussions on seafarer well-being, safety drills, and fatigue management

  • Enhancing global coordination on Search and Rescue (SAR) operations

  • Consideration of cybersecurity as part of ship safety systems

🔒 IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized the importance of staying proactive in safety regulation, especially with new technologies transforming ship operations.

🚢 With the number of serious safety incidents increasing globally—such as the recent sinking of fire-damaged car carriers—the need for a strong, forward-looking regulatory framework has never been more urgent.


📌 About SHIP IP LTD:
As a trusted provider of maritime compliance and safety solutions, we closely monitor international developments like MSC 110 to keep our clients informed and compliant.


  • IMO Adopts Revised Action Plan to Combat Marine Plastic Litter
    On February 6, 2025, the International Maritime Organization’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response agreed on the draft 2025 Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships. The plan is set for approval by the Marine Environment Protection Committee in April 2025.

  • Nine Countries Join IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 Program
    Announced on February 6, 2025, nine nations have been selected as partners for the IMO’s GreenVoyage2050 program, which supports the implementation of the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy.

  • IMO Secretary-General Urges Enhanced Efforts to Reduce Shipping Emissions
    In October 2024, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called for increased action from the shipping industry to cut carbon emissions, emphasizing the need for immediate and comprehensive measures to meet the IMO’s emission reduction targets.

  • IMO Mandates Reporting of Containers Lost at Sea
    Starting January 1, 2026, the IMO will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea, aiming to enhance maritime safety and environmental protection.

  • IMO Condemns Attacks on Ships in the Red Sea
    In May 2024, the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee adopted a resolution condemning attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, calling for an immediate end to these “illegal and unjustifiable” actions.


THE International Maritime Organization plans to promote sustainable maritime transport through capacity building activities in the Asia Pacific region under a new partnership agreement.

The IMO’s partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) also covers knowledge partnership activities in the region.

A memorandum of understanding was signed on Monday by IMO secretary-general Kitack Lim and ESCAP executive secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

“This strategic partnership, combining IMO’s global mandate and outreach and ESCAP’s experience and expertise in supporting its regional partners, is expected to contribute a great deal to sustainable maritime transport,” said Mr Lim said.

The parties intend to work together to support knowledge sharing, intergovernmental co-operation, capacity building, joint resource mobilisation and strengthening UN initiatives and program.

ESCAP and IMO also plan to promote activities relating to marine environment protection and climate change, maritime transport facilitation in support of global and regional trade flows and maritime safety.

The agreement was signed at a ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, during the IMO/ESCAP Thematic Solution Forum (TSF) at the Global South-South Development Expo 2022.

The GSSD Expo is an annual event organised by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation to showcase evidence-based successful development solutions and initiatives, in collaboration with United Nations agencies and all other partners.

Source: https://www.thedcn.com.au/news/environment/imo-partnership-promotes-sustainable-maritime-transport-in-pacific/

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


New Zealand’s maritime regulatory, compliance and response agency said it is seeking feedback from the sector and other interested parties on three key pieces of work.

Dialogue has been opened on Part 53, which relates to pilot transfers, and Part 23, which considers amendments to requirements for lifeboat drills, Maritime NZ said. Consultation is also set to begin on New Zealand’s work toward acceding to the Cape Town Agreement (CTA), an IMO convention dealing with design, construction and equipment standards for large fishing vessels.

Maritime NZ is reviewing Rule 53.4(2)(a), which requires pilots boarding or leaving a ship to not use a pilot-ladder if it’s deemed non-compliant. An exemption was issued by Maritime NZ from the rule following concerns from some ports and some maritime pilots. The options are to revoke the rule and not remake the exemption, or to remake the exemption as an amendment to the rule. Maritime NZ said it prefers the option to revoke the rule, with some other amendments added to improve safety and consistency, and it is keen to get industry feedback on this.

The organization said it is looking at changing Part 23 to make it more consistent with international rules. Current rules allow for crew to be aboard when lifeboats are launched during drills. That has caused injuries and even deaths, so Maritime NZ would like to change that so crew are not required.

New Zealand is working toward acceding to the CTA later this year. When it enters into force, the CTA will be an internationally binding instrument that will include compulsory requirements for stability and associated seaworthiness, machinery and electrical installations, life-saving appliances, communication equipment and fire safety, as well as fishing vessel construction.

New Zealand’s fishing safety standards and its commercial fleet are already largely aligned with the CTA requirements, but “acceding to the CTA will contribute to maritime safety in our region through the exercise of port state control”, said Andrew Bell, manager of Maritime NZ’s International team.

Source: https://www.marinelink.com/news/new-zealand-seeks-industry-input-possible-499342

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


Stakeholders have demanded an end to ocean shipping pollution, which has substantially affected port community members.

According to them, the shipping sector could account for 17 to 18 per cent of global emissions by 2050 if corrective policies are not put in place.

They noted that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the United Nations agency that regulates shipping have set a goal of reducing shipping emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050, however, the IMO’s mandate is not aligned with achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5-degrees C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The Program Director for shipping at the European Federation for Transport and Environment, Faig Abbasov, said countries and regulatory bodies like the United Nations International Maritime Organisation need to pass legislation forcing shipping companies to cut emissions and implement new technologies.

He said increased use of new technology in shipping could help bring down costs and encourage companies to make changes.

The United States Congressman, Alan Lowenthal, said everyone must work together towards zeroing out pollution from all ocean shipping companies that do business to ensure the safety of children, community and the environment that has been affected by the toxic emission.

The Deputy Executive Officer of Planning, Freight & Toxics Division at the California Air Resources Board, (CARB), Edie Chang, said measures are already ongoing to vigorously attack every source of harmful pollution from the transportation of freight that impacts the health of port-adjacent communities.

He said these measures include requiring ships to use clean-burning fuel and plugging those ships into the grid and turning off their engines while loading and unloading.

“ We recently updated our standards for harbor craft from ferries to tugboats so they use the very cleanest engines. We are proposing regulations to require that trucks transporting containers in and out of ports shift rapidly to zero emissions.

“We are continuing to push for tougher federal new engine standards for locomotives to complement our proposed regulations to address sources of pollution like interstate locomotives that California must have to clean the air, especially near port-adjacent communities that are already burdened by high levels of air pollution,” he said.

The Federal Climate Policy Director, Pacific Environment, Antonio Santos, said: “We are on the cusp of market changes for zero-emission shipping. But we face a climate crisis and its incumbent on federal, state, and local governments to put into place policies and investments to help accelerate the process.

Source: https://guardian.ng/business-services/maritime/stakeholders-seek-corrective-policies-to-end-shipping-pollution/

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


A joint database on the abandonment of seafarers maintained by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) has received reports of 74 cases of companies abandoning their seafarers on ships around the world..

“This was only during the first half of 2022, so, we can assume that this year we are heading towards surpassing 2021’s record of 95 cases,” as per Dr Heike Deggim, Director, Maritime Safety Division, IMO..

This is a 28% increase compared to 2021 when 95 cases were reported for the whole of 2021, so the situation could be much worse for seafarers in 2022..

An article from Seatrade Maritime News quoted Dr.Deggim as saying “The joint IMO/ILO tripartite working group has been re-established by ILO and IMO to identify and address seafarer issues, and the human element. It will meet over the next two years in several sessions, and they will address in particular guidelines on how to deal with seafarer abandonment cases.”

The working group will also address other issues related to seafarer welfare including the treatment of those suspected of maritime crimes, and bullying and harassment, including sexual assault.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) recently highlighted the growing number of cases of seafarers reporting the non-payment of wages for two months or longer, which meets the ILO’s definition of abandonment.

It said that seafarers did not always realise that not being paid for a couple of months could be a precursor to abandonment. In 2021 the ITF clawed back some $37m in wages that had been withheld from the crew by shipowners.

If these numbers are true, it is an absolutely despicable act by the guilty companies, including shipowners and ship managers and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.. Seafarers are the backbone of global trade and must be treated as such..!!

Source: https://maritime-professionals.com/shameful-record-for-seafarer-abandonment/

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022

 


North Korea participated in an International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting in July, according to a belated announcement by its maritime agency Thursday.

In a piece posted on its website, the North’s Maritime Administration (MA) said the country’s deputy permanent representative to the IMO and officials from its maritime agency participated in the meeting to discuss measures to harmonize port control and procedures globally with the member states.

The 8th session of the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments, held virtually from July 25-29, also addressed the “alleged inadequacy of port reception facilities” and other safety related issues, according to the MA.

The IMO is the leading global authority on safety, security and environmental issues in the international shipping industry.

North Korea joined the organization in 1986 and is obliged to give advance notification of information that might affect the safety of vessels prior to a missile test, though the reclusive country has not fared well in reporting to the U.N. maritime body. (Yonhap)
Source: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/09/103_335449.html

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022


Over the last two and half years of the pandemic cases of companies abandoning their seafarers on ships around the world have increased sharply with a record 95 cases reported last year to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) joint database on abandonment of seafarers.

Speaking at the International Safety@Sea Conference in Singapore Dr Heike Deggim, Director, Maritime Safety Division, IMO, said that so far this year 74 cases of seafarer abandonment had been reported to the IMO/ILO database.

“This was only during the first half of 2022, so, we can assume that this year we are heading towards surpassing 2021’s record of 95 cases,” she said.

Clearly this not a trend anyone wants to see continuing and it was something Dr Degim said needed to be worked on.

“The joint IMO/ILO tripartite working group has been re-established by ILO and IMO to identify and address seafarer issues, and the human element. It will meet over the next two years in several sessions, and they will address in particular guidelines on how to deal with seafarer abandonment cases,” she said.

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The working group will also address other issues related to seafarer welfare including the treatment of those suspected of maritime crimes, and bullying and harassment, including sexual assault.

The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) recently highlighted the growing number of cases seafarers reporting the non-payment of wages for two months or longer, which meets the ILO’s definition of abandonment. It said that seafarers did not always realise that not being paid for a couple of months could be a precursor to abandonment.

In 2021 the ITF clawed back some $37m in wages that had been withheld from crew by shipowners.

Source: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/shipping-headed-towards-record-number-seafarer-abandonments-2022

 

CREWEXPRESS STCW REST HOURS SOFTWARE - Paris and Tokyo MoU have announced that they will jointly launch a new Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) from 1st September 2022 to 30th November 2022


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