IMO Archives - Page 4 of 25

(LONDON) — The maritime world is changing, fast. Ships are now operating greener, with greater digitization, and with more diverse crews. As the lifeblood of the shipping industry, seafarers are at the heart of this evolution, implementing new regulations, learning new skills and adopting safer, more efficient working practices. As the world’s merchant fleet traverses the oceans, the crews on these ships continue their career journey.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is focusing on seafarers’ experiences, voyages and journeys as the theme of the 2022 Day of the Seafarer, recognized on June 25, drawing attention to how the onboard working environment continues to change. This focus aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

This year’s Day of the Seafarer theme — “Your Voyage, Then and Now, Share Your Journey” — invites seafarers across the world to share images and information about what truly resonates with them — whether a positive experience or challenging circumstances.

“Every seafarer’s journey is unique. Yet many of the challenges and opportunities are shared,” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. “On this Day of the Seafarer, we can look to the future. Seafarer’s voyages are changing — in the form of new technologies and equipment, increasing use of alternative fuels and further responsibilities for a greener and more sustainable future for the industry and for the marine environment.”

As a former seafarer himself, the secretary-general is aware that maritime journeys can extend beyond being at sea to a career on land, and he encourages all seafarers — past and present — to be a part of the event. “I invite you to share photos from your first voyage and your most recent voyage on social media. We want to see how far you have come in your journey and celebrate your progress,” he said.

Ongoing challenges

Lim added, “On the International Day of the Seafarer … it is important that we all remember the challenges that seafarers have faced over the past two years and are still facing, including difficulties to effect crew changes, lack of designation as key workers and inability to access medical care and vaccines.

“I also remain concerned about the seizure of vessels engaged in legitimate trade outside established legal processes. I urge all member states to use relevant diplomatic channels to resolve their differences so that international shipping and especially seafarers are not unduly impacted. As I have said in the past, seafarers and shipping should not become collateral victims of larger political issues. The welfare of seafarers and the need for international shipping to move freely and unhindered is critical to the continuous operation of global supply chains, for the benefit of all peoples of the world.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Seafarers worldwide have faced immense challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic — including contracts extended long beyond their expiry dates and maximum periods of service, and challenges related to vaccinations, medical care and shore leave. This year’s theme — ‘Your Voyage, Then and Now’ — is an opportunity to recognize the vital role seafarers play, and look to the future.

“Above all, this means listening to seafarers themselves. They know better than anyone their needs and what this industry needs to do to address key challenges. This includes the expansion of social protection, better working conditions, addressing the crew-change crisis, adopting new digital tools to enhance safety and efficiency, and making this industry greener and more sustainable,” he continued. Read the full speech here.

Join the campaign

As in previous years, the 2022 Day of the Seafarer event will predominantly be held on social media to draw attention to the contribution that seafarers make to shipping and world trade.

Participants in the campaign can use the hashtag for 2022 “#SeafarerJourney” or the regular hashtag “#DayOfTheSeafarer” and join in the conversation.

Seafarers are invited to post two photos using the hashtags: one of their first voyage and another of their most recent voyage. We would also like to know what has changed during your maritime voyage. Is shipping greener? Is the technology better? Are you more skilled? What have you learned?

Supportive organizations, shipping companies and port organizations are also invited to show their appreciation for seafarers by resharing their posts or using the hashtags and discussing the importance of seafarer journeys.

Members of the public are encouraged to post about the many ways in which seafarer journeys benefit their lives (e.g. bringing them food, electronics, medicines, etc.) using the same hashtags.

Photos and posts can be shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram – and tagging the IMO will allow it to view and reshare some of the posts.

– International Maritime Organization

The maritime industry is not currently on track to meet the IMO ambition for a 50 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, even under favorable assumptions, according to a new study released by think tank Nordic West Office. The study suggests that this target could eventually be achieved on the industry’s current trajectory, but it is likely to take several more decades than desired.

The 80-page study drew on input from well-placed participants, including Hapag-Lloyd, Carnival and the World Ocean Council. Using three global decarbonization scenarios developed by Shell as a starting point, the authors examined in precise detail how the industry – in all its moving parts – might be expected to transition to green fuels over time. The answer suggests that substantially more action and more cooperation will be required under all three scenarios, including the most optimistic option.

“The main conclusion of our project was rather sad and it was that even in the best possible scenario, we will not reach the ambitions of the IMO . . . to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050,” said Dr. Risto Penttilä, head of Nordic West Office, at a panel discussion at the UN Ocean Conference. “There’s hope we can still meet . . . both Paris [Agreement] and IMO 2018, but it needs a lot of work.”

To change this trajectory and accelerate the process, the study’s primary suggestion is to tackle decarbonization comprehensively and collaboratively – drawing in regulators, shippers, shipowners, investors, fuel suppliers, ports and other stakeholders to prevent “gaps” in the industry-wide effort. Providing all actors with a clear “zero by 2050” goal at IMO – along with predictable market-based mechanisms for carbon pricing – could help kick-start that effort.

The biggest bottleneck identified in the study is the need to build a supply chain for green fuels, which will require massive investment. However, the study identified dozens of further “enablers” that will need to be developed, depending on the specific vessel and application – like JIT arrival, improved routing, wind-assisted propulsion and much more.

The industry’s progress will be influenced by the pace of global decarbonization overall, which will be driven in part by geopolitics. The most optimistic scenario in the study relies on an environment of international cooperation, openness and collaboration on climate solutions; the least optimistic of the three envisions a fragmented international landscape with reduced trade and cooperation, which “will not bring about a lot of clean developments by the end of the decade,” the authors predicted.

“The current geopolitical trend that puts focus on food and security concerns does not favor decarbonization and will not bring shipping anywhere close to its ambitions. Getting closer to the ambitions requires even stronger decarbonization efforts than those currently envisaged,” the authors cautioned.

Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/study-shipping-is-set-to-miss-the-imo-2050-target

Seafarers are sharing their maritime voyages across social media to mark the Day of the Seafarer 2022.

The maritime world is changing, fast. Ships are now operating greener, with greater digitization, and with more diverse crews. As the lifeblood of the shipping industry, seafarers are at the heart of this evolution, implementing new regulations, learning new skills and adopting safer, more efficient working practices. As the world’s merchant fleet traverses the oceans, the crews onboard these ships continue their career journey.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is focusing on seafarer’s experiences, voyages and journeys as the theme of the 2022 Day of the Seafarer, drawing attention to how the onboard working environment continues to change. This focus aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

This year’s Day of the Seafarer theme – “Your voyage – then and now, share your journey” – invites seafarers across the globe to share images and information about what truly resonates with them – whether a positive experience or challenging circumstances.

IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said: “Every seafarer’s journey is unique. Yet many of the challenges and opportunities are shared.  On this Day of the Seafarer, we can look to the future. Seafarer’s voyages are changing – in the form of new technologies and equipment, increasing use of alternative fuels and further responsibilities for a greener and more sustainable future for the industry and for the marine environment.”

As a former seafarer himself, the Secretary-General is aware that maritime journeys can extend beyond being at sea to a career on land, and he encourages all seafarers – past and present – to be a part of the event. “I invite you to share photos from your first voyage and your most recent voyage on social media. We want to see how far you have come in your journey and celebrate your progress.”

Ongoing challenges

IMO Secretary-General Lim added, “On the International Day of the Seafarer on June 25th, it is important that we all remember the challenges that seafarers have faced over the past two years and are still facing, including difficulties to effect crew changes, lack of designation as key workers and inability to access medical care and vaccines.

“I also remain concerned about the seizure of vessels engaged in legitimate trade outside established legal processes. I urge all Member States to use relevant diplomatic channels to resolve their differences so that international shipping and especially seafarers are not unduly impacted. As I have said in the past, seafarers and shipping should not become collateral victims of larger political issues. The welfare of seafarers and the need for international shipping to move freely and unhindered is critical to the continuous operation of global supply chains, for the benefit of all peoples of the world.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Seafarers worldwide have faced immense challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic — including contracts extended long beyond their expiry dates and maximum periods of service, and challenges related to vaccinations, medical care and shore leave. This year’s theme — “Your Voyage, Then and Now” — is an opportunity to recognize the vital role seafarers play, and look to the future.

Join the campaign:  

As in previous years, the 2022 Day of the Seafarer event will predominantly be held on social media to draw attention to the contribution that seafarers make to shipping and world trade.

Participants in the campaign can use the hashtag for 2022 ‘#SeafarerJourney’ or the regular hashtag ‘#DayOfTheSeafarer’ and join in the conversation.

Members of the public are encouraged to post about the many ways in which seafarer journeys benefit their lives (e.g. bringing them food, electronics, medicines, etc.) using the same hashtags.
Source: IMO

This weekend, the maritime industry celebrates the Day of the Seafarer, a day for remembering and honoring the role that seafarers play in the global economy – and the challenges they face.

“The world counts on seafarers,” said Secretary-General António Guterres. “Ships transport a remarkable 90 per cent of the world’s commodities – from grains and energy, to consumer goods and much more. Without ships and the women and men who work on them, economies would stall and people would starve.”

This year, the IMO is calling seafarers to share the story of their own personal voyages in a social media campaign. The agency has asked seafarers to post two photos on Twitter using hashtag #SeafarersJourney: one photo of their first voyage and another of their most recent voyage. IMO is also asking for stories about what has changed over the span of seafarers’ careers.

“Every day, hundreds of thousands of seafarers are underway on ships, while others take their well-deserved break – getting ready for their next voyage. Their ships are key movers of global trade, and engines of the global economy, transporting cargoes such as food, medicines, electronics and more,” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim in an address. “Shipping and the call of the oceans, form a way of life. It is a meaningful, important career that provides a solid foundation for life and offers endless opportunities to learn and progress. This noble profession is something that I hold close to my heart and for many of us, our voyages are the start of a lifelong maritime journey.”

The day is also an opportunity for the industry to reflect on the future of seafaring, including working conditions, recruitment questions and public perceptions of a seafaring career. The COVID-19 pandemic, the crew change crisis and the curtailment of shore leave have had a measurable impact on seafarer happiness, with potential effects on the industry’s retention rate and reputation as an employer.

“What happened during the COVID crisis, with crews stuck for months on board vessels, has done lasting damage to how shipping is perceived,” said Capt. Rahul Khanna, Global Head of Marine Risk Consulting at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty. “Some initiatives are pushing for change, but the fact that the seafaring community often feels like secondhand workers compared to those on shore must be addressed by the ship-owning community and stakeholders . . . We need to emphasize the positives of seafaring to the young men and women who are willing to explore it.”

With the number of joint initiatives and projects being planned and executed between IAPH and IMO on energy transition, trade facilitation and port call optimisation, IAPH communications director Victor Shieh finally visited IMO’s headquarters in London this week to meet up in person for the first time with social media and communications officer Karine Langlois. Both have been working together during the pandemic on various projects. Subjects discussed included communications around IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) activities as well as Facilitation (FAL) with a particular focus on adoption of Maritime Single Window systems. Just in Time Arrivals and work around biofouling also featured as well as the participation of IAPH as official partner of the GreenVoyage2050 partnership project between the Government of Norway and IMO.

Vehicles carrier Lider Bulut (IMO 9198719) (Equasis and Marine Traffic name, Roro Feeder 1, AIS name report, Lider Bulut) developed a heavy starboard list and requested assistance when it was near Tuapse Port, Black Sea, Russia, during the evening of June 18. It was understood to have anchored on arrival from Samsun Turkey earlier in the day but to have developed a list – reportedly because of faulty ballasting – a few hours later. It heaved anchor and moved inshore. As of early June 19th the ship’s AIS was still on. The vessel was later confirmed by Russian Maritime Agency RosMoRechFlot to have been intentionally grounded, with water ingress. An SAR was underway and the ship was fenced off by several boom layers. There were 28 crew on board.

2000-built, Cyprus-flagged, 15,224 gt RoRo Feeder 1 is owned by Ugland Castor Car Carrier I AS care of Matrix ShipManagement Ltd of Limassol, Cyprus.

Two people on chemical/oil products tanker Nord Magic (IMO 9392793) which was anchored at Chittagong Anchorage, termed by the operator as “riding personnel”, died during the night of June 17th while checking empty cargo tank, according to local sources. They were taken to hospital but declared dead on arrival. The tanker arrived at Chittagong on June 15th after offloading cargo of soybean oil. There were 25 crew on board, mainly Indian nationals.

Norden said that “the two people who have very sadly passed away are not NSSM crew, they are riding personnel. The cause of the sad incident is still unknown.”

2009-built, Denmark-flagged, 29,266 gt Nord Magic is owned by Norden Asset Management AS of Hellerup, Denmark. It is managed by Norient Product Pool APS of Hellerup, Denmark. ISM manager is Norden Synergy Ship Management AS of Hellerup, Denmark. It is entered with North of England Club on behalf of Norden Asset Management AS. As of June 20th it was at anchor off Chittagong.

Fishing vessel Aleksandr Shalin (IMO 8832978) was in collision with fishing vessel Zaliv Petra (IMO 9130822) on June 16th in the Sea of Okhotsk, about 100nm southeast of Magadan. The Zaliv Petra was damaged at the hull on the starboard side aft. The vessel remained seaworthy and headed to the port of Busan for repairs. The Aleksandr Shalin suffered minor damage to the bow.

1990-built, Russia-flagged, 862 gt Aleksandr Shalin is owned and managed by Mag-Sea International of Magadan, Russia. As of June 19th the vessel was underway off Vladivostok, Russia.

1995-built, Russia-flagged, 748 gt Zaliv Petra is owned and managed by Sevrybflot LLC of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia. As of June 18th it was underway off Busan, South Korea.

Passenger ship Aegean Odyssey (IMO 7225910) was asked to leave the port of Nice a few hours after its arrival on June 16th following complaints from residents about the fumes it was emitting. Following a decision taken by the harbour master’s office, the vessel, carrying 300 passengers, sailed within the hour, just before midnight. The decision by the harbour master’s office and with the backing of the municipal authorities was taken under port police law. Local residents had begun complaining around 19:00 local time following the release of smoke and the noise made by its engines. The maritime agent Medov France, based in Marseilles, in charge of the stopovers of the ship on behalf of a charter company, asked for explanations from the port authorities on this decision, indicating in particular that it harmed the “reputation” of the company. The ship arrived on June 17th in the port of Toulon.

1973-built, Panama-flagged, 12,094 gt Aegean Odyssey is owned by Aegean Odyssey Maritime Pan of Piraeus, Greece. It is managed by Aegean Experience Maritime Lib of Piraeus, Greece. It is entered with American Club on behalf of Aegean OdysseyMaritime Co SA. As of June 20th it was at Marseille Port.

The Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards has released Marine Safety Alert 05-22, to inform the Coast Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) and the maritime industry that double block and bleed systems design, installed and operated in accordance with 74 SOLAS (14) II-2/5.5 are authorized under 46 CFR § 32.53-10(b) without the need for approval from the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center (MSC).

A “non-return device” functions in the Inert Gas System (IGS) to prevent hazardous or flammable cargo vapors from flowing from cargo areas back towards machinery spaces and possible ignition sources. The double block and bleed valve arrangement isolates or blocks the return of gas from the cargo area to the engine room and permits the bleeding of any residual gas in the IGS.

Title 46 CFR Subchapter D, Subpart 32.53 contains the applicability and technical requirements for IGS on tankship vessels. Currently, 46 CFR § 32.53-10(b) requires each IGS be “designed, constructed, and installed in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS II-2, Regulation 62 . . . .” However, Regulation 62, has been superseded by SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 5.5.¹ This revised regulation requires compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Fire Safety Systems Code (FSS Code), Chapter 15, which includes the ability of applicable vessels to use a double block and bleed system in addition to a deck water seal. ²

As such, a non-return device arranged as a double block and bleed in accordance with the FSS Code may be accepted without MSC approval. However, MSC approval or certification by a Recognized Organization (RO) under 46 CFR Part 8 must still be obtained for dry seal types. Coast Guard Port State Control Officers who examine a vessel without an MSC or RO approval for a dry deck seal type should issue a deficiency to be rectified prior to next U.S. port after sailing foreign (Code 40).

This notice should be utilized until changes are incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Questions concerning this notice or vessel inert gas systems may be forwarded to Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards, at: typeapproval@uscg.mil.

¹ Under SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulation 5.5, the Administration has the ability, after giving consideration to the ship’s arrangement
and equipment, to accept other fixed installations.
²Chapter 15 is amended by IMO Circular MSC.367(93). Paragraph 2.2.3.1.2 of IMO MSC.367(93) states, “The first non-return
device shall be a deck seal of the wet, semi-wet, or dry type or a double block and bleed arrangement.”

IMO is assisting Namibia’s maritime administration to put in place a legal framework that gives full and complete effect to IMO instruments dealing with maritime security. A five-day workshop (20-24 June) hosted by the Namibian Directorate of Maritime Affairs (DMA), in Walvis Bay, Namibia, is bringing together 26 participants from key national agencies*.

The event, which included a site visit to the Port of Walvis Bay, marks IMO’s first visit to Namibia under the EU Port Security Project. It is anticipated that future workshops will involve further collaboration between implementing partners IMO, UNODC and INTERPOL, with coordination from the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and funded by the European Union.

* the Office of the Attorney General; Office of the Prosecutor General; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Home Affairs; Namibian Ports Authority (NAMPORT); Ministry of Environment; Forestry and Tourism; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources; Ministry of Mines and Energy.

Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) lodged a complaint to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) over the seizure of its tanker in Greek waters

hief Executive of Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) announced the strong protest of the country to the International Maritime Organization following the seizure of Iranian oil tanker by the Greek government.

While protesting against the illegal seizure of Iranian oil tanker by Greece which was done with the support of US government, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Ali Akbar Safaei said that the Greek government’s illegal action against Iranian ship is contrary to the goals and positions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as an international maritime authority.

Speaking with the Secretary-General of the IMO Kitack Lim, Safaei emphasized that this is not the first time that Iranian merchant ships and oil tankers have been directly or indirectly seized by the United States.

In recent years, a number of Iranian tankers have been seized by the United States and subsequently, Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization, on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, lodged its complaint to the Legal Division of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), he continued.

Stating that the US actions are against the security in the seas as well as safe passage, the deputy roads minister stipulated, “Our ships and sailors have been under constant threat following harsh US sanctions. Therefore, we hope that IMO will pay special attention to this issue.”

As Iranian ship had requested emergency assistance from the Greek authorities, they, with the support of the United States, have seized the Iranian merchant and cargo ship and unloaded its cargo, he said, adding that such move is considered ‘an act of piracy’.

IMO Secretary-General, for his part, said that members of the International Maritime Organization are aware of Iran’s concern and protest against the recent events and “We are opposed to any discrimination or attack on maritime safety and security.”

Kitack Lim stated that he will bring up the issue in the upcoming meeting of IMO Assembly to find a solution.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Kitack Lim has urged further financial support for a UN-coordinated operational plan to address the threat of a major oil spill from the FSO Safer, moored off Yemen, after a pledging event in The Hague saw donors pledging $33 million in new funding.

“In the face of an impending environmental disaster, we must do all we can to prevent it. We must act now,” Secretary-General Lim said. “The time is now. The risks are high. We must act to avert disaster.”

IMO has been supporting contingency planning efforts in the region to prepare for a possible spill from FSO SAFER and to limit the impacts should one occur. An oil spill from FSO Safer would be a humanitarian and environmental disaster, with huge economic impacts for the shipping and maritime industry throughout the region.

The plan to mitigate the risk by transferring the oil to a safe temporary vessel needs financial resources, Lim said.

There is now $40 million available for the operation, which includes previously committed funds. The decaying floating storage and offloading unit is moored off the coast of Yemen and holds around a million barrels of oil. It could break apart or explode at any time.

The pledging event, hosted by the Government of the Netherlands and the United Nations, marked the start in the effort to raise the $144 million that the full plan requires, including $80 million for the emergency operation to transfer the oil to a safe temporary vessel. Also critical to the plan’s success is the installation of a long-term replacement capacity.

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IMO Archives - Page 4 of 25 - SHIP IP LTD

Then and now: IMO asks mariners to share journeys

Study: Shipping is Set to Miss the IMO 2050 Target

Seafarer journeys in spotlight for Day of the Seafarer 2022

IMO Asks Mariners to Share Personal Journeys on Day of the Seafarer

IAPH and IMO partner up further on communications

Marine accident round-up : 21st June 2022

MSIB: Acceptance of IMO code for fire safety systems for tank vessel inert gas systems – double block and bleed non-return device

Maritime security support for Namibia

ran lodges complaint to IMO on ship seizure by Greek govt.

IMO Secretary-General Urges Support for FSO Safer Plan

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