International Maritime Organization News
Watson Farley & Williams advised Crédit Mutuel Impact and Atlante Gestion on their equity investment in SO TOWT to finance the construction of six new sailing cargo ships for TOWT TransOceanic Wind Transport (“TOWT”), the pioneering French low-carbon shipping company. The six new vessels are being built in Brittany’s Piriou shipyards for delivery in 2027. Once operational they will join the first two vessels of TOWT’s fleet, which are expected to enter commerc...
Real-time, data-driven insights supporting regulatory compliance, improving fleet efficiency, reducing operational costs and meeting fleet decarbonisation goals are key benefits of ABS Wavesight My Digital Fleet (MDF) software that were unveiled during Posidonia. MDF introduces groundbreaking features aimed at empowering maritime operators to optimise performance, improve energy efficiency and streamline compliance with decarbonisation requirements from both the International Maritime Org...
It may be over a year and a half away, but exhibition space at Nor-Shipping 2025 is already in short supply. According to organisers, around 70% of the Lillestrøm exhibition has been booked, with ongoing enquiries for the remaining booths spread across Nor-Shipping’s five halls. It’s a testimony, says Nor-Shipping Director - Sidsel Norvik, to the major success of this year’s event in June. "Nor-Shipping 2023 was a clear demonstration of the relevance and impact of physi...
A research project that brings together The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES), Laskaridis Shipping Co. Ltd and Metis will evaluate the real impacts of the fuels offered to solve shipping’s decarbonisation dilemma. The International Maritime Organisation’s strategy for greenhouse gases aims at ships reaching net-zero GHG emissions by around 2050 and ensuring uptake of near-zero GHG fuels by 2030. However, reliable real-world data regarding the...
The Port of Las Palmas is a key strategic mid-Atlantic maritime and logistics hub serving the offshore energy sector as well as ships sailing to and from Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Lately, it has also been playing a vital role in refuelling vessels diverted around Africa from the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Maritime Week Las Palmas Maritime Week Las Palmas - the second edition of which takes place from 17-19 June at the famous Santa Catalina Hotel in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria - will...
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co, Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired Approval in Principle (AiP) from the Japanese classification society - ClassNK for an ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) for the ‘X-DF-A’, a large, low-speed 2-stroke ammonia-fuelled engine under development by WinGD, a Swiss designer and licensor of large marine engines. The AiP presentation ceremony took place at ‘Sea Japan 2024’ international maritime exhibition and confer...
IMO has agreed on an illustration of a possible draft outline of an “IMO net-zero framework” for cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from international shipping. This marks a step forward in the legal process towards adopting global regulations, referred to as “mid-term GHG reduction measures”, that will help achieve the targets contained in the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships. IMO net-zero framework After the eighty-first ses...
IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez and the Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport of the Republic of Fiji, Honourable Ro Filipe Tuisawau, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the IMO Headquarters in London on 18 March, confirming the arrangement. Supporting maritime needs The Regional Presence Office will support the maritime needs and priorities of countries in the Pacific Islands region, aligning IMO actions with national and regional devel...
On 16 May 2024, maritime industry professionals will gather once again at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London, for the Royal Institution of Naval Architects’ (RINA) highly anticipated Annual Dinner. The RINA Annual Dinner is a cornerstone event that garners widespread institution members and the wider maritime industry alike. In 2023, the occasion hosted more than 80 esteemed companies and 300 distinguished guests. RINA Annual Dinner 2024 Sponsored by Shipglide and Burner Fire Con...
IMO Secretary-General conveys condolences and renews the call for collective action to protect seafarers. Casualties reports IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez issued the following statement, “It is deeply saddening to follow the horrific reports of the casualties on the merchant vessel True Confidence, following an attack on the ship southwest of Aden, in Yemen." "I extend my deepest condolences and those of the entire IMO family to the families of those who have lost their...
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has finalised the basic design for an ammonia fuel supply system for the X-DF-A engine, an ammonia-fueled large, low-speed two-stroke marine engine currently under development by WinGD, a Swiss designer and licensor of large marine engines. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to conduct technical studies with WinGD aimed at commercialisation of the system. Undertaking technical studies Mitsubishi Shipbuil...
London International Shipping Week has set sail towards its 2025 event with a number of high-profile sponsors declaring their support. Gibraltar Maritime Services will sponsor the rooftop reception following the LISW25 Headline Conference at the London headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation. On Wednesday, Sept 17th, 2025. This popular event enables delegates to network on the IMO’s beautiful roof terrace while enjoying breathtaking views over London and the River Thames....
DNV has quantified the gains that owners of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers could expect to achieve using the new Dual Fuel, Electric+ (DFE+) solution developed by ABB and MAN Energy Solutions. Comprising MAN’s four-stroke 49/60DF dual fuel engine and ABB’s Dynamic AC power distribution and control system, the solution has been developed to overcome efficiency challenges that are specific to the vessel type. Machinery space requirements DNV’s Maritime Advisory as...
The year 2024 marks a milestone in the acceleration of digitalisation in shipping – the mandatory ‘Maritime Single Window’. The requirement under the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) requires Governments to use a single digital platform or ‘Maritime Single Window’ to share and exchange information with ships when they call at ports, since 1 January 2024. This will streamline procedures to clear the arrival, stay and departure of s...
At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles unveiled a Partnership Strategy for a green and digital shipping corridor across the Pacific Ocean. The scope of cooperation and success indicators specified in the strategy reaffirms the corridor partners’ commitment to drive global action to digitalise and decarbonise the shipping industry and improve efficiencies. Green and digital...
IMO and the Republic of Korea have signed a suite of agreements to formally establish and boost the IMO-Republic of Korea Sustainable Maritime Transport Cooperation (SMART-C) Programme. The goal of the KRW 25.5 billion (approx. US$20 million) SMART-C Programme is to promote sustainable maritime transport systems and a sustainable marine environment, by building knowledge and developing technical capacity in developing countries via long-term thematic projects. GHG project agreement This Offic...
Mr. Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco has been confirmed as the next Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO Assembly unanimously approved (30 November) the decision of the Council at its 129th session (C129) to appoint him to the role. Mr. Dominguez Velasco will take up the office of Secretary-General on 1 January 2024 for an initial term of four years, ending on 31 December 2027. He becomes the Organisation's 10th elected Secretary-General. Comprehensive b...
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Commission (EC) have announced a second phase of the Global Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres Network (GMN) project, to upscale the work of the five regional centres, with a particular emphasis on pilot demonstrations aimed at achieving quantifiable reductions in GHG emissions. IMO Secretary-General - Kitack Lim and representatives of the European Commission (EC) formalized the agreement at IMO Headquarters (on 29 November), d...
Global provider of marine solutions, P&O Maritime Logistics (a DP World Company), is unwavering in its commitment to shaping a low-carbon future. Driven by innovation, the Company’s journey towards carbon neutrality showcases the power of collaboration and shared responsibility in a robust decarbonisation pathway. Capturing the essence of this pivotal journey, Benjamin Neal’s, Head of HSSEQ, latest whitepaper titled ‘Developing P&O Maritime Logistics’ Decarbonisa...
Protecting seafarers and fishers’ rights and working conditions now – while preparing them for a digitalised and decarbonised future – were key themes explored during the first International Maritime Organization (IMO)/International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference on Work at Sea, which took place at IMO Headquarters in London on 13 November. “The professionals who work at sea, the seafarers, fishers and other maritime personnel, are the lifeblood of shipping and th...
The maritime industry continues to be shaped by extensive uncertainty, influenced by a changing regulatory framework and evolving boundary conditions of safety, fuel availability and scalability and ship-to-port infrastructure. That was the message for members at the annual ABS Advisory Council Meeting on November 14, which included presentations from the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). Range of emerging technolo...
Trade in Africa has become a popular talking point; with infrastructural, innovation, and technical challenges dogging the process, impacting economic growth, thwarting intra-country business, and slowing the development of regional economic corridors. It has become clear that a sustainable trade environment is needed to boost trade, which is currently low in comparison to international trade. African Continental Free Trade Area The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) came into force...
A seamless application of shipping’s first antifouling coating to successfully integrate highly durable graphene provides further evidence that Gibdock’s remains ahead of the curve as a ship repair and conversion yard geared up for a sustainable maritime future. The Gibraltar yard recently hosted the Vulica Shipping Company-owned bulk carrier - Donald M James for a 30-day project, which brought a first opportunity to work with a new type of coating from GIT Coatings (Graphite Innova...
Intellian Technologies, Inc., the global technology and solutions provider for satellite communications, and Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of a next-generation GMDSS safety terminal, designed for operation over Inmarsat’s ELERA L-band network. New safety terminals The new safety terminals will become the standard Inmarsat Maritime product for the next-generation Fleet Safety service and will fulfill the requireme...
Alfa Laval OceanGlide has been selected by Kumiai Navigation (PTE) LTD to be installed on one of its LPG tankers as a retrofit. The company’s decision to leverage fluidic air lubrication technology is rooted in its ambition to reduce the vessel's energy consumption, improve its overall performance and comply with environmental regulations. Alfa Laval OceanGlide fluidic air lubrication system Alfa Laval has been selected for installation of its OceanGlide fluidic air lubrication system o...
When Royal IHC, a pioneering Dutch supplier of vessels, equipment, and services for the maritime industry, sought to decarbonise its range of Beaver® cutter suction dredger (CSD) ships, it turned to WEG. Royal IHC’s step toward a more sustainable future was to develop an all-new fleet of electrically powered Beaver CSD vessels. But to power them, it needed a high-performance electric motor that suited the Beaver’s technical specifications. Royal IHC chose WEG’s WGM20...
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Norwegian’), a renowned global cruise company, which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, has announced its partnership with Global Maritime Forum, a global non-profit organisation committed to shaping the future of global seaborne trade to increase sustainable long-term economic development and human well-being. The new partnership closely aligns with the Company&rsqu...
Republic of Nicaragua’s accession marks major step for 2012 Cape Town Agreement entry into force and improved fishing vessel safety. A crucial milestone has been reached on the path towards global regulation of safety standards for large industrial fishing vessels across the world, and those working onboard. Nicaragua is the 22nd State to become a party to the Agreement, thus fulfilling one of the two required criteria for the entry into force of the 2012 Cape Town Agreement (CTA). Fish...
ABB will deliver a comprehensive power, propulsion, and automation system for two new-built short-sea container ships of the global logistics company Samskip Group headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The vessels will be among the world’s first to use hydrogen as a fuel. Financial details were not disclosed. The order was booked in the second quarter of 2023. 135-metre ships Built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd, the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in India, the 135-metre ships...
The Port of Long Beach welcomed the latest green container vessel to Pasha Hawaii’s fleet, the MV Janet Marie. The Janet Marie, the company’s second of two ‘Ohana Class’ container ships powered by liquefied natural gas, made its maiden voyage early Saturday from Long Beach to its home port in Honolulu. Its companion, Pasha Hawaii’s MV George III, was the first LNG container ship to refuel on the West Coast during its initial call to the Port of Long Beach in August...