IMO Institute receives million-pound boost towards maritime safety

The five-year grant aims to bolster the adoption and effective implementation of maritime legislation that addresses emerging safety challenges, particularly around digitalisation and decarbonisation. This investment will fund bespoke training for a global cohort of 16 maritime law experts, who will each play a critical role in building resilience and improving safety across the maritime industry, especially in the Global South.  

As the blue economy rapidly scales up to meet the needs of a growing population, the need for more robust, international regulatory frameworks will become even more acute – as will the need to develop capacity and capability to develop these frameworks.

… said Tim Slingsby, Director of Skills and Education at Lloyd’s Register Foundation

While the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) provides the framework through which countries around the world adopt conventions and keep the maritime industry safe and sustainable, it does lack the authority to enforce these conventions on the ground, relying on local courts and lawyers to implement their regulations and ensure compliance.

Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s grant to IMLI will aim to ensure maritime professionals have the skills required to prescribe these conventions into national law and uphold them effectively, building local legal expertise in emerging maritime economies – particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change and sea level rises. 

As the oceans and the maritime industry are continuously under threats, we need to invest in human capacity to see the difference that we want. This grant, the first ever in the history of our relations, will cement further the very fruitful collaboration between our institutions and will consolidate the reputation both entities enjoy in the maritime field.

… commented Norman Martinez, IMLI Director