Tag: IMO

New IMO video for the Day of Seafarers on 25th June 25 June of each year is the "Day of the Seafarer", recognizing the invaluable contribution seafarers make to international trade and the world economy, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families.

43rd session, 30 April - 4 May 2012 Guidance and model courses for implementation of 2010 Manila amendments to STCW agreedGuidance and model courses relating to the implementation of the Manila Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, and the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code, (which were adopted in Manila, the Philippines, in June 2010 and entered into force on 1 January 2012) were agreed by the Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW), when it met for its 43rd session.Revised Guidelines for Medical Examination approvedThe Sub-Committee endorsed the revised Guidelines for Medical Examination of Seafarers, which were developed jointly by IMO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) to implement the international standards for medical fitness for seafarers set out in the STCW Convention, as amended, and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, in order to promote and support their effective, uniform, globalimplementation.The revised Guidelines for Medical Examination of Seafarers will be submitted for approval to the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and the ILO Governing Body andwill replace the Guidelines for Conducting Pre-sea and Periodic Medical Fitness Examinations for Seafarers, published by the ILO and the World Health Organization (WHO) ...

IMO receives formal proposal The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has received a formal proposal co-sponsored by a broad array of industry organizations, labor, and governments to require loaded containers to be weighed to determine their actual weight.The proposal was submitted by Denmark, The Netherlands, the United States, BIMCO, the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), and the World Shipping Council (WSC). The IMO's Subcommittee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers will consider the proposal at its next meeting in September."Misdeclared container weights are a recurring safety problem on shore, on ships, and on roadways. It is time to fix that problem. We are pleased that there is such a broad cross-section of industry and government agreement on a specific and effective remedy," said Torben Skaanild, Secretary General of BIMCO."The cosponsors of this proposal are recommending a legal requirement that port terminal operators and ships must have a verified container weight in order to export a loaded container. This will protect workers in the port, on the ship, and other cargo owners against the various risks created by misdeclared containers," said Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General of ICS."The ...

'Seamless Transport: Making Connections' Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization (IMO), interviewed at the International Transport Forum's 2012 Summit on "Seamless Transport: Making Connections"

Selected as World Maritime Day theme for 2013 The IMO Council has endorsed a proposal by IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu to adopt "Sustainable Development: IMO's contribution beyond Rio+20" as the World Maritime Day theme for 2013.The theme was chosen in order to focus IMO's efforts during 2013 on the commitments to be made at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, better known as Rio+20, to be held from 20 to 22 June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Addressing the IMO Council, meeting for its 108th session in London, Mr. Sekimizu said that IMO would renew its commitment to sustainable maritime development at Rio+20."Twenty years ago, the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio adopted the so-called 'Agenda 21', which included a set of recommendations related to shipping and the role of IMO. IMO's response to Agenda 21 has, over the years, been both multifaceted and robust," Mr. Sekimizu said."The two main themes of Rio+20 are the creation of a 'green economy' and a new institutional framework for sustainable development. Key elements of sustainable shipping include energy efficiency, new technology and innovation, maritime education and training, maritime security, maritime traffic management and the development of maritime infrastructure in both ...

Labor and terminal operator groups, along with U.S., Denmark and the Netherlands, back proposal Container line, labor and terminal operator groups, along with the Danish, Dutch and U.S. governments, want the International Maritime Organization to require laden containers to be weighed before they are loaded onto ships, rather than just taking exporters' word on the shipments' weight.The IMO's Subcommittee on Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers is expected at its next meeting in September to consider the proposal aimed at making transport safer on ships, docks and roadways. Aside from the U.S., Dutch and Danish governments, the proposal is co-sponsored by the Baltic and International Maritime Council, the International Association of Ports and Harbors, the International Chamber of Shipping, the International Transport Workers' Federation and the World Shipping Council."For years, the United States has required all its export containers to be weighed. This has not impaired supply chain efficiency, and it has improved safety. The technology exists to weigh containers accurately and efficiently, and it should be a universal, required practice," said Dr. Geraldine Knatz, president of IAPH and executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.Under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, shippers are required to declare the ...

Revised requirements to enter into force on July 1st, 2012 This newsletter outlines revised requirements as to pilot ladder arrangements which enter into force on 1 July 2012. A key issue is the interpretation of the installation date for such arrangements in order to identify whether the revised requirements apply. DNV's practice of applying the installation date for this equipment, based on the latest instructions given by IMO, is stated below.In December 2010, IMO MSC 88 adopted MSC.308(88), which contains amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 on pilot transfer arrangements in order to update and improve safety aspects relating to pilot transfers. Briefly, this means:In force from 1 July 2012.Applicable to newbuildings.Some requirements also apply to existing ships.Newbuildings The following bullet points summarise the implications of the revised requirements, which are to be found in A.1045(27) from November 2011 and MSC.308(88) from December 2010, versus the old SOLAS regulation V/23:Mechanical pilot hoists shall not be used.Slight changes to the construction of ladders (spacing of steps, retrieval line, marking).Requirements as to arrangements where an accommodation ladder is used in conjunction with pilot ladders (e.g. angle of slope, securing against the ship side, opening direction of trapdoors, height above sea level).Requirements to ensure ...

IMO Council: 108th session - 11 to 14 June 2012 The IMO Council has unanimously agreed to award the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2011 to Mr. E.E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General Emeritus of IMO, Secretary-General of the Organization from 2004 to 2011, for his significant contribution to the work of IMO during a long and distinguished career with the Organization.In nominating his candidature, the Government of Greece drew attention to Mr. Mitropoulos's many achievements, which have resulted in increased worldwide recognition of IMO's organizational effectiveness and efficiency as a UN body. The nomination highlighted his strong and insistent advocacy of a united Membership and the adoption of an effective global maritime safety and security culture, environmental consciousness and corporate responsibility, noting in particular the efforts made by the Organization under his leadership to assist in the prevention and suppression of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, including the adoption of guidance to shipowners, ship operators, shipmasters and crew, as well as recommendations to Governments.The nomination also stressed Mr. Mitropoulos's advocacy and foresight in working towards the protection of the environment, whether marine or atmospheric; enhancing maritime security; improving the efficiency of maritime traffic; ensuring the consideration of relevant legal ...

From 11 to 14 June, 2012 The IMO Council held its 108th Session from Monday 11 through Thursday 14 June, under the Chairmanship of Mr J. Lantz (UNITED STATES). The Group of Council Members, as instructed by the Council, met from 11 - 13 June 2012, under the chairmanship of Mr Brad Groves (AUSTRALIA), to review and advise the Council on new applications for consultative status submitted by 7 organisations. Simultaneously, the Working Group on the Periodic Review of Administrative Requirements in Mandatory IMO Instruments met under the Chairmanship of Mr Ranjeet Singh (SINGAPORE).Following is a very short summary of salient points that may be of interest to Intermanager members: STRATEGY, PLANNING AND REFORM. The Secretary-General informed Council that restructuring of the sub-committees had been included in the scope of his review and reform of the Organisation. The Council decided that, given the budgetary allocations for the current biennium, sub-committee meeting plans should be made on the basis of 8, rather than 10 plenary sessions requiring interpretation in a 5-day period, a considerable saving in expenditure. VOLUNTARY IMO MEMBER STATE AUDIT SCHEME. It was noted by the Council that a decision will need to be made at the Council's 109th ...

108h session - 11 to 14 June 2012 The 2012 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea will go to members of rescue crews from Canada and Chile for their actions in saving the lives of persons in distress at sea.The IMO Council has decided that the award will go to Sergeant Janick Gilbert (posthumously), Master Corporal Max Lahaye-Lemay and Master Corporal Marco Journeyman, crew members of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 424 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron, nominated by the Government of Canada; and to Mr. César Flores Flores, a rescue swimmer in the aerial detachment of the Chilean Navy, nominated by the Government of Chile.Sergeant Janick Gilbert (posthumously), Master Corporal Max Lahaye-Lemay and Master Corporal Marco Journeyman were nominated for saving the lives of two Inuit hunters, who were stranded in an open boat in icy waters near Igloolik, Nunavut, in freezing temperatures, strong winds and 20 to 30 foot (six to nine metre) swells, during an operation that lasted five hours, in October 2011.424 Squadron was initially deployed to investigate the situation. The two hunters were found in a liferaft which had filled with cold water. They had stopped communicating by radio. Despite the adverse and extremely dangerous ...