Several amendments of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) agreed in 2016, 2017 and 2018 are entering into force in less than three months, marking reforms to SOLAS and to international codes made mandatory under the SOLAS Convention.
India announced that it will ban the use of single use plastics on board Indian ships and foreign ships, when these ships are at a port or place in India. The ban will take effect from 1 January 2020.
As part of recently-announced labour reforms, Qatar is planning an end to the kafala system, marking a momentous step forward in upholding the rights of migrant workers. The reforms will mean removal of exit permits and non-discriminatory minimum wage for migrant workers by January 2020.
In line with IMO’s Initial Strategy for decarbonization of shipping, Greece has come forward with a concrete proposal for a short-term, prescriptive measure to improve the operational energy efficiency of existing ships, to be considered at the forthcoming meeting of the IMO’s intersessional technical group in November.
Enabling legislation in South Africa for the implementation of the IMO 2020, should be ready by year end, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has confirmed. Namely, Mr. Mbalula finally settled down the fears, stating categorically that the necessary legislation will be in place by the end of 2019.
UNCTAD issued its Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2019 highlighting that these tariffs affect the 58% of trade in Asia-Pacific trade, adding that the non-tariff measures (NTMs) have significantly increased in the past two decades.
The maritime authorities of the Government of Mexico have agreed to place a high priority on ratifying three important IMO legal conventions, following a workshop in Mexico City. These are the 2003 Fund Protocol, the 2001 Bunkers Convention and the 2007 Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention.
Mr. George A. Gaitas, Attorney and Partner, Gaitas & Chalos, P.C, shares his predictions regarding what owners should expect in the US in the enforcement of MARPOL Annex VI regulations after Jan 1st of 2020 and, specifically, whether the US will widely implement criminal sanctions as it has done with enforcement of Annex I.
Managing cost, digitalization and environmental regulations are some of the key challenges shipping will have to encounter in the next 5-10 years, industry experts said on the sidelines of the latest SAFETY4SEA Athens Forum, which took place in Eugenides Foundation on 2 October.
Transboundary export of carbon dioxide (CO2) for carbon capture and storage can now be provisionally allowed under certain circumstances, as Parties to the London Protocol have agreed. The London Protocol provides the basis in international environmental law for Governments to allow carbon capture and storage (CCS) under the seabed. This is considered as one tool in climate change mitigation, which can also protect the marine environment.
