International Maritime Organization (IMO) News

The push towards decarbonisation is slowing down rather than speeding up. With ambitious global goals looming ever larger on the horizon, what can they do to re-invigorate collective efforts? And profit from that push?   Ahead of next year’s Nor-Shipping, Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime DNV, says efficiency, timing and people are critical to “getting this show on the road.” Reduction by 2030 The scale is the IMO goals of a 20% emissions reduction by 2030, a 70%...

Technology group - Wärtsilä has introduced its innovative NextDF feature for the Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engine. While operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG), the NextDF feature reduces methane emissions to less than two percent of fuel use across all load points, achieving as low as 1.1 percent in a wide load range. What’s more, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are lower than on the standard Wärtsilä 25DF engine, which already has low emission levels bel...

The decision in Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland has set a precedent requiring state parties to the European Convention on Human Rights to assess the effectiveness of their legislative regimes to protect individuals who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. While this is a finding against states, they are likely to seek to comply with their own obligations under international law by introducing new domestic laws and regulations affecting busine...

NS United Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd. and Vale International SA have reached an agreement to install rotor sails (H:35 m x D:5 m x 5 unites) manufactured by Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd. on 400,000 dwt-type VLOC, NSU TUBARAO (the Ship), which has been engaged in a long-term transportation contract between NSU and Vale since its delivery in September 2020. The installation of the rotor sails on the ship is scheduled for around September 2025. Greenhouse gas emissions NSU has been actively working to...

Eleven European entities specialising in turbomachinery, new fuels and combustion, energy conversion systems, gas turbines, bearing systems, heat recovery, digital twins, shipbuilding, and project consulting have united in the European project MARPOWER (an acronym for Efficient zero-emissions gas turbine POWER system for MARitime transport). CO2 emissions Their goal is to replace fossil fuels in the maritime sector, reduce emissions, and marine pollution, and ultimately help combat the de...

DNV, the independent assurance and risk management provider, has acquired CyberOwl, a global expert in cyber risk monitoring and threat management onboard maritime vessels. The two companies have joined forces to strengthen the cyber defences of the shipping industry by forming one of the world’s largest specialists in maritime systems cyber security. Cyber security regulation A typical fleet of 30 cargo vessels now experiences an average of 80 cyber incidents a year The partnership co...

The WISTA International AGM and Conference, scheduled for October 9-11, will mark the organisation's 50th anniversary. The event will bring together over 300 global pioneers, innovators, and advocates to discuss the intersections of innovation, diversity, and sustainability driving the future of global maritime and trade industries.  Series of panel discussions The conference will host a series of panel discussions that delve into topics such as financing the future of the maritime secto...

At GASTECH 2024 in Houston, KR (Korean Register) announced on September 17 that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) to develop an enhanced ammonia fuel supply system. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established a target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In line with this regulatory goal, there is a global acceleration in the development of alternative fuel technologies. Ammonia fuel supply system HD...

At the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, DNV awarded Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company (HPWS) three approval in principle (AiP) certificates for their innovative designs of three new ship types.  Three new designs  An ammonia-fueled 43,000 cbm midsize gas carrier (MGC)  An ammonia-fueled SWAN 3,500 TEU container ship, and  A LNG dual-fueled SWAN 1,300 TEU container ship with ice class. New-generation MGC features New-generation MGC features a wider beam compared to typ...

Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM) has unveiled Iridium Certus GMDSS, a generational advancement in maritime safety, compliance, and communication. Building on the powerful capabilities of Iridium Certus technology, Iridium Certus GMDSS features distress alert, safety voice and Maritime Safety Information (MSI), while integrating additional regulated services, like Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS). Iridium Certus GMDSS The combination of capa...

The second Women in Maritime Survey has been launched to gather important baseline data about women’s participation in the maritime and ocean fields. IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez issued a worldwide call to governments, companies, organisations and academic institutions to take part, stating: "Join me in championing diversity and fostering a barrier-free workplace for all by completing the survey, which will allow for a more targeted use of resources and ensure that w...

Reaching shipping’s 2030 decarbonisation goal of 20% emission reductions, set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will not happen without significant energy savings, according to DNV's latest Maritime Forecast to 2050. The report stresses that, until carbon-neutral fuels become viable, prioritising the development and use of technologies that reduce energy consumption is crucial for lowering shipping’s emissions. 2030 decarbonisation goals IMO’s 2030 decarbonis...

Technology group - Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Norwegian shipowner - Eidesvik to supply the equipment for the conversion of an offshore platform supply vessel (PSV) to operate with ammonia fuel. The vessel, ‘Viking Energy’, which is on contract to energy major - Equinor, is scheduled for conversion in early 2026 and is expected to start operating on ammonia in the first half of 2026, becoming the world’s first ammonia-fuelled in-service ship.  In additio...

Following positive response and encouraging conversations with IMO member nations and other stakeholders, the World Shipping Council (WSC) has further developed the Green Balance Mechanism, a regulatory measure designed to ensure that shipping meets its net-zero goal by 2050 in an efficient, just and equitable way. A detailed proposal, including design updates and regulatory text for the Green Balance Mechanism, has been submitted to support the timely development of effective climate regulatio...

The last of the 18 ‘Training of Trainers’ workshops given by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since 2008, the year of the creation of the Spanish-speaking Network for the port training programme, closed on July 12, 2024, at Valenciaport. In these 16 years, more than 260 instructors have participated, 72 of them women, to be trained in the key management skills of port management. ‘Train For Trade’ programme Twenty-one students of seven...

Captain Ian Finley, Permanent Representative of the Cook Islands to IMO, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2023. The decision was made by the IMO Council at its 132nd session (8 to 12 July 2024). Captain Finley was nominated for the award by the Government of the Cook Islands. As a delegate to IMO, representing Panama and latterly the Cook Islands, he has been an active participant in the development of virtually all safety, environmental and...

KR has announced the successful installation of an onboard carbon capture system (OCCS) with purely domestic technology, and it will soon undergo internal verification testing. Risk assessment and application The project began in April 2023 as a collaborative effort with HMM, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and PANASIA. As a result of this collaboration, the system was installed on the 2,200 teu container ship, HMM Mongla. KR conducted the risk assessment and application of relevant regulatio...

It is the launch of the International Maritime Cyber Security Organisation (IMCSO), an organisation that aims to raise the standard of cybersecurity risk assessment across the maritime industry. IMCSO The IMCSO has devised a certification programme for security consultants and a professional register, helping shipping organisations to confidently select experienced personnel. Alongside this, the IMCSO will also validate report outputs to ensure consistency with those reports then held on a ce...

Stolt Tankers is expanding implementation of Shipshave’s In-Transit Cleaning of Hulls (ITCH) solution across its fleet after seeing significant fuel savings of over 10% from initial trials of the innovative technology to boost energy efficiency, reduce its carbon footprint and cut emission costs. Fleet sustainability As the world’s largest operator of chemical tankers, Stolt Tankers is adopting a range of technologies to enhance the sustainability of its fleet towards the goal of r...

Onboard carbon capture (OCC) is attracting interest within the shipping industry, providing shipowners with the opportunity to continue operating on conventional fuels, while reducing emissions. However, according to DNV’s latest whitepaper - 'The potential of onboard carbon capture in shipping', its success depends on collaboration between regulators, policymakers, industry stakeholders, class, and suppliers.   Cost-efficient solutions With decarbonisation targets rapidly approach...

The World Shipping Council (WSC) applauds the recent adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) by the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108). Starting January 1, 2026, these amendments will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea, setting a new standard for maritime safety and environmental protection.  Navigational safety “The new regulations, sp...

Despite an Indiana University study showing a luxury superyacht produces around 7,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, the vessels are exempt from many maritime emissions regulations. While efforts to reduce their environmental impact have progressed in recent years, the industry is still far from sustainable. Mike Torbitt, Managing Director of marine resistor manufacturer - Cressall, explores the progress the yachting industry has made, and what more can be done to improve its environmental...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, has donated a bridge simulator, a system of hardware and screens that allows students to familiarise themselves with realistic weather, traffic, and ocean conditions, to Warsash Maritime School, part of Solent University in Southampton, United Kingdom. Bridge simulator The simulator, which was previously located at Inmarsat’s former headquarters on City Road, London, will allow students to rehearse their responses to distress situations in a realisti...

The maritime industry, represented by the organisations behind this letter, is grateful for the recognition that the UN Security Council and they personally have placed on the shipping industry and the importance of free movement as set out in international law. They also thank and applaud IMO Secretary-General - Arsenio Dominguez for all the hard work raising the profile of shipping and seafarers. However, the incident this weekend, when the vessel MSC Aries was seized by Iranian forces a...

ClassNK has commenced joint research with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to establish an evaluation method for the compatibility of ship materials with liquefied oxygen (LOX). The aim is to contribute to suppressing fire accidents on ships handling liquefied hydrogen, where LOX could be generated, and to reasonable material selection. Liquefied hydrogen carriers To construct a supply chain for hydrogen, which is expected to be a clean energy source in a decarbonised society, th...

ClassNK has awarded an approval in principle (AiP) for a methanol fuel supply system developed by Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Methanol is considered one of the promising alternative fuels for decarbonisation, and a significant reduction in GHG emissions on a lifecycle basis is expected by using green methanol, such as sustainable biomass-derived bio methanol and e-methanol synthesised from CO2 and renewable energy-derived hydrogen. Safe use of methanol On the other hand, methanol po...

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received an order from Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) for an ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) and ammonia gas abatement system (AGAS). The AFSS will supply ammonia fuel to ammonia-powered marine engines developed by J-ENG, and the AGAS will safely treat any surplus ammonia. AFSS and AGAS are remotely controlled Newly ordered AFSS and AGAS are remotely controlled automatically by an integrated control...

International® Marine Coatings has published a new whitepaper that reveals the high degree of accuracy of its predictive Intertrac® Vision tool to real-life vessel operations by correlating to the speed loss of a globally trading VLCC vessel over a five-year docking period, in line with the principles of the ISO 19030 standard. International® used the forecasting tool to project a 1.4 percent speed loss over a 60-month in-service period which proved to be in line with actual ve...

​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...

HD Hyundai Marine Solution has signed an agreement with Greek operator - Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprises SA to provide Engine Part Load Optimisation (EPLO) services for four car carriers. HD Hyundai Marine Solution partnered with Accelleron to launch the EPLO service, receiving the first order for one ship in October 2023. Fuel efficiency and performance Most marine engines are built to provide optimal fuel efficiency and performance for the speed and environment for which the...