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TRACECA REGIONAL SEMINAR ON
MARPOL
AWARENESS AND IMPLEMENTATION
Moldova – 21 to 23 July 2015
Overview of the work of IMO
Dr Ken McDonald
International Maritime Organization
• Specialized UN agency with a global mandate
for addressing maritime issues
• Mandate
Safe, secure and efficient shipping on cleaner oceans
IMO Convention
• Adopted Geneva 1948
• Entered into force 1958
• First IMO meeting 1959
IMO – specialised UN agency
• London headquarters
• Annual budget £25+ million
• Secretariat – 300 staff
• 50 Nationalities
Global coverage
•171 Member States
•All major ship owning nations
•All major coastal states
• IGOs and NGOs
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IMO and Passenger Ship Safety
Shipping related pollution prevention and response
IMO and the Marine Environment
Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter
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Many of the international treaty instruments adopted by IMO so far are directly environmentally related (>40%)
In the marine environment, IMO deals mainly with issues regarding:
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IMO and Passenger Ship SafetyIMO and the Marine Environment
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Shipping related pollution prevention and response
IMO’s mandate covers a wide range of issues to
prevent and control pollution caused by ships and to
mitigate the effects of any damage that may occur as
a result of maritime operations and accidents
Pollution Prevention – Oil and
Chemicals
• Operational and construction
regulations introduced by
MARPOL, together with other
related instruments, have been
successful in protecting the ocean
environment
Preparedness for and Response to
Pollution Incidents
• OPRC 1990 and the OPRC-HNS
Protocol 2000 address the
preparedness aspects and
response to incidents involving oil
and hazardous
noxious substances.
Shipping related activities
Liability and compensation
• International Convention on Civil Liability for
Oil Pollution Damage (CLC ‘92)
• The International Fund for Compensation for
Oil Pollution Damage and Supplementary
Fund (IOPC Funds)
• International Convention on Civil Liability for
Bunker Oil Pollution Damage (Bunkers
Convention)
• The International Convention on Liability and
Compensation for Damage in Connection
with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious
Substances (2010 HNS Convention )
Shipping related activities
Protecting the biodiversity of the oceans
• In 2004, IMO adopted the Ballast Water
Management Convention, addressing one
of the main vectors for transfer of invasive
aquatic species
• Control of harmful antifouling systems
(AFS Convention)
• A first set of international recommendations
to address biofouling of ships were
adopted in 2011
Shipping related activities
Ship recycling
• The most environmentally friendly way
to dispose of ships
• Many components are re-used into
new ships, agricultures, hospitals,
homes, etc.
• The Hong Kong International
Convention for the Safe and
Environmentally Sound Recycling of
Ships was adopted in 2009
Shipping related activities
Other related issues
• Sewage and garbage
Establishing special measures and
protected areas
• 14 Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas
(PSSAs) designated by IMO
• 20 Special Areas and 4 Emission
Control Areas established under
MARPOL
Shipping related activities
Existing PSSAs
IMO’s STRUCTURE
ASSEMBLY
COUNCIL
MEPC MSC FAL LEG TCC
DSC STW
SLF
COMSARNAV
DE FP
FSIBLG
ESPH
TILL 31 DECEMBER 2013
PPR
CCC
III
HTW
NCSR
SSE & SDC AFTER 31 DECEMBER 2013
+ OPRC
• Safety of navigationNAV
• Communications & Search and rescueCOMSAR
• Flag State ImplementationFSI• Standards of Training and
WatchkeepingSTW
• Design & EquipmentDE• Stabiltiy, loadlines and fishing
vessels safetySLF
• Fire protectionFP
• Dangerous goods, solids and containersDSC
• Bulk liquids and gases (+ESPH)BLG
NCSRSub-Committee on Navigation,
Communications and Search and Rescue
IIISub-Committee on Implementation of IMO
Instruments
HTWSub-Committee on Human Element,
Training and Watchkeeping
SSE
&
SDC
Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and
Equipment
&
Sub-Committee on Ship Design and
Construction
CCCSub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes
and Containers
PPRSub-Committee on Pollution Prevention
and Response
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IMO’S STANDARD-SETTING PROCESS
The standards set by IMO generally take the form of:
Conventions or Protocols
Amendments to Conventions or Protocols
Codes, Guidelines, Recommendations, etc.
The process phases from adoption to implementation/enforcement:
Adoption, after discussion/approval in IMO
Entry into force internationally
Implementation (by flag States)
Enforcement (by port States)
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RESPECTIVE ROLES
IMO
To develop safety and environment standards
Governments
Implement/Enforce the standards
Classification Societies
Survey and Certification
Shipping Companies
Apply the standards to their ships
Shipboard Personnel
Putting the standards into operation
Meetings of MEPC
MEPC usually holds 3 meetings in each biennium, so it meets about every 8 months
During each meeting Working Groups are held to develop technical details of either new conventions, guidelines to existing conventions, amendments to existing conventions
Drafting Groups also meet to consider drafting of new or amended text
Correspondence Groups meet intersessionally to progress current issues
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Typical Agenda points for MEPC
Harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water (RG)
Recycling of Ships (WG)
Air pollution and energy efficiency (WG)
Reduction of GHG emissions from ships
Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments (DG)
Interpretations of and amendments to, MARPOL and related instruments
Identification of Special Areas and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (WG)
Inadequacy of reception facilities
Reports of sub-committees
Technical co-operation activities
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Thank you!
www.imo.org