IMO – Professional Mariner

23 Mar

IMO urges safe-passage framework for Strait of Hormuz

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — The Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has strongly condemned the threats and attacks against vessels and the purported closure of the Strait of Hormuz, in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2817, which have adversely affected merchant and commercial vessels and threatened the safety and welfare of seafarers. The council, meeting in an extraordinary session on…

09 Mar

New emission limits enter into force in Canadian Arctic

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, IMO, shipping

(LONDON) — The Canadian Arctic and the Norwegian Sea officially became Emission Control Areas (ECAs) on March 1 under MARPOL Annex VI. In the two new areas, ships must meet stricter emission limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM). The new ECAs were designated through Resolution MEPC.392(82), adopted at MEPC 82 in October 2024. Within…

28 Jan

IMO emissions split adds uncertainty on fuel choices

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, Fuels, IMO, propulsion

(SINGAPORE) — 2025 was another challenging year for global marine fuel quality, as decarbonization legislation took numerous twists and turns, increasing demands on shipowners and operators across the world. Alongside this, the traditional fossil fuels also raised numerous quality issues. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) delayed the vote on the adoption of the Net Zero Framework (NZF) for one year…

12 Jan

IMO details raft of new shipping rules in force from Jan. 1

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Licensing and training, Regulation, shipping

(LONDON) — A set of amendments to key International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaties and codes entered into force on Jan. 1. They include the following: Preventing and responding to bullying, harassment and sexual assault Amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code) aim to prevent and respond to violence and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual…

03 Dec

Study finds sharp drop in sulfur emissions after IMO 2020

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, IMO, shipping

(LEEDS, England) — Recent global regulations have significantly reduced sulfur emissions from ships, helping to improve air quality in coastal regions – confirmed by a new international study led by researchers at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS). The research, published in Environmental Science: Atmospheres, used aircraft and ground-based instruments to measure sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emitted by…

20 Oct

IMO delays adoption of Net-Zero Framework for one year

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsemissions, Environment, IMO, shipping

(LONDON) — Governments at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Friday decided to postpone for one year the adoption of the world’s first global carbon pricing system for shipping, Safety4Sea reported. The IMO agreed to delay the planned adoption of the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) for one year in a vote during the last day of a session of the Marine…

25 Sep

IMO emphasizes ocean protection on World Maritime Day

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, IMO, shipping

(LONDON) — The international shipping industry, which carries over 80 percent of global trade and uses more ocean space than any other sector, is stepping up action to protect the ocean. This year’s World Maritime Day, observed globally on Sept. 25, focuses on the sector’s impact on the marine environment, and what it can do to reduce pollution, curb greenhouse…

23 Sep

ABS chairman urges IMO ‘timeout’ on net-zero framework

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsemissions, Environment, IMO

(LONDON) — Shipping and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are on different trajectories when it comes to achieving net-zero emissions, with no clear pathway for green fuel availability and infrastructure support, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) Chairman and CEO Christopher Wiernicki said this month at the launch of the 2025 ABS Sustainability Outlook. "LNG (liquefied natural gas) and biofuels are…

25 Jun

IMO targets harassment on annual Day of the Seafarer

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Licensing and training, shipping

(LONDON) — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on June 25 leads the global celebration of the Day of the Seafarer – a day designated by the United Nations to recognize the critical role seafarers play in global trade, security, and the flow of essential goods. This year, the theme #MyHarassmentFreeShip calls attention to the urgent need to eliminate bullying and…

24 Apr

New Atlantic ECA links Europe and North America

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsemissions, Environment, IMO, shipping

(LONDON) — At the 83rd session of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), the panel approved a proposal to designate the northeast Atlantic Ocean as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM), amending MARPOL Annex VI Regulations 13 and 14 accordingly. The northeast Atlantic Ocean ECA encompasses…