IMO – Professional Mariner

10 Jun

No safe passage: Strait of Hormuz remains ‘highly volatile’

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), issued the following statement Tuesday about the ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Iran, and its effect on commercial shipping: "I am increasingly concerned by reports that vessels continue to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any credible security guarantees, despite well‑established risks and the…

26 May

IMO adopts first global code for autonomous ships

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsAutonomous shipping, IMO, Regulation

(LONDON) — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a new International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) to support the safe integration of AI-enabled and remotely operated commercial ships into global shipping. The MASS Code sets out a comprehensive, goal-based framework to ensure that remotely controlled or autonomous ships are designed and operated to a level…

18 May

IMO sharpens focus on gender equality in maritime industry

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Licensing and training

(LONDON) — This year’s International Day for Women in Maritime (May 18) focuses on embedding gender equality at every level of the maritime industry, both on shore and at sea. Under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence,” the day highlights actions to translate international ambitions and commitments into tangible actions that will make a…

05 May

IMO panel ‘back on track’ on global shipping emissions

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsemissions, IMO, shipping

(LONDON) — The Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) concluded its 84th session with a commitment to rebuild consensus on global shipping emissions, while sounding the alarm over environmental risks in the Strait of Hormuz and adopting new measures to curb air pollution in the northeast Atlantic. Closing the meeting, held from April 27 to May…

29 Apr

New IMO guidelines target ships flying false flags

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Regulation, shipping

(LONDON) — The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Legal Committee has approved a new set of guidelines to improve transparency and due diligence in ship registration, as well as prevent fraudulent registrations and misuse of flags. The guidelines help to close a key regulatory gap for the maritime industry, given there is currently no binding international framework to regulate the registration…

22 Apr

Shipping coalition calls for unity on Net-Zero Framework

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsemissions, Environment, IMO, shipping

(STERLING, Va.) — A broad coalition of maritime industry organizations, collectively representing flag registries, classification societies, shipowner associations and shipping companies, has announced the signing of a joint statement urging member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to consider alternative proposals to the current Net-Zero Framework (NZF) and to approach the upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee session (MEPC 84)…

09 Apr

IMO: 20,000 seafarers stranded on ships in Persian Gulf

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIMO, Security, shipping

(LONDON) — International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has urged states to support diplomatic efforts to secure the evacuation of around 20,000 seafarers still stranded in the Persian Gulf, and enable humanitarian corridors for urgent assistance. During a virtual meeting for foreign ministers from more than 40 countries hosted by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)…

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…