What is IMO and what does it have to do with climate change?

IMO is the acronym for the
International Maritime Organisation but
what is it and what does it do?

As a specialized agency for 170
governments of the world through the
United Nations (UN) the IMO was a
recent presenter at the PARIS 2015 UN
Climate Change Conference. Their
presentation showed how international
shipping plays an essential role in the
facilitation of world trade as the most
cost-effective and energy-efficient mode
of mass cargo transport. 

The IMO provides the apparatus for intergovernmental cooperation in the area of
regulation of ships designed for international trade transport. It is responsible for the
global regulation of all aspects of international shipping. More fully it has a key role in
ensuring that the environment is not polluted by ships’ operations, that lives at sea are
not put at risk including maritime security issues.  

IMO’s mission statement:  Safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans

With more than 90% of international trade by sea, shipping is crucial part of the development
of a sustainable global economy and there are environmental considerations with increasing
mass cargo movements around the world. 

Mandatory energy efficient requirements for reducing greenhouse gases from international
shipping have been in place for three years. IMO reports that the data collected over this period
clearly identifies the improvements made, significant in many cases, in the energy efficiency of
ships being designed and delivered.

The energy efficiency regulations (Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) came into force on 1 January 2013 and apply to all ships 400 gross
tonnes and above.

• Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) for new ships is a non-prescriptive, performance-
  based mechanism that leaves the choice of technologies to use in a specific ship
  design as long as the required energy-efficiency level is attained
  

• Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) allows ship designers and builders of
  400 gross tonnage and above free to use the most cost-efficient solutions for a ship to
  comply with the regulations. 

The complexity of optimizing the energy efficiency of existing ships requires that any future
action to be taken can only be achieved following the analysis of robust data. 

1 January 2016 IMO Member State Audit Scheme became mandatory. 

An important aspect of IMO’s work is ensuring Member states  compliance with the various
treaties covering safety, training, prevention of pollution, load lines, tonnage measurement
and collision prevention that they have ratified. To achieve this, the previously voluntary
Member State Audit Scheme, is now mandatory.

Up to 25 Member State audits per year are expected to be undertaken and will measure the
degree of implementation of all existing treaties as well as new amendments and good practices.

The IMO, as the global regulator of international shipping, continues its endeavours to reduce
environmental impacts from international maritime transport, a vital industry to world trade and
sustainable development.

For more information click here 

www.ausmepa.org.au

SEAFARERS: REFRESHER TRAINING GUIDE FOR SEAFARERS ON SHIPS IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS

In case you missed hearing about this earlier AUSMEPA is now providing its member companies and others with the Association's latest electronic publication titled ' A Refresher Training Guide for Seafarers on Ships in Australian Waters'.  It has been produced in collaboration with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association (HELMEPA).

Australian waters cover an area of approximately 14 million squares kilometers and feature a wide variety of climatic, oceanographic and geographical characteristics. They hold a rare biodiversity of terrestrial and marine species, together with the world's largest 'living organism' - the Great Barrier Reef, our natural wonder that has been evolving for more than one million years. The Great Barrier Reef must be navigated safely with respect and care, given that Australian depends on the shipping industry for the transportation of approximately one billion tonnes of raw materials and products each year both imports and exports through our ports.

Besides outlining the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the Guide also incorporates information on relevant Australian legislation and MARPOL, requirements regarding ship tracking and reporting systems, navigation in the inner routes of the Great Barrier Reef, ballast water management, biofouling and the permissible draught of ships in Torres Strait. 

"The MARPOL Convention is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. It is a combination of two treaties adopted in 1973 and 1978 respectively and updated by amendments through the years."  (as taken from the IMO website here)

AUSMEPA's intention is that the new Guide will also facilitate ad assist all seafarers transiting Australian waters, in their effective cooperation with AMSA for the promotion of the common goal of safe navigation and pollution prevention, especially in the sensitive marine areas of this vast continent. It is available in Chinese, English, Greek, Japanese, Russian and Ukrainian.

The refresher training package is presented to every ship calling in at an Australian port. The objective is to assist ship Masters and their crews to meet their obligations in preserving our Australian marine environment.  The refresher training package contains a short video in several languages, a guide to seafarers sailing on ships in Australian waters and a number of educational power point presentations. 

Copies of the Guide are available through AUSMEPA and AMSA.

For further information contact – info@ausmepa.org.au

www.ausmepa.org.au