The International Maritime Organization will meet this week to formally decide whether to impose a carbon emissions price on global shipping, a move supported by an EU-led bloc including Britain, China and Japan but strongly opposed by the U.S.The IMO struck a preliminary deal to charge the global shipping industry for emissions in April after the U.S.
The Argentine government has authorized the export of live cattle for slaughter, reversing a prohibition that had been in place for over five decades, after the country's beef exports last year reached their highest level in a century.Argentina, famed for its beef cuts and traditional asado barbecue, is a ranching and farming powerhouse and a major exporter of processed soybeans, corn and wheat.
The International Maritime Organization's Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) held its 12th session at IMO Headquarters in London, January 19-23, and was chaired by Mr. Erik Tvedt (Denmark). Outcomes are summarized below:KEY OUTCOMESDraft workplan agreed to develop a safety framework for selected GHG-reducing technologiesActions to reduce underwater radiated noise from shipsDraft
The Council of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has announced the election of Alex Gregg-Smith to the position of IACS Chair. Mr. Gregg-Smith will assume the role on July 1, and his term of office will run until December 31, 2027.Mr. Gregg-Smith has over twenty years’ experience with Bureau Veritas
Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez delivered opening remarks at IMO headquarters in London, as the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meets to discuss the adoption of global regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping (October 14-17).Full text below of the speech delivered on Tuesday, October 14, 2025:"Good morning distinguished delegates
The Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF) has released frameworks designed to facilitate the development of training programs for seafarers working on ships powered by ammonia, methanol and hydrogen.The training frameworks address the needs of seafarers in entry-level or operational roles and senior officers. They are accompanied by comprehensive instructor handbooks.
The Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN on Tuesday announced an ambitious strategic plan that includes harmonising trade standards and greater financial integration in an effort to collectively become the world's fourth-largest economy.The five-year, 41-page plan for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, released during a leaders' summit in Malaysia, calls for increased regional trade
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) met for its 83rd session in person at IMO Headquarters in London from April 7-11, 2025. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Harry Conway (Liberia), with Mr. Hanqiang Tan (Singapore) as Vice-Chair.Highlights included:Tackling climate changeThe Committee finalized and approved the draft legal text for the "IMO Net-Zero Framework
The IMO has launched a two-year global initiative to promote the World Maritime Day theme for 2026-2027: ‘From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence’. In a video message marking the launch, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stressed that the global regulatory framework developed by IMO must not merely be adopted in principle
A crew member of the Dutch cargo ship that was attacked by Houthis in the Gulf of Aden last week has died of his injuries, the vessel's Amsterdam-based operator Spliethoff said in a statement Monday evening.The company did not release further details about the deceased crew member, but a spokesperson told a Dutch broadcaster they were Filipino.
The IMO has inaugurated a new Regional Presence Office in Suva, Fiji.The Regional Presence Office, hosted by the Government of Fiji and initially based at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) buildings, will support Pacific nations with implementing global regulations and standards in maritime safety and environmental protection, while advancing their maritime sectors.
International efforts to curb GHG emissions from shipping took a step forward as the IMO's Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 18) concluded its latest round of discussions on Friday.The IMO's 2023 GHG Reduction Strategy commits Member States to adopting mid-term measures to reduce GHG emissions from ships in late 2025, including:• a technical element