The ICS addressed an international conference recently on Developing a New International Architecture for Maritime Policy, where IMO’s regulatory framework within the oceans governance provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), was praised.
Peter Hinchliffe, secretary general, ICS, said: “Unlike many other activities involving the oceans, shipping is probably unique in having a specialist UN agency to regulate our activities – the International Maritime Organization. We have experience of many intergovernmental organisations that impact on our industry. But through ICS’s participation at every IMO Committee meeting, we know that IMO is actually a model of efficiency, made up of experts from virtually every government in the world, who develop and adopt very complex regulations directly relevant to the protection of the marine environment.”
Although IMO rules have created significant environmental changes, a revision of UNCLOS has still been suggested by the European Commission and NGOs.
Concerns about shippings’ environmental obligations will be addressed at the International Shipping Conference, hosted by the ICS, in September this year.