The security situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black and Red Seas, as well as environmental topics, were among the key issues discussed when BIMCO’s Maritime Safety & Security Committee (MSSC) and Marine Environment Committee (MEC) met on 30 September and 1 October.
Members considered the implications of regional conflicts, attacks on shipping, drones, mines and navigational disruption. The committees also discussed a broad range of other regulatory, safety and environmental issues affecting the day-to-day operation of ships.
These meetings are an important part of how we represent your interests. Our committees bring together industry expertise to identify practical challenges and help shape BIMCO’s positions in discussions with the IMO, governments and regulators.
Digitalisation was another major theme, including the opportunities it offers for efficiency, compliance and safety, as well as the growing importance of cyber security and supporting seafarers as technology develops.
Members also discussed the safe adoption of alternative fuels, including ammonia, hydrogen and methanol, and future safety frameworks for advanced modular nuclear reactors. The continued discussions on the IMO Net-Zero Framework and revisions to the EU ETS also received significant attention.
Operational and human factors featured prominently, including enclosed-space fatalities, hydrogen sulphide exposure, fatigue, crew welfare, criminalisation and suicide prevention.
On environmental regulation, members considered continuing challenges with ballast water management systems, including challenging water quality, reliability, spare parts and access to service engineers. The proposed legally-binding international convention on biofouling was also discussed, with an emphasis on ensuring that future requirements are practical, science-based and capable of consistent implementation across the global fleet.
Other topics included search and rescue and mixed migration, underwater radiated noise, marine plastics and plastic pellet transportation, and implementation of the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling.
Across the discussions, the focus was clear: helping ensure that new regulation delivers meaningful safety and environmental improvements while remaining practical and workable for ships, crews and the wider industry.
