International Maritime Organization (IMO) News

Raymarine – a global pioneer in high-performance marine electronics — announced the official release of the Pathfinder ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System). The IMO-compliant Pathfinder ECDS is a premier maritime navigation solution for use both as a primary and backup navigation system for all vessel types, from workboats to large cargo ships and superyachts. Pathfinder ECDIS is the culmination of Raymarine’s marine hardware innovation and Chartworld’...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) now announced the publication of guidelines for conducting qualitative risk assessments for alternative-fuelled ships: HAZID and HAZOP. The use of alternative fuels will be key to addressing the ‘2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.’ While IMO has developed guidelines for design and operation of ships capable of using them, the Alternative Design and Approval process is required for most alternative fuels until mandatory r...

ClassNK has released the 'Part A Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels (Edition 3.0.1)'. This edition includes supplementary explanations about interpretations of safety requirements for methyl/ethyl alcohol-fuelled ships, as well as compiling key points on required plans and documents, and class survey items specifically for such vessels. Background The 'Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels' comprehensively describe safety requirements for alternative-fueled ships. It sti...

ACR Electronics, the major provider of safety and survival equipment, is launching its latest innovation in maritime safety technology – the Pathfinder AIS SART (Search and Rescue Transmitter). Debuting at METSTRADE 2025, the new AIS SART builds upon the success of its predecessor, the ACR Pathfinder Pro, combining proven reliability with cutting-edge AIS (Automatic Identification System) technology to advance search and rescue efforts at sea. IMO SOLAS regulations The ACR Pathfinder Pr...

KR (Korean Register) has launched two new digital platforms, PILOT (Platform for Insightful LOw-emission Transitions) and POWER (Performance evaluation for Operational characteristics, Weather & aging Effect and fuel consumption Review), designed to support the shipping industry in developing optimal carbon-reduction strategies and enhancing operational efficiency. As the EU’s greenhouse gas regulations, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime, are already in force, the delay in the International...

Imagine a vessel in distress, the challenging weather and sea state, the distractions and the anxiety onboard the ship or liferaft. Whether a commercial ship, an offshore supply vessel, or a ferry, any emergency situation is extremely stressful, requiring calm decisions and actions by the captain and crew which could potentially save lives. Reliable electronic safety equipment For decades, with pyrotechnic flares as the accepted standard, a crew member has been expected to fumble for a flare...

Maritime operations run on tight schedules and thin margins, and as ships, terminals and supply chains connect systems for visibility and efficiency, attackers gain paths to entry. Cyber risk has become an operational reliability and safety concern, not just an IT issue. “Whether we are looking at this challenge through an operational or organisational safety lens, cyber risk is a critical business risk. An incident will impact everyone,” says Michael DeVolld, Senior Director of Mar...

According to a new paper by DNV, shifting environmental requirements are reigniting interest in nuclear propulsion as a long-term solution for maritime decarbonisation. This renewed attention comes despite the absence of any civilian commercial nuclear-powered vessel commissions in more than four decades. DNV’s latest report, “Maritime nuclear propulsion: Technologies, commercial viability, and regulatory challenges for nuclear-powered vessels,” highlights how maritime nuclear...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Yacht Code 2021, as amended through August 2023, has been updated as the RMI Yacht Code 2026 (hereinafter the “Code”) to provide practical rule application for the increasing innovative designs of superyachts, new construction methods, and modern operational practices. The Code will come into force on 1 January 2026. The Code serves as a robust framework for safety and compliance, especially for new build projects and shipyards. It reflects...

Roughly three percent of the world’s greenhouse gases come from ships, a figure that puts the sector on par with the emissions of entire industrialised nations. Trade volumes keep growing, and if nothing changes, that percentage will climb. The International Maritime Organization has already set a 2050 net-zero target. For operators, shipyards, and ports, the question is not whether change is coming but how fast they can adapt without undermining the economics of global shipping. H...

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, is launching the industry’s first public tender portal for e-methanol procurement within the European Union and the United Kingdom via the DNV.com website. The initiative connects a pioneering e-methanol producer with industrial offtakers across EU and UK markets, creating a new pathway to secure long-term, reliable supplies of this key low-carbon fuel. Key European regulatory frameworks As the global energy transition...

Global law firm Reed Smith hosted a breakfast seminar as part of London International Shipping Week (LISW), bringing together insurers, financiers, and other key stakeholders across the maritime industry. The event, titled ‘Navigating Uncharted Waters: Legal Risk in a Changing World’s featured an interactive panel discussion by pioneering figures from the maritime and legal sectors. Speakers addressed critical challenges facing the shipping industry now, including international...

“The IMO has a critical role in delivering a unified global framework, something the industry needs if we are to avoid the fragmentation and inefficiencies arising from a patchwork of regional regulation. This is important but it is equally important we get it right.” That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO - Christopher J. Wiernicki in a keynote address to the Capital Link Conference at London International Shipping Week. Green fuel scaling and technology de...

“Shipping and the IMO are on different trajectories. There is no clear pathway for green fuel availability and scalability and infrastructure support. LNG and biofuels are mission critical to any success and should not be overlooked, over penalised or discarded in the Net Zero regulation. Quite frankly, achieving net zero for shipping by 2050 looks like a wildcard.” That was the message for the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO - Christopher J. Wiernicki at the launch of the 2025...

New insights from DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 show that shipping’s energy transition is entering a new phase: One defined by strategic investment, accelerating fleet readiness, and emerging regulatory developments. With the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework (NZF) approved but pending adoption in October, and the number of alternative-fuel-capable vessels in operation set to almost double by 2028, shipowners are shifting from preparation to action. Consumption of low-GHG fuels By...

ABB has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swedish nuclear energy company - Blykalla to support and accelerate the deployment of small modular lead-cooled reactors to the maritime industry. Building on the terms of an existing MoU between Blykalla and ABB signed in October 2024, which targets developing lead-cooled SMR technology to support Sweden’s clean energy requirements, this agreement expands the partnership and aligns with growing momentum for nuclear energy as a marin...

At Gastech 2025, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS for their concept design of a 16,000 TEU container ship with an electric propulsion system. ABS completed design reviews based on class requirements, analysing the power system, including key elements such as power generation, power conversion and propulsion motors. Electrical applications in the maritime industry ABS completed desi...

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is working toward a smooth transition to the next generation of navigation technologies. The standard for Electronic Navigations Charts (ENCs) is transitioning from S-57, an older, static data standard to exchange digital hydrographic data, to the new S-100, a more dynamic framework. While S-57 was limited to just ENCs, the new S-100 framework can handle a variety of data types, such as real-time tides and currents, to improve situational awareness...

Various paths to support decarbonisation include alternative carbon-free and carbon-neutral fuels, electrification and enhancing vessel efficiency. A system level approach enhances the value of these technologies; tackling each element separately can lead to a sub-optimised solution today and an inflexible solution to meet the uncertainties and increasingly stringent requirements in the future. Wärtsilä Marine set up its Integrated Systems & Solutions (IS&S) unit to address t...

KR (Korean Register) is pleased to announce that Lee Jungkun, General Manager of KR’s Convention & Legislation Service Team, has been elected as the next Chair of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Safety Panel, with a three-year term running from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028.  The appointment was confirmed at the 91st IACS Council Meeting held in Beijing, China.  IACS’s seven technical panels The Safety Panel is one of IAC...

Armacell, a pioneer in flexible foam for the equipment insulation market and a pioneering provider of engineered foams, announces that the halogen-free insulation NH/ArmaFlex Smart C is now approved for use at sea. With this International Maritime Organisation (IMO) certification, Armacell adds another trusted solution to its portfolio for safety-critical marine environments. IMO’s stringent fire safety standards Reduced smoke density improves visibility and helps passengers and c...

KR (Korean Register) has officially launched a joint working group to establish international standards for the safe discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated from ammonia-fueled ships. The initiative brings together Korean major shipbuilders—HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and Hanwha Ocean—as well as the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), a national ce...

The commissioning of France’s largest-ever shore power solution for ships at the Port of Toulon has been completed. Operational since February 13, the installation is currently in its final acceptance period. The consortium responsible for delivering the installation was led by ABB, comprising also construction company Eiffage Construction and electrical installation company - Fauché responsible for building and civil engineering services. The facility supports cruise and ferry ve...

ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for an innovative new design of a cargo handling system and fuel gas supply system. Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS systems Named Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS, the systems are designed to handle boil-off gas in dual-fuel engines on gas carriers. The innovative approach has an optimised fuel gas supply system for feeding the fuel gas to the dual-fuel engine, or an LNG...

KR (Korean Register) has released the latest edition of KR-CON, version 23, a comprehensive digital database encompassing nearly all International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments. KR-CON has been widely used by maritime professionals and government agencies worldwide since its launch in 2000, providing easy access to IMO documents on both PC and mobile devices. Its widespread adoption highlights its convenience and technological excellence as one of KR’s flagship services. Future...

Increasing incidents of interference with aviation, maritime and other satellite telecommunications services mean states must urgently enhance the protection of a critical radio-frequency band, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) said with ‘grave concern’ in a joint statement. These cases of harmful interference are in the form of jamming and spoofing that disrupt Global Navig...

“The IMO really has to step up now if we are to deliver on the pace and scale of the change required. A lot of this comes down to the question of how we address the significant price differential between fossil and alternative fuels. The IMO holds the keys to all of this, and the time for action is now. Whether we as an industry can make 2050 rests largely with the IMO and how it performs in the coming months.” That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO Christoph...

ABS and Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI) have successfully completed a landmark collaboration advancing the development of fully autonomous vessels. The Action Planning and Execution System (APExS-auto) maritime autonomy framework from MTI received approval in principle from ABS. The project utilised the System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) method, an innovative hazard analysis technique. System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) method “ABS is leading the industry in forward-th...

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of four seafarers in the recent attack on a bulk carrier in Odesa on 11 March 2025. INTERCARGO fully supports the statement issued by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and condemns in the strongest terms any attacks on merchant shipping and the innocent seafarers in its service. International maritime law INTERCARGO emphasises that the safety of seafarers must remain paramount Speak...

The impact of carbon capture and digital technologies as well as IMO Mid-Term Measures and FuelEU on the cost of compliance led the discussion at the ABS Middle East Regional Committee Meeting. The committee welcomed Khalid Alhammad, President of Bahri Ship Management, who started his term as chairman of the ABS Middle East Regional Committee. Environmental sustainability and excellence Alhammad said: “This forum has an important role in fostering collaboration among industry pione...