IMO: plan and application for six-year period 2024 to 2029

The International Maritime Organization has published Assembly Resolutions A.1173(33) and A.1174(33) regarding the strategic plan for the organization for the six-year period 2024 to 2029 and the application of the plan.

The resolutions were published on 11 December 2023.

Resolution A.1173(33)

Mission and Vision: The mission of the IMO is to ensure safe, secure, and environmentally sustainable shipping worldwide through cooperative efforts. This involves setting high standards for maritime safety, security, efficiency, and pollution prevention while promoting universal adherence to these standards. The vision for the period 2024 to 2029 includes upholding IMO's leadership in global shipping regulation, addressing emerging challenges such as technological advancements and climate change, and supporting sustainable development goals.

Overarching Principles: The plan is guided by principles of inclusivity, transparency, and respect for all stakeholders, with particular attention to the needs of developing countries, small island developing states (SIDS), and least developed countries (LDCs). It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a level playing field in international shipping and proactively addressing global challenges that impact the maritime industry.

Strategic Directions:

Implementation of IMO Instruments and Capacity Development: Focuses on ensuring effective implementation and enforcement of IMO regulations by member states through capacity-building initiatives and reducing administrative burdens.
Integration of New Technologies: Aims to incorporate new and emerging technologies into the regulatory framework while balancing safety, security, and environmental concerns. This involves promoting digitalization, automation, and alternative fuels in shipping operations.
Response to Climate Change: Addresses the maritime sector's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and commits to reducing its environmental impact through the adoption of cleaner technologies and energy sources.
Engagement in Ocean Governance: Advocates for sustainable management of marine resources and protection of the marine environment, emphasizing the importance of balancing economic activities with environmental conservation.
Enhancement of Global Facilitation and Supply Chain Resilience: Focuses on ensuring the smooth flow of international trade by reducing administrative barriers, enhancing supply chain resilience, and improving maritime security measures.
Addressing the Human Element: Recognizes the crucial role of maritime personnel in ensuring safety and security at sea and commits to promoting seafarer welfare, gender equality, and human-centric approaches to regulation and training.
Ensuring Regulatory Effectiveness: Aims to maintain a robust and adaptive regulatory framework for international shipping by reviewing existing regulations, developing new standards, and incorporating feedback from stakeholders and data analysis.
Improving Organizational Effectiveness: Seeks to enhance IMO's efficiency, transparency, and resource management capabilities to better support its mandate and respond to evolving challenges in the maritime industry.

Each strategic direction is interconnected and contributes to the overarching goal of promoting sustainable and resilient shipping practices globally while addressing contemporary challenges and advancing the IMO's mission and vision.

Table 1 - Performance Indicators and Table 2 - List of Outputs for the 2024-2025 Biennium are listed in the document as well.

Resolution A.1174(33)

Purpose: The resolution outlines guidelines for evaluating proposed outputs in the maritime industry to ensure they do not negatively impact safety, workload, decision-making processes, and the living/working environment onboard ships.

Sections:

Workload Impact: Evaluates potential workload impacts both onboard and ashore, considering navigation, maintenance, administrative tasks, and time pressure.

Impact on Decision-Making: Considers impacts on existing requirements, responsibilities, mental effort, time for decision-making, and reliance on judgment and administrative controls.

Living and Working Environment: Assesses potential impacts on emergency procedures, introduction of hazardous materials, access and ventilation, and habitability of accommodation spaces.

Operation and Maintenance: Examines impacts on ship operation, maintenance, and systems, including ease of operation, integration with existing systems, and introduction of new procedures.

Measures to Address Human Element: Identifies potential changes needed in training, skill development, procedures, manuals, spares, safety requirements, and shore support.

Guidelines for Considering and Reviewing Outcomes of FSA Studies

Purpose: To assist committees in reviewing outcomes of formal safety assessment (FSA) studies.
Guidance for Committees: Provides structured steps for committees to assess outcomes and decide whether to accept them as equivalent to proposals for outputs or reject them. Emphasizes the consideration of human factors in decision-making and provides a decision flow chart for consistent management of outcomes.