Encouraging Ratification of IMO Treaties: ICS and CMI Joint Campaign

As the global shipping industry navigates through a complex regulatory landscape, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Comite Maritime International (CMI) have joined forces to advocate for increased ratification of key International Maritime Organization (IMO) treaties by national governments.

Both organizations have expressed concerns over the slow pace of ratification by governments of crucial conventions that play a significant role in enhancing maritime safety, environmental protection, and legal frameworks. In response to this, ICS and CMI have launched a joint campaign to raise awareness and urge shipowners to engage with their respective governments to prioritize ratification of specific IMO treaties.

Focus on Key Conventions

The joint campaign emphasizes the importance of ratifying several key IMO treaties, including:

• The IMO Nairobi Convention on the Removal of Wrecks (Nairobi WRC)
• The IMO 2010 Protocol to the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea Convention (HNS Convention)
• The IMO Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention)
• The United Nations Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships (Beijing Convention)

Among these conventions, the HNS Convention stands out as the only one yet to enter into force due to insufficient signatories since its adoption in 2010.

Advocating for Global Regulations

ICS has long been a proponent of a unified global regulatory framework for the shipping industry, highlighting the necessity of consistent rules across national boundaries to ensure smooth operations and trade efficiency. According to ICS, divergent national or regional regulations could pose challenges and disrupt international maritime activities significantly.

Ratifying IMO conventions not only validates their importance but also enables national enforcement mechanisms and provides added protection for signatory nations. For instance, the Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention mandates shipowners to maintain insurance for wreck removal costs, offering coastal states avenues to recover expenses directly from insurers. Non-signatory states risk missing out on such safeguards within their territorial waters, potentially bearing the financial burden of foreign vessel cleanups. Currently, only 70 nations have ratified the Nairobi WRC.

Supporting Ratification Efforts

Recognizing the complexities of ratification processes, ICS and CMI have highlighted the support available from the IMO to assist governments in ratifying and implementing new conventions. This support includes legal and technical guidance, as well as helping establish necessary domestic legislation and administrative structures in ratifying countries upon request.

Kiran Khosla, Principal Director (Legal) at ICS, emphasized the campaign’s objective of engaging with member associations and governments to promote ratification efforts. Khosla reiterated the need for consistent regulations in international trade, underlining that a global industry like shipping necessitates globally applicable rules throughout voyages.