23 Photo: Visitalesund/Øyvind Kåre Sunde training, uniform compliance and water conditions in order to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic organism. A workplan for a safety regulatory framework for ships using new technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction is due for approval in May 2026. The plan will involve developing or amending existing safety regulations in relation to nuclear power, wind propulsion and wind-assisted power, and batteries. The IMO has called for the global application of safety and environmental standards as part of a two-year initiative – ‘From policy to practice: powering maritime excellence’ – which begins on 2026’s World Maritime Day on 24 September. Arsenio Dominguez, IMO secretary general, stressed regulations must deliver real-world results through consistent implementation across ships, ports and administrations worldwide. The campaign will support member states through training, technical cooperation and legislative guidance to strengthen enforcement, address regulatory gaps and improve compliance. It will also focus on digitalisation, cyber risk management, decarbonisation and combating maritime fraud, aiming to embed high standards across global maritime operations. Norway updates emissions regulations for Unesco World Heritage fjords Passenger ships under 10,000gt entering Norway’s Unesco World Heritage fjords must now operate on energy sources that produce no direct carbon dioxide or methane emissions. The amendments to the Environmental Safety Regulations aim to prevent ship pollution which often gets trapped in the narrow fjords creating smog. As the regulation is technology neutral, shipowners and operators have flexibility to choose compliant solutions, including batteries, green hydrogen or other fuels. However, the regulation does not require verification of actual emissions; instead, compliance is presumed if the ship uses an approved energy source. This rule will apply to ships of 10,000gt and above from 1 January 2032. Arsenio Dominguez, secretary general of the IMO, outside the organisation’s London headquarters Photo: IMO
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