The work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has rolled on over the past few months. New Zealand continues to be engaged on issues that impact our maritime industry and has attended IMO meetings to represent our views.
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers Convention
The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping met in February for its 11th session (HTW11). Maritime NZ attended to pursue New Zealand's interests in the comprehensive review of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers Convention.
New Zealand's primary objective for this review is to give seafarers and employers greater mobility and flexibility by allowing training and sea-going service between fishing and non-fishing roles to be recognised. To improve the implementation of STCW and reduce administrative burden New Zealand is promoting efforts to bring audit functions into the IMO Member State Audit Scheme framework. Without prejudice to countries conducting their own due diligence of States they recognise for certification purposes, this move would raise the baseline understanding of training quality systems. New Zealand has been working closely with other countries towards these goals and will continue to collaborate as the STCW review progresses. Read summary .
Mid-term measures for the reduction of greenhouse gases from ships
Agreeing mid-term measures for the reduction of greenhouse gases from ships is one of the most important international issues for New Zealand right now. This year there have been a series of meetings to reach consensus on what the mid-term measures should be, including what economic mechanism could be used. Discussions have focused on whether a levy should be introduced, with strong arguments on both sides.
There has also been discussion of a bridging proposal to create steady revenues to fund the reduction of greenhouse gases from ships. It's hoped that agreement will be reached at the Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting in April (MEPC83). If countries agree on mid-term measures they will be sent for approval to an extraordinary MEPC meeting in October 2025. These measures have the potential to significantly change the way international shipping operates in the future, the impact of which could stretch well beyond the shipping industry.
Maritime Safety Committee
Other IMO meetings include the Maritime Safety Committee, which had its 109th meeting in December 2024. The rules change to make pilot transfer arrangements safer was completed, which has been a key issue for New Zealand. The work now needs to get the final stamp of approval at the Assembly meeting in November before it can be implemented.
Improvements to how the Committee works and manages its workload were also agreed to, which allowed a moratorium on new work outputs to be lifted. The Committee will start accepting new output proposals this year. New Zealand is particularly interested in the proposed reviews of the International Safety Management Code and Casualty Investigation Code. New Zealand will remain involved in the work should it be accepted by the Committee. Read summary .
Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response
The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response met in January for its 12th session (PPR12). New Zealand attended this meeting in person and virtually. It progressed a wide range of work on pollution including: reviewing the Action Plan to address marine plastic litter, ongoing discussions around mandatory rules for transporting plastic pellets, agreeing draft guidelines on in-water cleaning for biofouling, and continuing work on how to regulate Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (also known as scrubbers). Read summary.
