Unable to hold physical meetings since March, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council has adopted a priority list for upcoming meetings to resume its work virtually in light of COVID-19 restrictions on key agenda items. The list gives priority to a regular session of the IMO Council, followed by meetings of the Marine Environment Protection Committee – to be preceded by the 7th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships – and to the Maritime Safety Committee, and Facilitation Committee. An Extraordinary Meeting of All Committees is scheduled for 16-18 September to enable the various committees to set their agendas.
“Despite COVID-19, the clock is still ticking on IMO’s legislative timetable. Key decisions still need to be made if the timetable is going to be met,” said Nick Makar, Senior Vice President, Maritime Administration/Regulatory Affairs.
He notes that IMO work has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic both by correspondence group and virtual meetings.
Key IMO Dates
16 – 18 September
EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF ALL COMMITTEES – (ALCOM)
Remote meeting
28 September – 2 October
FACILITATION COMMITTEE (FAL) – 44th session
Remote meeting
5 October – 13 November
26th session of the Working Group on the Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards of Chemicals
(ESPH)
By correspondence
12 – 14 October
COUNCIL – 124th session
Remote meeting
12 – 16 October
27th meeting of the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on Search and Rescue
Remote meeting
19 – 23 October
7th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships
Remote meeting
4 – 11 November
MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE (MSC) – 102nd session
Remote meeting
16 – 20 November
MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE (MEPC) – 75th session
Remote meeting
27 November – 1 December
LEGAL COMMITTEE (LEG) – 107th session
Remote meeting
2 – 4 December
IOPC FUNDS
Remote meeting
7 – 11 December
TECHNICAL COOPERATION COMMITTEE (TC) – 70th session
Remote meeting
14 – 15 December
42nd CONSULTATIVE MEETING OF CONTRACTING PARTIES (LONDON CONVENTION 1972)
15th MEETING OF CONTRACTING PARTIES (LONDON PROTOCOL 1996)
Remote meeting
16 – 18 December
INTERNATIONAL MOBILE SATELLITE ORGANIZATION (IMSO) – 46th session
Remote meeting
TBC
2nd meeting of the Expert Group on Data Harmonization
Remote meeting
TBC
3rd meeting of the Expert Group on Data Harmonization
Remote meeting
