- Red Sea Lessons, Alternative Fuels, and DEI Shape IMO’s Agenda at INTERSPILL.
- IMO Calls for Regional Unity and Inclusive Action at INTERSPILL 2025.
- INTERSPILL Marks New Chapter in Marine Pollution Preparedness with IMO at the Helm.
At INTERSPILL 2025, which took place in London from 8 to 10 April, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) presented useful information on how to tackle future challenges in marine pollution preparedness and response. The conference gathered hundreds of professionals from all over the international spill response community, including government, NGOS, and private sector representatives. The topics centred on the changing nature of pollution threats and the new strategies that are being devised to counter them, reports IMO.
Innovation and Readiness in an Evolving Risk Environment
The conference addressed a broad array of topical issues, such as the potential for alternative fuels to decarbonise shipping. Delegates discussed the increasing sophistication of pollution situations and the need to stay ready in an ever more dynamic risk environment. Discussions also touched on developments in surveillance, monitoring, and visualisation technologies, as well as strategies for dealing with oiled wildlife in the event of spills.
Regional Cooperation in Red Sea Emergency Response
Patricia Charlebois, IMO Deputy Director of Marine Environment Division, presided over a session on recent pollution hazards in the Red Sea. She underlined the imperative role of regional and international collaboration in successful emergency response. The panel underlined IMO’s backing of United Nations-led initiatives to avoid oil spills from ships like the FSO Safer, MV Rubymar, MV Sounion, and ASL Bauhinia, stressing the organisation’s continued role in international incident coordination.
Developing Regional Capability and Regulatory Innovation
Chiara Della Mea, Coordinator of the Pollution Preparedness and Response Section, IMO, convened a session assessing the significance of multilateral and regional structures to develop capacity in managing marine pollution. She articulated how regional partnership enhances response, especially in zones with increased environmental risk. During another session, she spoke of the challenges brought about by alternative fuels, discussing how IMO’s regulatory schemes are adapting to the transition towards low-sulphur and alternative fuels in shipping.
Embracing Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in Spill Response
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was also a dominant theme at INTERSPILL 2025. IMO highlighted its DEI initiatives in a poster presentation, featuring the implementation of inclusive values in oil spill response operations. On 9 April, IMO co-hosted a DEI working lunch with IOPC Funds, Ipieca, ITOPF, and OSRL, with more than 80 attendees. Following the poster presentations by IMO, ITOPF, and CEFAS, the participants had open discussions, exchanging lessons learned and best practices in creating inclusive work environments.
Professional networks and mentorship were seen as key instruments to expand training opportunities for women and minorities. Discussion also urged action in terms of specific DEI efforts, ranging from day-to-day actions and institutional changes, including creating a cross-industry DEI template and fostering commitment from leadership in terms of equity and inclusion.
Enabling Global Representation using IMO’s Technical Cooperation Programme
To facilitate participation by diverse groups at INTERSPILL 2025, IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) sponsored representatives from Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Lebanon, Libya, and Ukraine. They participated in short courses dealing with shifting from emergency response to long-term projects, hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) spill response, and designing effective response approaches through net environmental benefit analysis.
Encouraging Training Through e-Learning
IMO also advertised its e-learning course, An Introduction to Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, which is aimed at those new to the field of spill response. The course is provided in English, French, and Spanish and provides a thorough introduction to oil spill preparedness and response and is part of the larger IMO e-Learning portal, which seeks to increase the capacity of Member States to apply IMO instruments effectively.
IMO’s Presence at INTERSPILL and Looking to the Future
Throughout the conference, IMO had a high profile on the exhibition floor, offering delegates access to major publications, technical guides, and details of IMO conventions. The stand also acted as a focal meeting point, building contacts and raising awareness of the organisation’s current work in oil spill response.
As INTERSPILL 2025 was wound up, the torch was formally handed over to SPILLCON, the third conference in the series triennially. In 2026, Australia will host SPILLCON, which will pursue the goal of advancing international cooperation in oil spill prevention and response, with IMO again participating as a co-sponsor through its Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: IMO
