- The IMO’s 109th Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 109) session focuses on pressing maritime safety challenges, including Red Sea attacks, autonomous ships, and emissions reduction.
- Key discussions include improving the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and encouraging ratification of the Capetown Agreement.
- The session addresses diverse issues, such as cyber security, piracy, and safety frameworks for advanced shipping technologies.
As reported by Safety4Sea, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez opened the 109th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 109) on December 2, 2024, with a focus on urgent maritime safety concerns. Dominguez emphasized the severe risks posed by recent attacks on ships and seafarers in the Red Sea, including threats to human lives, the shipping industry, and the global economy. He reaffirmed IMO’s commitment to collaborating with Member States, UN agencies, and stakeholders to ensure freedom of navigation. He also urged shipowners to prioritize seafarers’ safety by conducting risk assessments and making sound operational decisions.
Key Agenda Items
The MSC 109 agenda features critical topics shaping the future of maritime safety and sustainability. The Committee is advancing efforts on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), aiming to address stakeholder expectations for autonomous shipping technologies. The IMO Strategy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions includes studies on alternative fuels, technologies, and safety gap resolutions.
Discussions on the International Safety Management (ISM) Code focus on its effectiveness, measures against workplace violence and harassment, and strategies to enhance implementation. Secretary-General Dominguez also encouraged Member States to ratify the Capetown Agreement, highlighting its significance in strengthening fishing vessel safety.
Expansive Focus Areas
Additional agenda items include goal-based standards, piracy and armed robbery, cyber security, e-navigation, and safety frameworks for autonomous vessels, reflecting the Committee’s broad approach to maritime safety.
Session Details
The MSC 109 session runs from December 2 to 6, 2024, at IMO Headquarters in London, addressing critical maritime safety concerns and setting a strategic course for the industry’s future.
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Source: Safety4sea
