The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is taking decisive action to enhance the safety and operational standards of ships worldwide, with a significant renewed focus on critical seafarer issues, including work and rest hours, fatigue, and the prevention of violence and harassment onboard.
During its 110th session (June 18-27) in London, the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) prioritized improvements to the implementation of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, the global benchmark for safe ship management, operation, and pollution prevention.
A key outcome of the session is the agreement to undertake a comprehensive revision of the IMO guidelines for implementing the ISM Code, applicable to both administrations and shipping companies. This initiative aims to address identified gaps in the Code’s application, incorporating recommendations from an independent study commissioned by the IMO Secretariat last year on the Code’s effectiveness. The revision will be carried out by the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) in conjunction with the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) over the next three years, concluding in 2028.
Addressing Violence and Harassment at Sea
A critical aspect of the revised guidelines will be the prevention of violence and harassment on board ships, including sexual harassment, bullying, and sexual assault. Recommendations developed by the Joint IMO/ILO Tripartite Working Group (JTWG) will be integrated, emphasizing:
- Policy Incorporation: Requiring safety management systems to include clear policies for preventing, reporting, responding to, and documenting cases of violence and harassment, with provisions for victim care, protection against retaliation, and robust risk assessment.
- Compliance and Guidance: Ensuring safety management systems comply with all mandatory regulations, including national laws on violence and harassment, and incorporate guidance from relevant industry bodies.
- Clear Responsibilities and Resources: Assigning clear responsibilities to senior management and maritime administrations for addressing reported cases, and providing adequate resources for onboard and shoreside response, including access to medical and mental health support for victims.
- Training and Familiarization: Mandating training for seafarers and shoreside personnel on company policies and their implementation.
Tackling Fatigue and Work/Rest Hours
The MSC also advanced efforts to combat seafarer fatigue by initiating a scoping exercise of relevant legal instruments. This work aims to address imbalances between workload and crewing levels, ultimately protecting seafarer well-being. The HTW Sub-Committee, in association with the III Sub-Committee, will analyze IMO provisions related to these matters over the next two years (2026-2027), considering recommendations from the ISM Code study on a holistic review of resource and personnel-related instruments.
Recommendations from a 2023-2024 expert panel study include introducing a complaint procedure for reporting non-compliance with the ISM Code, strengthening the master’s authority to escalate breaches with protection, and embedding a safety culture as an objective on ships. The Committee also noted an identified gap in regulations on hours of rest within the ongoing comprehensive review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).
Broader Maritime Safety and Security Advancements
Beyond seafarer issues, the Maritime Safety Committee made significant progress on a wide range of key matters impacting international shipping safety and security:
- Autonomous Ships: Substantial progress was made on drafting the non-mandatory Code for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), with 24 of 25 chapters now finalized.
- GHG Fuel Safety Regime: Continued work on developing safety regulations for ships utilizing new technologies and alternative fuels to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including a review of the IMO Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships.
- Maritime Security: Adoption of a resolution encouraging maritime information-sharing through national and regional centers to enhance safety and security.
- Cyber-security: Endorsement of the development of a non-mandatory cybersecurity Code, inviting proposals for further work.
- Pilot Transfer Arrangements: Adoption of amendments to the SOLAS Convention and related instruments to strengthen safety requirements for pilot transfer arrangements, including mandatory performance standards.
These concerted efforts underscore the IMO’s unwavering commitment to fostering a safer, more secure, and more equitable maritime industry for all.
