Shiv Ralhan pictured next to flags outside the IMO
To mark the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO’s) World Maritime Day we’re showing how the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) puts policy into practice.
Empowering maritime excellence comes hand in hand with our work at the IMO where MCA colleagues represent the UK in discussions on international shipping regulation at multiple committee and sub-committee meetings throughout the year.
The most recent IMO sub-committee, CCC (Carriage of Cargoes and Containers), was held in London from 14 to 18 September with the aim of improving international safety regulations on:
the carriage of dangerous goods, gases, bulk cargoes the use of alternative fuels such as methanol and ammonia the use of alternatives to combustion engines such as fuel cells the use of emerging technologies such as onboard carbon captureJohn Booth, Future Propulsion and Fuel Safety Team Leader, and Shiv Ralhan, Fuel Propulsion and Fuel Safety Lead, represented the MCA.
Shiv said:
"Attending the committee is a responsibility and a privilege. It’s not often one can speak on behalf of the country, especially in matters which affect the safety of so many people, as well as the maritime and wider environment.
"I remember the slightly surreal feeling when I first attended the IMO. The location, opposite the Houses of Parliament, is impressive in itself, but being part of a UN forum alongside delegates from around the world gave me a real sense of pride and purpose - especially when seeing the changes to guidelines and codes take place in real time."
"One of the aspects of my role that I find most fulfilling is that my team’s purpose is to improve the environmental impact of shipping, and to prioritise safety whilst doing so. These intense IMO committee meetings are especially interesting because they are where our year-round work makes a significant jump in progress. In this week's example, industry learnings of the safe use of methanol as a fuel were incorporated into a major revision of the guidelines which will ultimately make future vessel designs safer for seafarers."
A week at the IMO, from seminars to group discussionsAlongside its core aims, an IMO sub-committee aims to spark debate and inspire delegates. Here’s what was on the agenda for the September meeting to achieve that:
Seminars delegates from Estonia provided an alternative engineering approach for structures to replace cofferdams, whilst outlining equivalent safety performance Malaysian delegates shared their perspective of the safe and scalable production and deployment of zero and near-zero greenhouse gas fuels, such as green hydrogen and green ammonia Networking meeting members of other delegations to gain a better understanding of their positions on matters discussed in the working groups sharing knowledge on operational projects and new vessels on international waters Group discussionsThe following topics were discussed:
technology types to be included in the draft interim safety guidelines for ships using onboard carbon capture and storage systems emergency venting procedures in ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol fuels underwater venting in emergency situations technical conversations on cofferdam widths and fire safety mechanisms in ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol fuelsThe committee focused on amendments to mandatory regulations (including the International Code of Safety for Ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels (IGF), the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC) and International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code) and the development of safety and regulatory frameworks to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships using new technologies and alternative fuels.
The team came away from the committee having finalised the interim guidelines for the safety of ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol and made significant progress on the guidelines for ships using onboard carbon capture and storage systems.
Contributing to these events leads to important changes like those outlined above. It also acts as a focal point to the team's work throughout the year and supports the UK's objectives to improve maritime safety and environmental protection, benefiting our seafarers, local communities, the economy, and international peers.
About World Maritime DayWorld Maritime Day was first established in 1978 by the IMO and is celebrated annually to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, security and the marine environment. It also emphasises a particular aspect of the IMO’s work each year.
The Red Ensign and the IMO’s flag will fly at the MCA’s headquarters in Southampton in honour of World Maritime Day.
seen at 14:30, 24 September in Inside MCA.