The IMO Committee on Facilitation held its 43rd Session (FAL 43) from 8-12 April 2019 under the chairmanship of Marina Angsell from Sweden. Two key issues of interest to IUMI members arose during the meeting: 

Regulatory scoping exercise for the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)

The Committee agreed to review the Facilitation Convention as part of a regulatory scoping exercise for the use of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). The exercise will follow the same process being used to scope other instruments, such as those under the purview of the Maritime Safety and Legal Committees. It was agreed to complete the work at the next FAL meeting.

Maritime corruption guidance included on agenda

The Committee decided to include a new agenda item on "Guidance to address maritime corruption" with a target completion year of 2021.This decision followed a discussion about the submission from several Member States and observer organisations which described a Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) anonymous reporting mechanism. This scheme that has collected over 25,000 incident reports between 2011 and 2018. The document proposed the development of IMO Guidelines and/or a Code of Best Practice with the aim of addressing the problem of maritime corruption and reducing the impact on global trade, improving port governance and reducing adverse consequences to seafarers.

Click HERE to read more about the FAL 43 meeting.