Samson Echenim 
As growing illegal shipping operations presents new challenges to the global maritime industry, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is taking steps to check the ugly development, which threatens shipping and maritime businesses to their foundation.
The IMO Legal Committee during its 112th Session held from 24th to 28th March, 2025, discussed the need to address substandard shipping, given the rise of unlawful operations which distort the global playing field, increase risks to safety, security and the environment.
According to a statement obtained by The Nigerian Economy from the organization’s website, the IMO Legal Committee approved the proposal to conduct a regulatory scoping exercise to review IMO conventions and other tools available to Member States, with the aim of developing actions to prevent unlawful operations, including substandard shipping.
The Nigerian Economy reports that the IMO Legal Committee resolved to set up a correspondence group to start working on this new output, following approval of its terms of reference by the IMO Council in July 2025.
The Committee discussed other key issues including registration of ships for the benefit of safety, protection of the marine environment and the well-being of seafarers;
The Legal Committee will be working on these three other outputs over the coming year, namely: Development of guidelines or best practices for the registration of ships for the benefit of safety, protection of the marine environment and the well-being of seafarers.
The committee also deliberated on suitability of IMO liability and compensation regimes with respect to alternative fuels; and measures to address maritime security threats.
