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International Association of Ports and Harbors and International Maritime Organization agree to cooperate on climate and energy, as well as risk resilience of ship-to-shore operations
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The strategic IMO-IAPH partnership aims to help developing countries to strengthen their maritime and port sectors
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IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and IAPH president K. Subramaniam signed the MOU on July 17 on the sidelines of the ongoing IMO council meeting
The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and International Maritime Organization have signed a memorandum of understanding bolstering ship-port cooperation in climate and energy, data collaboration and risk resilience of ship-to-shore operations, IMO said in a press release.
The MOU was signed on July 17 by K. Subramaniam, president of IAPH, and IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. They were accompanied by Patrick Verhoeven, managing director of IAPH. The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the IMO council meeting on July 17-21.
The objective of this strategic partnership between IMO and IAPH is to assist developing countries, as identified jointly by both parties, to strengthen their maritime and port sectors and facilitate the adoption of sustainable maritime transport systems and practices, IMO said.
The memorandum bolstering ship-port cooperation will utilize IMO’s experience as the United Nations specialized agency responsible for setting global standards for the safety, security and facilitation of international shipping and the prevention of pollution by ships.
This will be done in collaboration with IAPH’s best practices and knowledge of the most advanced and sophisticated ports to achieve sustainable, inclusive and equitable development.
Improving the capacities and infrastructures in ports in developing countries, in particular in least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), is seen as critical in achieving the updated goals set out in the revised 2023 IMO GHG Strategy adopted on July 7, IMO said.
The organization said the MOU is in line with the IMO MEPC Resolution 323(74), which invites IMO member states to encourage voluntary cooperation between the port and shipping sectors to contribute to reducing GHG emissions from ships.
