One of our most important roles as a learned society is our contribution to ensuring that existing and emerging marine activities are safe and technically, environmentally and economically sound. We provide the invaluable public service of giving impartial professional advice of the highest standard to governing bodies trying to develop reasonable regulation of marine and maritime activities.
This advice is hard to find, because very few organisations are able to provide it, given their constituencies or their mission. Our contributions to the (inter)governmental decision-making process support the development of unambiguous, technically informed, scientifically supported and practically implementable outcomes.
The opportunity to participate in this work is a significant benefit of being a member of the IMarEST, as we not only represent our members' views by responding to consultations and calls for evidence for the development of national, regional and international regulation, but we are also represented by our members in a variety of ways, including sitting on committees and joining IMarEST delegations at intergovernmental organisations and standards bodies, such as the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The IMarEST holds an extremely privileged position of having formal recognition across a range of intergovernmental organisations at a level unrivalled by similar organisations of our kind.
These include:
IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. IMarEST members can access submissions to IMO in the IMarEST Digital Archive.
The submissions cover technical inputs to the principal IMO committees on Maritime Safety and Marine Environmental Protection and the associated sub-committees. Papers are added immediately following the conclusion of the relevant meeting.
Please ensure you are logged in to the IMarEST website as member, before clicking on the following links:
In June 2017, the UN held the Ocean Conference – a high-level event aimed to support the implementation of SDG14 ‘life below water’. The conference marked a global breakthrough, with over 1,400 voluntary commitments pledged by governments, the UN system, civil society organisations, academia, the scientific community and the private sector. Each commitment focuses on one or several of the SDG 14 targets.
The IMarEST is committed to the provision and implementation of these sustainable development goals as part of its strategic plan. The development, management and ongoing sustainability of the marine environment, alongside knowledge sharing and capacity building as a means by which to facilitate the prosperity of the marine environment, are held at the core of the IMarEST’s mission and vision. As such, given the strong value it places on supporting the marine sector, the IMarEST made two voluntary commitments at the Ocean Conference to support the implementation of the SDG 14 targets:
IMarEST voluntary commitments
Improving recruitment and retention of young people into the marine sector to ensure protection of the oceans for future generations
- DELIVERABLE 1: To make IMarEST membership free to any student over the age of 18 enrolled in a recognised course at a recognised institution
- DELIVERABLE 2: To provide student members with information and guidance on professional development
Working to protect the environment from harmful organisms transferred through ballast water or on hulls
- DELIVERABLE 1: Publish a position paper on the environmental, economic and social impacts of aquatic invasive species associated with vessels hull fouling
- DELIVERABLE 2: Conduct a study based on the existing regulations on in-water cleaning
- DELIVERABLE 3: Produce a series of five guidance documents supporting the implementation of the BMW convention and IMO Biofouling Guidelines
Our progress to achieving these voluntary commitments, can be found in the reports published below:
ASIA-PACIFIC
141 Middle Road #03-01
GSM Building
188976 • Singapore
+65 (0) 6472 0096
Visit Us
CHINA
MFE Center
211 Guoyao Road
Expo B Area, Pudong District,
Shanghai, China
Visit Us