IMO, IAPH sign MoU to assist developing countries

The International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for future cooperation in the areas of climate and energy, data collaboration and risk and resilience of ship-to-shore operations.

The objective of the agreement is to assist developing countries, as identified jointly by both parties, in strengthening their maritime and port sectors and facilitate the adoption of sustainable maritime transport systems and practices.

The MoU will utilise IMO’s experience in collaboration with IAPH’s knowledge of ports to achieve sustainable, inclusive, and equitable development, in the least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) which is seen as critical in achieving the updated goals set out in the revised 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, adopted on 7 July.

The MoU is in line with the IMO MEPC resolution 323(74) that invites IMO Member States to encourage voluntary cooperation between the port and shipping sectors to contribute to reducing GHG emissions from ships.

At the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) climate summit in London, countries agreed on “indicative checkpoints” of reducing emissions by at least 20 per cent, striving for 30 per cent, by 2030, and at least 70 per cent, striving for 80 per cent, by 2040, reaching net-zero “by or around, i.e., close to 2050,” qualified by whether “national circumstances allow.”