This category focuses on policies, legal frameworks, and regulatory developments aimed at protecting the marine environment and promoting sustainable maritime activities. It covers national and international maritime environmental laws, IMO conventions, marine pollution prevention, climate change regulations, carbon reduction strategies, and compliance with environmental standards in shipping and port operations.
The section also features analysis of environmental governance, ocean protection policies, maritime environmental impact assessments, coastal and marine resource management laws, and legal responses to emerging challenges such as low-carbon fuels, biodiversity conservation, and ocean pollution. It serves as an essential resource for policymakers, legal professionals, researchers, and maritime stakeholders engaged in advancing environmentally responsible and legally compliant maritime practices.
Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sinopec Zhejiang Zhoushan Petroleum and Marubeni Corporation to create a long-term and stable supply system for marine biodiesel fuel, strengthening decarbonisation efforts in the global shipping industry.
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UK shipping industry leaders have voiced strong concerns over the government’s plan to extend the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime operations from July 1, 2026, warning that the move could raise costs, impact island communities, and undermine competitiveness without delivering significant emissions reductions. The Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 was passed in the Commons on February 11, drawing criticism from industry groups for what they described as limited parliamentary scrutiny.
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The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a two-year global campaign for the 2026-2027 World Maritime Day theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” with a strong call for the worldwide implementation of maritime safety and environmental standards. Announcing the initiative, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized that the organization’s global regulatory framework must not only be adopted in principle but fully implemented to deliver concrete, real-world results across the shipping industry.
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The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), tasked with developing an international legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, has elected Ambassador Julio Cordano of Chile as its new Chair. The announcement was made during the third part of the fifth session (INC-5.3) held at the Geneva International Convention Centre.
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Chevron Philippines Inc., together with government agencies, community groups and private partners, has released 146 olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings into open waters, marking another milestone in its long-running coastal conservation efforts at the Batangas terminal. The release comes five months after a large-scale shoreline cleanup helped restore the area as a safe nesting ground for the vulnerable marine species.
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Caribbean maritime leaders are calling for a coordinated, cross-sector approach to decarbonize shipping, emphasizing that isolated projects or technologies alone will not be enough. Policymakers and financiers across the region stressed that successful decarbonization requires collaboration between countries and sectors, supported by evidence-based planning and investment-ready pathways.
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The Gujarat High Court has ordered the arrest of the bulk carrier MV Nikator at Kandla Port over an alleged short delivery of cargo to a Vadodara-based pharmaceutical company. The court’s directive requires the Port Officer and Customs Authorities to detain the vessel until further notice.
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US President Donald Trump has appointed Laura DiBella as chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), filling a key leadership position at the nation’s maritime regulator as it takes on a stronger role in global shipping oversight.
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The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) has agreed on a draft workplan to develop a comprehensive safety regulatory framework for ships using new technologies and alternative fuels aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The draft workplan will be submitted to the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee at its 111th session (MSC 111) for approval in May 2026.
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The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and global marine fuels supplier Monjasa have joined forces in a new five-year cooperation agreement aimed at fostering sustainability and supporting communities in and around the Panama Canal Watershed (CHCP).
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The world’s first legally binding global treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters will enter into force on 17 January 2026, marking a major milestone in ocean governance. Known formally as the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the treaty establishes a comprehensive framework for the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources on the high seas.
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The SENSREC project of the International Maritime Organization has released a series of three parts of the video that demonstrate the various and significant roles played by women in the ship recycling sector. The campaign brings into focus how the industry can be more accommodating, fairer, and more productive through acknowledging and harnessing women’s transferable skills in the maritime workforce.
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South Korea has reiterated its intention to join the trans-Pacific trade pact during high-level summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to an official statement released. The discussions highlighted Seoul’s interest in acceding to the 12-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major regional free trade agreement.
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Global shipping enters a new regulatory phase as multiple International Maritime Organization (IMO) amendments come into force. A wide-ranging package of amendments to major International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions and codes officially entered into force on 1 January 2026, introducing new requirements aimed at enhancing seafarer welfare, ship safety, environmental protection, and navigational risk management.
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London | January 2026 — The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has described the major priorities of the organization in 2026, which includes implementation, regulatory development, and sustainability of the entire global maritime industry.
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