IMO strives to impose fewer administrative burdens on the industry 

At this week’s session of the IMO Council, where all major maritime nations are represented, it was discussed how to ease the administrative burdens imposed on the industry. The discussions took their point of departure in a proposal submitted by the Danish Maritime Authority and similar authorities in Australia and Sweden. The proposal, which has its background in the measures taken nationally in the three countries, draws attention to several areas where efforts can be made for the benefit of both the industry and the authorities.

The proposal includes thoughts on how to ensure in the future that new regulations do not create unnecessary, administrative inconvenience. In other words, a so-called impact assessment is proposed, i.e. an assessment procedure to be used when there are plans to introduce new regulations; and, in order to generate new ideas, a mechanism is proposed for dealing with specific proposals.

The submission enjoyed great support in the Council and, consequently, the submitters were urged to further develop the ideas contained in the proposal before the next Council session at the end of this year. There was general agreement that both the industry and the authorities – in both industrialized and developing countries – would benefit from specific measures in this field.