{
  "id": 19877209,
  "title": "Pacific Island States advance implementation of IMO instruments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/pacific-island-states-advance-implementation-of-imo-instruments",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-13T22:00:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hellenic Shipping News",
    "slug": "hellenic-shipping-news",
    "url": "https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/pacific-island-states-advance-implementation-of-imo-instruments/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Maritime officials from 10 Pacific Small Island Developing States convened in Nadi, Fiji, for a series of workshops aimed at enhancing national frameworks and capabilities to implement International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments. Coordinated by IMO in collaboration with Fiji's Maritime Safety Authority (MSAF), the sessions were under the auspices of the IMO-Republic of Korea SMART-C Leaders Project, which focuses on bolstering maritime governance in Pacific SIDS and ensuring compliance with IMO regulations. The workshops, held from November 2-10, were structured into two main components: one concentrating on strengthening national legislation and flag State capacities, and another on enhancing port State control measures. During the first phase, participants delved into the legal and administrative structures required for implementing IMO instruments at the national level. Key topics included the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), insights from audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), and strategies for integrating vital IMO conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL, and STCW into domestic laws. Tonga and Vanuatu, designated as Lead Pilot Countries under the SMART-C Leaders Project, received special attention, with the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) providing assistance to draft national legislative frameworks for SOLAS and MARPOL compliance. Practical exercises and discussions were employed to identify and address implementation gaps at the national level. The second phase of the workshops focused on bolstering port State control efforts, with participants from Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu engaging in onboard training at the Port of Lautoka to gain hands-on experience in conducting port State control inspections. The workshops also emphasized the significance of gender equality in maritime governance, recognizing the crucial role of women's participation in decision-making processes. By facilitating regional knowledge-sharing and providing targeted support to Tonga and Vanuatu, the SMART-C Leaders Project aims to help Pacific SIDS effectively implement IMO instruments and meet their obligations, fostering a safer and more sustainable maritime environment in the Pacific region.",
  "summary": "Maritime officials from 10 Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) took part in a series of workshops in Nadi, Fiji (2-10 November), focused on strengthening national frameworks and capacities to implement IMO instruments. Organized by IMO in cooperation with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), the workshops were held under the IMO-Republic of Korea ...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}