By
Amber Hickman |
The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) World Maritime Theme for 2023 is ‘MARPOL at 50 – Our commitment goes on’.
The theme reflects the organisation’s history of protecting the environment from the impact of shipping and emphasises its ongoing commitment to the work.
The aim of the theme is to promote discussion about the next phase of IMO’s work to protect the planet and the oceans and is linked to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
It also aims to spotlight the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), a convention which covers the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes
“A lot has changed in shipping in the 50 years since the MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973, and IMO's commitment to protecting and preserving the marine environment has remained unwavering,” said Kitack Lim, secretary-general of IMO. “The World Maritime Theme for 2023 will allow us to celebrate this legacy, while also underscoring our dedication to building on the existing foundations as we move towards a brighter future together.”