The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing a comprehensive strategy to leverage emerging technologies and drive efficiency, safety, and sustainability in the shipping industry.
During its 49th session in London from 10 to 14 March, the IMO’s Facilitation Committee (FAL) outlined a work plan for the IMO Strategy on Maritime Digitalization.
The strategy, which is expected to be adopted by the IMO Assembly by the end of 2027, aims to create a fully interconnected and automated global maritime sector.
To guide this process, the Facilitation Committee established a Correspondence Group tasked with defining the strategy’s scope, objectives, and implementation framework.
Over the next year, the group will assess existing and emerging technologies, standards, and methodologies that can support maritime digitalisation while ensuring alignment across IMO’s various committees.
READ: IMO CARES report stresses decarbonisation of domestic shipping in Africa, Caribbean
The Facilitation Committee has invited the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) to encourage Member States and international organisations to participate in the Correspondence Group, ensuring early stakeholder involvement. The group will present its findings at the next session of the Facilitation Committee (FAL 50) in 2026, ahead of the final submission to the IMO Assembly in 2027.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated: “The IMO Maritime Digitalization Strategy is a game-changing effort to make smooth, seamless, smart shipping a reality.
“It will help integrate vessels and ports, improve logistics and optimise routes while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We must work together to ensure the strategy serves all.”
READ: IMO finalises in-water cleaning guidance
The new strategy builds on recent milestones, including the mandatory Maritime Single Window (MSW) regulations introduced last year, which require ships and ports to use a single digital platform for exchanging information and streamlining port call procedures.
During the 49th session, the Facilitation Committee also advanced key digitalisation initiatives:
- Updated IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business: A revised version was approved, introducing additional data sets to improve standardisation and interoperability across maritime IT systems.
- Enhanced MSW Guidelines: Amendments were approved to introduce verification functions, reducing manual administrative tasks and eliminating redundant checks.
- Cybersecurity for MSW: A new initiative was introduced to develop cybersecurity measures to protect digital maritime operations.
- Electronic Certificates Guidelines: Joint guidelines on electronic certificates were approved and forwarded for final review by the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection, Maritime Safety, and Legal Committees.
Over the course of last year, the IMO has made significant progress in negotiating binding global regulations for the net-zero framework.
