U.S. to Crack Down on Ocean Noise that Harms Fish
The ocean has gotten noisier for decades, with man-made racket from oil drilling, shipping and construction linked to signs of stress in marine life that include beached whales and baby crabs with scrambled navigational signals. The United States aims to change that as a federal agency prepares a plan that could force reductions in noise-making activities, including oil exploration, dredging and shipping off the nation's coast. "We've been worried about ocean noise for decades, since the 1970s," said Richard Merrick, chief science adviser to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
ICS Supports GOC Environmental Objectives
based industry and agriculture, and preventing the acidification of the sea. ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe said, “The shipping industry is very fortunate in already having an established framework of global Conventions and rules that have been developed by the United Nations International Maritime Organization. For the most part these IMO rules are fully implemented and enforced worldwide and have directly contributed to the improvement of shipping’s environmental performance. However, shipowners are global citizens who will share the GOC’s concern about the vacuum that
Milestone for Enhanced Safety in Arctic Regions
United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) has just approved global binding regulations intending to enhance safety of navigation in polar areas. This means, inter alia, new requirements for passenger ships. Following several years of intense negotiations, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has today approved a new set of regulations on navigation in Arctic waters. Thus, the IMO has today taken a decisive step towards making the so-called Polar Code internationally binding. The entire palette of navigation in polar areas is covered by the Polar Code – from ship
February 2024
