Excerpt
from U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings
of the Marine Safety & Security Council
magazine by Mr. Edward J. LaRue, Jr., chief, Navigation Standards Division
U.S.
Coast Guard Marine Transportation Systems Management Directorate.
The
International Maritime Organization
The International Maritime Organization
(IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, based in the United
Kingdom. IMO’s main task has been to develop and maintain a comprehensive
regulatory framework for shipping. Its responsibility today includes safety,
environmental concerns, legal matters, technical cooperation, maritime
security, and shipping efficiency. The Maritime Safety Committee is the highest
technical body of the organization.
The
NAV Subcommittee
Under the instructions of the Maritime
Safety Committee and with input from the Marine Environmental Protection
Committee, the Subcommittee on Safety of Navigation (NAV) considers matters
related to obligations of governments and operational measures related to
safety of navigation.
The subcommittee is charged to develop
any necessary amendments to relevant conventions and other instruments, as well
as to prepare new instruments, guidelines, and recommendations for
consideration by the committees.
Major
Developments
At a typical session, the NAV will
consider more than a dozen ship routing or reporting proposals. Many of them
are quite complex and require careful examination to ensure they meet the
criteria of the general provisions on ships’ routing. Over the past three NAV
sessions the subcommittee has taken action on a number of proposals.
Of particular interest to the U.S.:
amendments to the existing traffic separation scheme in the approach to Boston,
Mass., that moved ship traffic away from the preferred feeding grounds of the
Northern Right Whale. Additionally, areas to be avoided and mandatory “no
anchoring” areas were approved for two offshore liquefied natural gas
facilities off the northeast U.S. coast to caution mariners of their presence
and provide a measure of protection for the facilities.
Today, NAV continues to contribute in
large measure to IMO’s mission—safe, secure, and efficient shipping on clean
oceans.
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