Permanent Mission to IMO holds high-level meeting with Officials of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on tackling “Dark Fleet” In International Shipping
According to a dispatch issued by the Permanent Mission this evening, The Liberia Permanent Mission to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) London, United Kingdom has had a high-level meeting with the Officials of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on tackling the issue of “dark fleets” or “shadow fleets” in the realm of international shipping.
The meeting was potentially meant to forge vibrant collaboration to tackle the problem of ‘Dark Fleet’ or ‘Shadow Fleet’, a growing menace in global shipping that Member States of the IMO are trying to combat. The IMO, through its Legal Committee, has on its agenda the issue of “Measures to prevent unlawful practices associated with the fraudulent registration and fraudulent registries of ships” which deals with issues like “dark or shadow fleet”. It is in this respect that the 33rd Assembly adopted Resolution A33/Res.1192 in December 2023.
This resolution declared “dark fleet” or “shadow fleet” as ships that are engaged in illegal operations for the purposes of circumventing sanctions, evading compliance with safety or environmental regulations, avoiding insurance costs or engaging in other illegal activities, which may include:
- carrying out unsafe operations that do not adhere to international regulations and well-established and strict industry standards and best practices;
- intentionally avoiding flag State and port State control inspections;
- not maintaining adequate liability insurance or other financial security;
- intentionally avoiding commercial screenings or inspections;
- not operating under a transparent corporate governance policy that assures the welfare and safety of those on board and the protection of the marine environment; or
- intentionally taking measures to avoid ship detection such as switching off their AIS or LRIT transmissions or concealing the ship’s actual identity when there is no legitimate safety or security concern sufficient to justify such action.
It is against this backdrop that the hour plus deliberations between the Liberia Permanent Mission and the UK Officials discussed how they could collaborate to tackle this growing menace in international shipping.
Liberia Permanent Representative to IMO, Robert Wilmot Kpadeh informed the meeting that Liberia is well on course in adhering to all IMO’s regulations relative to the detecting and preventing “Dark Fleets”.
The Liberia Permanent Representative intimated that through the Liberia Maritime Authority and the Liberia International Shipping & Corporate Registry (LISCR), Liberia ensures strict adherence to UN and IMO instruments, delisted any ship connected or affected by sanctions regimes, and issues Official guidance and Marine Notices to all vessels flying Liberia flag on IMO regulations and UN Resolutions on sanctioned assets.
“Working with other member states and institutions, Liberia relentlessly endeavors to ensure the problem of ‘dark fleet or shadow fleet’ is effectively tackled and foiled,” Permanent Rep Kpadeh stated.
The FCDO thanked Liberia for its leadership role in international shipping by not only adhering to all international regulations and protocols of global shipping but also by assisting the U.N., IMO, and other partners succeed in efforts to prevent malfeasance and idiosyncratic activities in global maritime. They hailed Liberia as a responsible nation that has set itself apart in upholding international laws and regulations and look forward to collaborating with Liberia to address the issue of “dark or shadow fleet” in global shipping.
Hon Robert W. Kpadeh, Permanent Representative, was accompanied by Dr. Harry Conway, Alternate Permanent Representative to the meeting.
