Workshop held at the World Maritime University on tackling challenges of contemporary shipping

The Director of the IOPC Funds, Gaute Sivertsen, was pleased to participate in a workshop at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden on 9 and 10 June 2025.  The event, which was jointly organised by the WMU and the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore (CIL), focused on ‘the Role of IMO within the Legal Framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in Tackling Challenges of Contemporary Shipping’.

The workshop consisted of seven panel discussions on a variety of key issues relevant to both IMO and UNCLOS, including some of the items currently on the agenda of the IMO Legal Committee, such as fraudulent registration of ships, abandonment of seafarers, and other shipping-related concerns.  Mr Sivertsen participated as a panellist, in a session entitled ‘Possible Measures by Coastal States to Prevent the Illegal Operations of the “Dark Fleet’, especially for the Protection of their Marine Environment’.  He delivered a short presentation before answering questions from the audience alongside his fellow panellists.

The workshop, with an audience consisting of academics, legal practitioners, and representatives from across the shipping industry, provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, exchange views and discuss possible solutions to the critical issues currently facing the maritime community.