International Maritime Organization promotes measures to prevent illegal operations by shadow fleet

The Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) met in London on 24–28 March 2025. The meeting discussed measures to prevent illegal operations by vessels belonging to the shadow fleet. The Committee approved a proposal co-sponsored by Finland and many other countries to conduct a Regulatory Scoping Exercise to further develop actions to prevent unlawful operations in the maritime sector.

Finland emphasised the urgency of the matter and advocated for the approval of the proposal. The Regulatory Scoping Exercise will examine existing IMO conventions  that make it possible to combat unlawful maritime operations, including substandard ships. A further purpose of the exercise is to identify potentialgaps in the implementation of regulations and to develop futher measures  to combat unlawful  operations. The work will continue in a correspondence group. 

In addition to the shadow fleet, the Committee discussed the fair treatment of seafarers, fraudulent registration of ships, the suitability of the IMO’s liability and compensation regimes for damages caused by alternative fuels, and legal issues related to the regulation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). 

What’s next?

The correspondence group will begin conducting the Regulatory Scoping Exercise once the relevant new output is adopted at the next IMO Council meeting in July 2025. The Regulatory Scoping Exercise is due to be completed in 2027.

The next session of the Legal Committee will take place in April 2026.

Inquiries:

Tiina Ranne, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 342 036, tiina.ranne@gov.fi