The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has postponed the Scientific Group of the London Convention and London Protocol and the 107th session of the Legal Committee as a result of the spread of the coronavirus.
The meetings were due to take place in London on 9 to 13 March 2020 and the 16 to 20 March 2020 respectively, but no new date for these meetings has been advised. However, the IMO said that the rescheduling of meetings will be announced in good time to allow attendees to make appropriate arrangements.
An IMO statement said, “The move takes into account the decision of the United Kingdom on 5 March 2020 to move towards the ‘delay’ phase of its Coronavirus action plan: a guide to what you can expect across the UK.”
Similar actions have been adopted by other UN agencies, amid increasing difficulties for delegates from IMO Member States travelling from abroad to attend IMO meetings.
Question marks remain over whether further meetings will be delayed with the 75th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee set to take place from 30 March for five days and the Port Symposium due at the end of next month.
Nick Savvides
Managing Editor
