IMO: Council Decisions on Situation in Black Sea & Sea of Azov

From 10-11 March 2022 the IMO Council virtually held its 35th Extraordinary Session (C/ES.35), addressing, the impacts on shipping and seafarers of the situation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The IMO Council made decisions on the situation, including: condemnation of “the Russian Federation’s violation of the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of a United Nations Member State, extending to its territorial waters” as inconsistent with the UN Charter and the purposes of IMO as set forth in Article 1 of the IMO Convention; deploring “attacks of the Russian Federation aimed at commercial vessels” threatening maritime safety and the marine environment; and recalling “Ukraine must be afforded, without delay, all its rights in regard to the implementation of the instruments adopted within the framework of this Organization, as a flag State, port State and coastal State”. Decisions of the IMO Council also included the encouragement of “the establishment, as a provisional and urgent measure, of a blue safe maritime corridor” and the welcoming of a series of proposals to support seafarers, directed at coastal states, port states, transit states and states of nationality.

For more information see here and here.