Contact points on Ship registries

Enhancing contact points database

Following the 106th session of the Legal Committee in 2019, the Secretariat has developed a new function in the Contact Points module in GISIS that would be a comprehensive database of registries of ships, where information for all flags could be available in one place. The Committee also agreed that IMO should work with the UN Security Council to establish an easily searchable database, by IMO number and vessel name, of vessels currently the subject of, or designated pursuant to, UNSC resolutions.

IMO has also taken steps to thoroughly review the authenticity of requests to access IMO web accounts.

Resolution - Measures to prevent the fraudulent registration and fraudulent registries of ships

In order to establish even more robust procedures for the communication of information to IMO, the Assembly adopted a resolution on Measures to prevent the fraudulent registration and fraudulent registries of ships (A.1142(31)).

The Assembly resolution includes a procedure for communicating information on ship registries to IMO, including information on the name of national governmental body(ies) and authorized or delegated entities in charge of ship registration. Its aim is to allow the IMO Secretariat to verify the information, through the appropriate channels

Recommended best practices

The Committee has also approved a LEG circular on Recommended best practices to assist in combating fraudulent registration and fraudulent registries (LEG.1/Circ.10).