IMO Summary Report (December 2025)
IMO Summary Report – outlining regulations affecting the leisure boating/large yacht industry as of December 2025.
Table of Contents
Regulations Spotlight
The IMO Summary Report spotlights regulations affecting the leisure boating and large yacht industries as of December 2025. It covers updates to safety standards, environmental protections, and operational requirements, including amendments to the STCW and SOLAS Codes, the application of the Polar Code to non-SOLAS vessels, and measures to reduce GHG emissions and underwater noise.
Notable changes include mandatory training on workplace harassment, enhanced safety equipment requirements, emission control areas, and cybersecurity guidelines. The document also highlights the potential impacts on industry costs and operations, with ICOMIA actively monitoring and contributing to discussions at the IMO.
IMO Summary Report Key Points Include:
- STCW Convention and Code:
- Comprehensive review to address technical developments and workplace issues like harassment and bullying.
- Mandatory training for seafarers on violence and harassment prevention (effective 01/01/26).
- Polar Code:
- Voluntary guidelines for non-SOLAS vessels (fishing vessels and pleasure yachts above 300 GT and below 500 GT).
- Mandatory application of chapters 9 and 11 for non-SOLAS vessels (effective 01/01/26).
- Safety and Stability:
- Updates to the Intact Stability Code 2008 with new stability criteria (entry into force date TBD).
- Safe mooring operations regulations for vessels over 3000 GT (effective 01/01/24 for new ships).
- SOLAS Amendments:
- Steering and propulsion requirements for modern systems like azipods (effective 01/01/32).
- Enhanced safety requirements for lifeboats and rescue boats (effective 01/01/26).
- Self-righting or canopied reversible liferafts required for new ships (effective 01/01/32).
- Improved pilot transfer arrangements (effective 01/01/28).
- Safety measures for elevators on ships (effective 01/01/32).
- Environmental Regulations:
- Prohibition of PFOS in firefighting systems (effective 01/01/26).
- MARPOL Annex IV amendments for sewage management plans and surveys (effective 01/06/31).
- MARPOL Annex VI amendments for fuel sampling points (effective for new ships from 01/04/22; existing ships by first IAPP renewal survey after 01/04/23).
- Canadian Arctic and Norwegian Sea Emission Control Areas (ECAs) for NOx, SOx, and particulate matter (effective 01/03/26).
- North-East Atlantic Ocean ECA for NOx and SOx (effective 01/09/27).
- GHG Emissions Reduction:
- Development of mid-term measures for reducing GHG emissions, including fuel standards and economic pricing mechanisms (predicted entry into force 01/03/28).
- Cybersecurity:
- Development of a non-mandatory Cybersecurity Code with a goal-based, risk-management approach (may become mandatory in the future).
- Other Notable Regulations:
- Guidelines for fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) in ship structures (expected conclusion in 2026).
- Reduction of underwater radiated noise (guidelines under review, no mandatory regulations yet).
- Reporting requirements for lost containers at sea (effective 01/01/26).
Further highlights include the potential impacts of these regulations on safety, environmental standards, and industry costs, while also noting ICOMIA’s involvement in monitoring and contributing to discussions at the IMO.
Download the IMO Summary Report PDF
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