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Further ideas of collaboration between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) were discussed during the fourth session of the Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III), held in London, the United Kingdom, 25 – 29 September 2017.

III brings together flag, port and coastal States to discuss and consider implementation issues, including the analysis of consolidated audit summary reports from the mandatory IMO Member state Audit Scheme.

This session of III included a detailed consideration of the outcome and recommendations of the Third Session of the Joint FAO/IMO Ad Hoc Working Group on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Related Matters, that was held in London in November 2015.

The session agreed to amend IMO Assembly Resolution A.1078(28) on the IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme that currently applies to vessels of steel hull construction, including fishing vessels, of 100 gross tonnage and above. The proposed amendments have been submitted to the 30th session of the IMO Assembly in November/December 2018, with a view to adoption.

If adopted, the non-mandatory application of the IMO Number Scheme, on which the Global Record’s Unique Vessel Identifier is based, will be extended to certain fleets, currently outside its scope, including fishing vessels of non-steel hull construction of 100 gross tonnage and above; and to all motorized inboard fishing vessels of less than 100 gross tonnage down to a size limit of 12 metres in length overall (LOA) authorized to operate outside waters under national jurisdiction of the flag State.