What's News
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Adopts Framework of Interim Safety Guidelines for Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS) Proposed by Korea
-
Date
2026.10.15.
-
Hit
210
-
File
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Adopts Framework of Interim Safety Guidelines for Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS) Proposed by Korea
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that the Draft for Interim Safety Guidelines for OCCS* submitted by Korea was adopted as a foundational document for the development of an international standard at the 12th session of the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC)** of the IMO held in London, United Kingdom from Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 18.
* Interim Safety Guidelines: Non-binding guidelines established by the IMO to provide temporary safety standards necessary for the design, construction, and operation of ships prior to the establishment of international conventions (mandatory regulations).
** CCC: A specialized subcommittee of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) that discusses technical matters related to cargo and container transport and the use of gas and alternative fuels.
At the meeting, IMO member states agreed to establish global safety guidelines based on Korea's proposal. It also decided to establish an intersessional working group coordinated by Korea to finalize the safety guidelines.
OCCS captures and stores carbon dioxide in ship exhaust gases. It has attracted attention as a practical alternative to respond to increasingly stringent greenhouse gas regulations in the shipping industry, and research and validation for practical application as an eco-friendly technology for the shipbuilding and shipping industries are actively underway.
The safety guidelines proposed by Korea consist of two parts: common safety standards for OCCS in the main text and safety standards for individual carbon capture technologies, such as chemical absorption, membrane separation, and mineralization, in a separate annex. This technology-neutral, risk-based approach received strong support from major member countries and organizations including Liberia, Australia, Brazil, and International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
MOF plans to pursue final approval for the Interim Safety Guidelines for OCCS through the public-private consultative body (shipbuilding, shipping, equipment manufacturers, classification societies, etc.) that has been operating since April of this year. To obtain final approval in 2029 after additional discussions in 2027 and 2028, MOF will secure technical evidence, including design and operational data and risk assessments, and lead the intersessional working group to actively support efforts to incorporate Korean maritime technologies into international standards.
“This achievement is highly significant as it demonstrates Korea’s leadership in developing safety standards for key ship decarbonization technologies. We will continue to work closely with Korea’s shipbuilding and shipping industries to advance the international standardization of Korean OCCS technology and actively contribute to the decarbonization of global shipping,” said Jeong Do-hyeon, Director General of Maritime Safety at MOF.
- Leading the international standardization of decarbonization and maritime safety technologies with the goal of final IMO approval by 2029
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF; Minister Hwang Jong-woo) announced that the Draft for Interim Safety Guidelines for OCCS* submitted by Korea was adopted as a foundational document for the development of an international standard at the 12th session of the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC)** of the IMO held in London, United Kingdom from Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 18.
* Interim Safety Guidelines: Non-binding guidelines established by the IMO to provide temporary safety standards necessary for the design, construction, and operation of ships prior to the establishment of international conventions (mandatory regulations).
** CCC: A specialized subcommittee of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) that discusses technical matters related to cargo and container transport and the use of gas and alternative fuels.
At the meeting, IMO member states agreed to establish global safety guidelines based on Korea's proposal. It also decided to establish an intersessional working group coordinated by Korea to finalize the safety guidelines.
OCCS captures and stores carbon dioxide in ship exhaust gases. It has attracted attention as a practical alternative to respond to increasingly stringent greenhouse gas regulations in the shipping industry, and research and validation for practical application as an eco-friendly technology for the shipbuilding and shipping industries are actively underway.
The safety guidelines proposed by Korea consist of two parts: common safety standards for OCCS in the main text and safety standards for individual carbon capture technologies, such as chemical absorption, membrane separation, and mineralization, in a separate annex. This technology-neutral, risk-based approach received strong support from major member countries and organizations including Liberia, Australia, Brazil, and International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
MOF plans to pursue final approval for the Interim Safety Guidelines for OCCS through the public-private consultative body (shipbuilding, shipping, equipment manufacturers, classification societies, etc.) that has been operating since April of this year. To obtain final approval in 2029 after additional discussions in 2027 and 2028, MOF will secure technical evidence, including design and operational data and risk assessments, and lead the intersessional working group to actively support efforts to incorporate Korean maritime technologies into international standards.
“This achievement is highly significant as it demonstrates Korea’s leadership in developing safety standards for key ship decarbonization technologies. We will continue to work closely with Korea’s shipbuilding and shipping industries to advance the international standardization of Korean OCCS technology and actively contribute to the decarbonization of global shipping,” said Jeong Do-hyeon, Director General of Maritime Safety at MOF.
-
NEXT
-
PREV