IMO Unveils Two-Year “Policy to Practice” Campaign to Drive Real-World Maritime Compliance

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a two-year global campaign titled “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” aimed at closing the gap between its regulatory framework and day-to-day implementation across the world fleet and ports. The initiative, aligned with the 2026–2027 World Maritime Day theme, calls on governments, port authorities and industry to ensure IMO safety and environmental standards are applied “in every port and on every deck,” rather than remaining only on paper.

In a launch video, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez framed 2026 as a “year of implementation,” stressing that rules on safety, training and decarbonisation only deliver value when fully embedded in operations, inspections and company management systems. The campaign focuses on nine priority pillars, including capacity building and technical cooperation, tailored support for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, regulatory readiness for decarbonisation, tackling fraudulent registration, and strengthening audit-driven improvement and ocean protection measures beyond emissions.

To deliver impact, the IMO Secretariat will roll out a coordinated action plan featuring global and regional events, guidance and knowledge products, partnerships and social media engagement under hashtags such as #WorldMaritimeDay and #MaritimePolicytoPractice. Member States and observer organisations are being encouraged to host their own activities through 2026–2027 and share outcomes, as the organisation seeks measurable progress on seafarer training reforms, greenhouse gas reduction targets and enhanced enforcement of existing conventions.