The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected international shipping. To contain the pandemic, many port States have imposed border restrictions. This makes it challenging for States to fulfil their IMO obligations to conduct ship inspections and issue statutory certificates.

Co-organised by MPA Academy and CIL, this webinar will discuss how different actors in the shipping industry such as flag States, port States and classification societies, have responded to these challenges. It will also discuss how digitalisation initiatives, including the use of remote inspection, have helped to improve efficiency in the maritime sector during the pandemic. The webinar will also consider how these developments are likely to impact the development of IMO regulations on ship inspections as well as future operations in the maritime industry.

OPENING REMARKS
Dr Nilüfer ORAL Director, Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore

MODERATOR
Professor Robert C BECKMAN Head, Ocean Law & Policy Programme, Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore

PANELLISTS
Mr CHEN Kit Jam, Deputy Director of Shipping, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore
Ms Claudia OHLMEIER, Head of Section Class Systematics, Data and Operation Centre, DNV
Mr HU Ronghua, Deputy Director, Division of Ship Registry and Supervision, Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration of P. R. China