From 10 to 14 March 2025, representatives of the Shipping Administration took part in the 49th session of the Facilitation Committee (FAL 49) of the International Maritime Organization.
At the meeting, proposals to amend the 1965 Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) were discussed, specifically concerning the status of seafarers as key workers and the exchange of passenger information data for cruise ships and other maritime means of transport.
Participants also debated on maritime cybersecurity, use of electronic shipping documents, operation of national maritime single window systems, and suppression of smuggling on ships engaged in international maritime traffic.
The Ukrainian delegates joined the discussion on development of a comprehensive strategy on maritime digitalization, as well as supported broader involvement of flag states in preventing unsafe migration by sea and addressing its humanitarian consequences.
In addition, the Committee was informed about the ballistic missile attack which targeted the port infrastructure of Odesa on 11 March 2025 – a blatant violation of the FAL Convention principles by the russian federation.
Delegations of Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Poland (on behalf of the European Union) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northen Ireland supported Ukraine, while russian counterarguments were entirely dismissed by IMO member states.
For reference: the Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic was signed on 9 April 1965 by forty states, including the Ukrainian SSR, and entered into force for Ukraine in December 1993. During FAL 49, the IMO Secretariat held a special event to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the FAL Convention.