International regulatory roundup

A number of regulations have entered into force recently

IMO Instruments enter into force

A significant set of IMO regulatory amendments became effective on 1 January 2026. An overview of the full package of IMO instruments entering into force is available here. Notably, these include: SOLAS and MARPOL amendments introducing mandatory reporting of lost or drifting containers, enhancing navigational safety and environmental protection. Further safety-related amendments addressing operational reporting and risk management obligations.

The IMO will focus on decarbonisation, safety, seafarer protection, maritime security, and the integrity of the international regulatory framework over the course of 2026. Read the official announcement here. 

BBNJ Entry info force

The Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, commonly known as the BBNJ or High Seas Treaty, officially entered into force on 17 January 2026 after meeting the threshold of 60 ratifications. Malta ratified the BBNJ Treaty in June 2025 and is working on implementing measures. The European Commission proposed an EU directive on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction in order to implement key parts of the agreement including marine genetic resources, area based management tools including marine protected areas and environmental impact assessments. MISA continues to follow developments closely, mindful of the need to ensure that implementation measures are compatible with UNCLOS and with the operational realities of international shipping, and that shipping interests are adequately reflected as the BBNJ framework becomes operational.

New UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (NCD)

On 15 December 2025 the UN General Assembly formally adopted the resolution to approve the NCD Convention, which will be open for ratification following the signing ceremony to be held in Accra, Ghana, in the second half of 2026. The convention seeks to provide a uniform legal framework for transport documents and to facilitate greater efficiency and legal certainty in international trade. During negotiations ICS proposed that maritime transport be excluded from its scope in order to avoid duplication of maritime law. Unfortunately, these proposals were not reflected in the final text, leaving significant uncertainty about how the NCD Convention would operate in relation to sea carriage. Accordingly, ICS is inviting States to consider carefully the implications of ratifying the NCD Convention, particularly in respect to the application to maritime transport and the impact on existing maritime law. MISA is engaging with the Maltese authorities on this matter.