Belgium for IMO Council Category C

6,6 %

of full-time jobs directly depending on the maritime sector

37 %

of the Belgian North Sea is a Marine Protected Area

2nd

largest port in Europe

> 300 000

shipping movements per year in the Belgian part of the North Sea

6,6 %

of full-time jobs directly depending on the maritime sector

37 %

of the Belgian North Sea is a Marine Protected Area

2nd

largest port in Europe

> 300 000

shipping movements per year in the Belgian part of the North Sea

Belgians are bridge-builders, always actively seeking interests shared in common. Because these are the foundations for international cooperation and mutually beneficial agreements. For us, that is precisely the aim of partnership among IMO members: building consensus to move forward together.

With Belgium, you will have within IMO an active and progressive partner who is always accessible to better understand your interests.

Here follow some examples of our commitment:

We provide a lead auditor in the IMSAS audit scheme who also assists in training on IMSAS. We will soon be adding two more auditors.

Belgium is a strong believer of IMO technical cooperation, to which it also contributes.

Our country coordinates the correspondence group on underwater radiated noise. The coordinator also chaired a working group on this issue.

We are committed to always being accessible to all countries through our active involvement within IMO and the presence of our permanent representation at IMO.

Our maritime knowledge hub

With international ports such as Antwerp-Bruges and an industry excelling in wind energy, dredging and merchant shipping, Belgium has a top-level maritime sector. Our country is a unique hub of expertise and entrepreneurship, where innovation is the standard.

That maritime knowledge cluster encourages innovation and cross-border cooperation. Belgium strongly believes in the international exchange of expertise because maritime projects do not stop at national borders. We are proud of our Belgian companies operating throughout the supply chain, from design to delivery, while also recognising the importance of strong international partners.

With that vision in mind, Belgium takes the lead within IMO to build a more sustainable and efficient maritime future together. Our spearheads? Carbon-free shipping, pioneering innovation, improving seafarer well-being and maritime security.

A carbon-free maritime sector

The maritime future must be sustainable, and the challenge is global. Therefore:

we invest in new technologies such as hydrogen engines and alternative fuels such as ammonia and green hydrogen. Our country is also a pioneer with green shipping corridors.
Belgium encourages joint ventures for both local and international projects.
a sensor was installed in Zeebrugge to monitor emissions from individual ships passing in the Belgian part of the North Sea. The sensor can monitor emissions from passing ships 24/7.
we are a major producer of offshore wind energy with exceptional wind farm deployment expertise and are continuously seeking new use cases for renewable energy.

Innovation and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)

Belgium will build the first energy island in the world, the Princess Elisabeth Island, that will be located 45 kilometres off the Belgian coast and that will become the switching point between the offshore wind farms and the onshore high-voltage grid. The island is an innovative tour de force that once again puts Belgium on the map as a pioneer in offshore energy.

Belgium is a strong believer in MASS to increase efficiency, safety and sustainability within the maritime sector. The North Sea is an epicentre for innovative companies and their pilot projects.

A common MASS framework is essential to give these advances every chance and to safely integrate these ships into conventional traffic. Our country is actively working on this at national level, with neighbouring countries and within IMO.

Working on the well-being of seafarers and promoting diversity

Last year, Belgium organised the first high level conference on the well-being of seafarers with a focus on their rights and the promotion of women in maritime. The impact of new technologies on seafarers was also an important part of the discussions.
But there is more. For promoting seafarers' welfare and diversity:

we strive with all partners for actions and agreements at every relevant level.
our country is committed to strictly enforce international conventions and inspects ships calling at Belgian ports and ships under the Belgian flag worldwide.
Project Olivia - Belgium's most popular girl's name - showcases ambassadors to inspire more women to join the maritime sector.
we do what we say: there is gender balance in our administration and our delegations at IMO.
Belgium is committed to preventing and taking action against violence and harassment, both within IMO and ILO.

Securing the sector to work safely both in ports and on the world's oceans

The maritime sector is increasingly threatened by organised crime. Protecting the safety of seafarers and the industry as a whole requires cooperation at all levels and between all countries.

In Belgium, we are strongly committed to this, both legally and operationally. The Maritime Security Act incorporates international requirements in our regulations. This means that port facilities and ships apply more stringent security measures, such as mandatory risk assessments, screenings and incident reporting, and cooperate closely with security services.

In addition to legislative work, we invest in concrete initiatives. The anonymous reporting platform PortWatch is a successful partnership between public authorities, port authorities and private players. We also work closely with major shipping companies to improve information exchange and deploy the latest technologies. Our ports apply strict security standards, which gives justice and police extra support in their work.

But security does not stop at national borders. Belgium has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with several countries to share information and cooperate at international level. Within IMO, we advocate a strengthened partnership with UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) to tackle cross-border crime more effectively.