The Hellenic Republic of Greece

International Maritime Organization

I. Addressing the Effects of Noise Caused by Ships in the Ocean
Used as a way to see, in gathering information like topography and wave direction, in
navigation, in finding a mate, in searching for prey, foraging, in avoiding deadly predators or
hazards , and of course communication, it is not an understatement to say that sound is a very
important and a key biologic factor in the survival of marine animals. As light visibility
underwater diminishes as you go deeper in the ocean depths, marine animals need to rely on
another sense to survive the ruthless habitat underwater. To sense its surrounding, the marine
animals evolved to have two sensitive sensory systems to detect underwater sounds and
vibrations. The presence of noise in maritime ships, however, disrupts their hearing as such it
incapables them in functioning properly in their lives, some may lead to behavioural changes,
miscommunications, chronic stress; the noise might even inflict permanent hearing damage.
Noise from ships primary originates in its engine, onboard machinery, by hydrodynamic
flow, propellers cavitation, and sonar devices onboard. The marine animals are now in a
pinch as the number of ships sailing in global waters increases, endangering them in the
process. Alarmed by the situation at hand, The Hellenic Republic of Greece would ensure the
protection of marine species from noise pollution, and also be taking part in the process of
reworking ship mechanism or parts to lessen the noise emitted at sea.
In response to the effects and dangers of noise pollution in marine animal lives, and its
consequences to the ecosystem undersea, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
implemented MEPC.1/Circ.833, a non-mandatory guideline intended to provide advices in
reducing underwater noise from commercial shipping. The guideline will prioritise in the
reworking of propellers, hull form, and machineries. Meanwhile the Marine Environment
Protection Committee (MEPC) of the IMO, established a forum in order for member states to
share possible resolutions or proposals in solving shipping noises. The convention of The
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), in contrast, deals with safety measures or requirements for
designing and operating commercial ships.
As such the Hellenic Republic of Greece would like to suggest 1) Funding of research for
new ways to minimize ship noise by altering its mechanisms. 2) Stricter implementations of
past frameworks or guidelines.
 The Hellenic Republic of Greece
International Maritime Organization
II. Enhancing the Protection of Commercial and Passenger Vessels in International Waters

Bred by blind social acceptance, lack of legal consequences, chronic unemployment, crime
opportunity, corruption—evolved the now called Maritime Piracy that had plagued the world’s
waters since ancient history. This had risked the safety of ships and their passengers, as well as
the threat in maritime navigation, trade capability of a nation, political stability, development of
nearby states, and even environmental hazards. According to the International Maritime
Organization (IMO), the number of pirate attacks had increased by 75% since the last decade.
These attacks are primarily clustered in the Indian Ocean, as well as South China, East Africa,
South America, and Caribbean Seas. Understanding the current issue, the Hellenic Republic of
Greece would assist and participate in minimizing or even eradicating Piracy in Global waters.
Concerned with the situation at hand, as well as the contradictions of piracy in Article 1 of the
United Nation’s (UN) Charter, the number of conventions, institutes, and organization dedicated
to Anti-Piracy had been everything but decreasing. The United Nations formally recognized
Piracy as a threat, in the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982, and
to this day continued to combat Maritime Piracy in International Waters. In the year 2008 alone,
the United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) adopted three resolutions namely, S/RES/1816,
S/RES/1846, and S/RES/1851 all of which aimed in helping Somalia fight back piracy in its
coastal waters. 2 years later, the General Assembly adopted GA/RES/65/37 a resolution to initiate
member states to participate in the implementation of the UNCLOS and its laws. Meanwhile, the
Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the IMO, adopted MSC/RES/89/25, that urges all member
states to take action, and exert its practices to avoid confrontation with Sea Pirates. The IMO in
the other hand, adopted Res.1025 called Code of Practice for the Investigation of Crimes of
Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ship, as well as C 102/14, namely Protection of Vital
Shipping Lanes. In Asia, a regional government-to-government agreement formed at the end of
2006, in order to promote and enhance cooperation against piracy and armed robbery at Asian
waters, called Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery
against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). The European Union (EU) implemented Operation Atlanta, the
deployment of EU naval fleets in the Somalian waters. NATO also deployed its own flotilla
called Ocean Shield with the same objective as Operation Atlanta.
The Hellenic Republic, urges member states to cooperate in ensuring the safety of ships, as well
as its passengers in maritime routes, as well as the reduction of Pirates in both international and
sovereign waters. The Hellenic Republic of Greece suggests the following: 1). Formation of
regional maritime surveillances or simply coastal monitoring, which will keep on watch of
coastal territory and its activities. 2) Addition of military personnel presents at ships, or
encouraging appointment of private personnel that will aid in protecting the ship. 3) The addition
of barriers or fences in ships to avoid the possibility of hijacking. 4) Have patrolling ships in
active ship routes.
 The Hellenic Republic of Greece
International Maritime Organization
References
Topic 1
Smita (2019 Oct 9) Effects of Noise Pollution from Ships on Marine Life Retrieved Nov 6 from
https://www.marineinsight.com/environment/effects-of-noise-pollution-from-ships-on-marine-
life/
The University of Rhode Island Discovery of Sound in the Sea Retrieved Nov 6 2019 from
https://dosits.org/animals/sound-reception/how-do-fish-
hear/?fbclid=IwAR209EG1f5wFQHKIsDdLo2bXsUL2ZMS7LmEfqVJCT2PD6RL1uPK2_YB3
nos
IMO Retrieved Nov 6 2019 from
http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/Pages/Noise.aspx

Topic 2
IMB Retrieved Nov 5 2019 from
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Bruno, Paul (2019, August 5) What Is the Cause of Sea Piracy? Why Modern Sea Piracy Is a
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WCbacKhr5tCfmetPI8xG-TllxsBAFx5amzuU0jwAG6ugXkEEyiM
UN (2016 April 25) Security Council urges stronger regional approach on eradicating piracy in
Gulf of Guinea Retrieved Nov 6 2019 from https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/04/527672-
security-council-urges-stronger-regional-approach-eradicating-piracy-
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Global Policy Forum EU Forces in Anti-piracy Raid on Somali Mainland retrieved from Nov 6
2019 from https://www.globalpolicy.org/security-council/index-of-countries-on-the-security-
council-agenda/somalia/51608-eu-forces-in-anti-piracy-raid-on-somali-
 The Hellenic Republic of Greece
International Maritime Organization
mainland.html?fbclid=IwAR3i5KTA_KBjlyw2FmwGduWPRDdLVfou3yy62X4QOEo5lAQW7
Tuj66AQJO8