Supporting international ship safety management in Latin America and the Caribbean

Two regional workshops to support implementation of IMO's International Safety Management (ISM) Code have taken place in Panama and Antigua and Barbuda (March 2026). The workshops strengthened cooperation and alignment among maritime administrations and industry stakeholders across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Officials from flag State and port State control authorities, and industry representatives, shared experiences and addressed common challenges in applying the ISM Code, which provides an international standard for the safe management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention. Through targeted technical sessions, case studies and interactive working groups, participants deepened their understanding of the Code's requirements, recent IMO developments and the findings of the IMO study on the effectiveness and effective implementation of the ISM Code.

By fostering open dialogue on legislative transposition and its difficulties, port State control practices and oversight of safety management systems, the workshops helped promote greater regional consistency and a more harmonized approach to implementation.

The events strengthened regional capacity by encouraging the exchange of best practices, reinforcing institutional knowledge and supporting collaboration through existing regional mechanisms. Together, these outcomes contribute to safer shipping, stronger regulatory performance and more effective, consistent implementation of the ISM Code across the region.