Your voice at the IMO: Inside the IMO Maritime Safety Committee

How Global Shipping Rules Are Made

What happens inside the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee and how are global shipping rules really made? This episode takes you behind the scenes during MSC.

Full Description

In this episode of Your Voice at the IMO, we go inside the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at the International Maritime Organization, the body responsible for shaping global maritime safety regulations.

As highlighted in the session, MSC acts as the “capstone for all IMO safety regulation” , bringing together inputs from multiple subcommittees covering ship design, systems, and the human element.

Joining the discussion are:

• Captain Barry Sadler AFNI, Marine pilot and experienced maritime professional
• Mrs Diwari Peterside AMNIS, Maritime law researcher and student at the World Maritime University

Together, they provide a unique dual perspective, from seasoned operational expertise to emerging policy insight.

What you’ll learn in this video

• What the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) does
• How global maritime safety regulations are developed and agreed
• The role of subcommittees (HTW, SDC, SSE) in shaping policy
• Key topics discussed at MSC
• The difference between plenary sessions and working groups
• Why collaboration between states, NGOs, and experts is essential

This episode also explores how next-generation maritime professionals and volunteer expert delegates contribute to global decision-making—bringing fresh perspectives and real-world relevance into regulatory discussions.

Whether you're a seafarer, maritime student, policymaker, or industry professional, this episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at how international maritime safety standards are shaped—and how you can be part of that process.