From Policy to Practice: Shipping’s Regulatory Autumn Puts Proof on Trial

The IMO chose From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence as its World Maritime Day theme for 2026 and 2027. Few slogans have been better timed.

The past fortnight has delivered a clear reminder that the industry’s regulatory problem is no longer a shortage of rules. It is the widening distance between what is agreed in London and Brussels and what can actually be demonstrated on deck, in the engine room and in a ship’s emissions data.

Start with the audit evidence. The IMO has completed the first cycle of its mandatory Member State Audit Scheme, with 168 Member States audited