Colombia Ratifies International Protocols with the IMO, Strengthening Maritime Safety and Sector Competitiveness

Colombia took a significant step in strengthening its maritime policy by depositing the instruments of ratification of the 1988 Protocols to the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966 and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) of 1974 with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

This procedure completes the constitutional and international process required for the adoption of both instruments into Colombian law, consolidating the country’s commitment to the highest international standards of maritime safety, protection of life at sea, and efficiency in maritime transport.

The deposit was made by the Embassy of Colombia in the United Kingdom to the Secretariat of the International Maritime Organization in London, following approval by the Congress of the Republic, review of constitutionality by the Constitutional Court, and presidential sanction.

Colombia Strengthens Maritime Safety with International Standards

The entry into force of these protocols will allow the formal implementation in the country of the Harmonized System of Recognition and Certification, a mechanism that will facilitate Colombian-flagged vessels obtaining their certificates and inspections under the standards and schedules established by the IMO.

This measure will optimize administrative processes, reduce operating costs for the maritime sector, and strengthen navigational safety, aligning Colombia with international best practices.

DIMAR Led the Ratification Process

The General Maritime Directorate (DIMAR), as the Colombian Maritime Authority, led the process of adopting these international instruments, promoting the harmonization of the national regulatory framework with IMO provisions.

The Director General of the Maritime Directorate, Rear Admiral Hermann Aicardo León Rincón, highlighted the importance of this progress for the country.

«With the submission of these instruments to the International Maritime Organization, Colombia is taking a significant step in strengthening its maritime policy and adopting the highest international safety standards. This achievement reflects the State’s commitment to safer navigation, the protection of human life at sea, Colombia’s positioning on the international stage, and the promotion of the competitiveness of the national maritime sector,» he stated.

Benefits for Colombia
With the ratification of these protocols, Colombia strengthens:
The safety of maritime navigation.
The protection of human life at sea.
The competitiveness of national maritime transport.
The certification and inspection of ships under international standards.
The protection of the marine environment.
The country’s leadership in international maritime governance.

The General Maritime Directorate reiterated that it will continue to lead the implementation of the international instruments promoted by the International Maritime Organization, with the aim of consolidating safer, more efficient, and sustainable navigation, for the benefit of the country’s maritime and port development.