The IMO CARES Forum, held from June 24 to 26, 2024, at the IMO Headquarters in London, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to advance the objectives of the IMO CARES project. The event facilitated collaboration among representatives from the IMO, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs), expert consultants, recipient countries, and technology providers.

The forum included a review of project activities and progress to date, along with engaging discussions and presentations from technology providers and representatives of the project beneficiary countries. Key activities and outcomes from the event included:

• IMO CARES Presentation
• Technical Coordination Meeting: A retrospective exercise to reflect on pilot project proposals, identify strengths and challenges, and develop a robust impact measurement methodology.
• Sponsored Lunch and Side Event: Informal networking opportunities and a side event focused on decarbonizing domestic shipping in developing regions, featuring high-level remarks, technical presentations, and panel discussions.
• Panel Discussions: In-depth discussions on the challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing domestic shipping for developing states, and the role of technology in maritime decarbonization.
• Monitoring and Feedback Session: Data collection through outcome mapping/harvesting workshops to inform the evaluation and future planning of the IMO CARES project.
• Internal Planning Meeting: Brainstorming sessions to generate ideas for the Phase II CARES Proposal, focusing on aligning the project with local priorities and advancing its overall goals.

The forum successfully convened stakeholders to advance the objectives of the CARES project, fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and setting the stage for the future of sustainable maritime practices.

For more details, you can read the full IMO CARES Forum Report.