IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL 50), March 2026

INTERPORTPOLICE participated in the 50th session of the International Maritime Organization Facilitation (FAL) Committee, which took place from 23 to 27 March 2026, at IMO Headquarters in London. The main objectives of the FAL Convention are to prevent unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, to aid co-operation between Governments, and to secure the highest practicable degree of uniformity in formalities and other procedures. Central to this process is effective cooperation, coordination and communication between government departments, border control authorities, law enforcement, security practitioners and industry. As an organization in consultative status with IMO, INTERPORTPOLICE actively promotes interagency cooperation and supports the work of IMO. INTERPORTPOLICE cosponsored proposals to FAL 50 on guidelines on the prevention of access by stowaways and the allocation of responsibilities to seek the successful resolution of stowaway cases; cosponsored proposals for new output to develop a non-mandatory maritime cyber code; and continues to contribute to the work of a correspondence group progressing the revision of IMO’s guidelines for the prevention and suppression of the smuggling of drugs on ships. Following the discussions, FAL 50 adopted resolution FAL.20(50) on “Revised guidelines on the prevention of access by stowaways and the allocation of responsibilities to seek the successful resolution of stowaway cases”; and new Guidelines on maritime cyber risk management (MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/Rev.4). For more information on IMO’s work on facilitation, visit https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/facilitation/pages/default.aspx