Polar shipping is changing rapidly — more vessels, new routes, evolving regulation, and growing scrutiny from communities, industry, and governments alike. The Polar Maritime Seminar is where these conversations happen.
When: 1-2 February 2026
Where: IMO Headquarters – London, England
What: In-person seminar by invitation only
Who: The seminar is co-sponsored by Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship of the Arctic Council and the IMO, in cooperation with the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group of the Arctic Council
As sea ice continues to diminish, PAME's newly updated Arctic Shipping Status Report #1 reveals a 40% increase in unique ships and a near doubling of the total distance sailed within the Arctic Polar Code area between 2013 and 2025. The trajectory is clear — and so is the need for informed, coordinated responses to the challenges and opportunities this growth presents for safety, the environment, and the communities of the Arctic.
IMO and the Kingdom of Denmark's Chairship of the Arctic Council, in cooperation with the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group of the Arctic Council (PAME), will convene the 3rd Polar Maritime Seminar at IMO Headquarters, London, on 1–2 February 2027.
1–2 February 2027 · IMO Headquarters, London
Eight sessions on the state of polar shipping.Registration is open until 26 January.