From maritime salvage to IMO 2020 strategy: Two actions to protect the environment

Marine protection is one of the main Sustainable Development Goals designed by the United Nations. Specifically, Goal 6.3 – Clean Water and Sanitation – defends that the spill of dangerous and pollutant substances must be eliminated. This principle is inherent in Maritime law since maritime salvage concerns not only vessels and cargo but also the marine environment. Since the Torrey Canyon accident in 1967, spilt crude has become the centre of attention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Nowadays, IMO has extended its scope of application to new threats, such as pollutant gas emissions. Its last approved strategy is IMO 2020, focused on the reduction of sulphur emissions by vessels. It came into force on the 1st of January 2020, becoming one effective measure to minimize the sulphur emissions to the atmosphere and to improve the environmental conditions, not only at the sea but also in the coastal and inland areas. •Maritime salvage was the first strategy to protect the maritime environment.•Lloyd's Open Form has been declining in its usage.•The last strategy designed by IMO is IMO 2020 to fight against sulphur emissions.•The future is IMO 2030, focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.