At its meeting in London, March 31-April 3, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) heard a call from environmental groups to tighten restrictions on shipping around Antarctica. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) said many of the ships carrying the growing number of tourists are not ice-strengthened. Vessels that are not reinforced to withstand ice in the ocean are at risk of oil spills if the vessel gets in trouble.

The organization also wants banning of ships that use heavy oil as fuel and tighter restrictions on discharging sewage. The tighter restrictions would impact businesses, particularly large cruise ships. Research ships use marine gas oil that will evaporate and disperse if it is spilled.