IMO CONTINUES STEADY PROGRESS AGAINST MARINE POLLUTION
The 12th session of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) was held in London from January 27 to 31. During the event, a number of key issues related to the protection of the marine environment were discussed.
One of the highlights was the adoption of the 2025 Action Plan to Combat Marine Plastic Debris from Ships. This plan, which aims to reduce the contribution of fishing vessels and shipping to plastic pollution, will be launched with the goal of achieving concrete results by 2030.
As part of the 2025 Action Plan, the Sub-Committee considered the need for regulations to reduce the environmental risks posed by the marine transport of plastic pellets. A table of considerations for possible amendments to existing mandatory instruments was developed to guide future legislative decisions. This step is part of the effort to improve the management of plastic waste in the oceans and to prevent these materials from further impacting marine biodiversity.
Another important measure discussed at the meeting was the creation of an international database to record lost or abandoned fishing gear, which accounts for a significant proportion of plastic pollution in the oceans. The Sub-Committee agreed that IMO Member States should cooperate in collecting key data, such as the location of incidents and the characteristics of lost gear. This database is intended to improve the management and prevention of plastic pollution from industrial fishing.
The Sub-Committee also endorsed the development of a guide for the in-water removal of biological fouling on vessels. This action aims to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, a growing problem in marine ecosystems due to the transport of organisms attached to ships' hulls. The guide will provide best practices for carrying out these cleanings in a manner that is safe for both the environment and the structure of the ships themselves.
In addition to plastic pollution, the IMO subcommittee continued its work on other critical aspects of shipping, such as the regulation of black carbon emissions in the Arctic and effluent discharges from exhaust gas cleaning systems. Discussions included the development of measures to mitigate the environmental impact of bunker shipping in the Arctic and the introduction of guidelines for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, which help to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from ships.
IMO CONTINUES STEADY PROGRESS AGAINST MARINE POLLUTION
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