Pratik Bijlani – The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response has made significant strides in advancing global maritime environmental standards during its 12th session in January 2025. A key outcome is the draft 2025 Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships, which aims to reduce shipping and fishing-related plastic waste, enhance public awareness, improve port reception facilities, and foster international cooperation. Expected to be adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83) in April 2025, the plan includes mandatory measures to mitigate risks associated with transporting plastic pellets by sea and proposes setting up a global database for reporting lost fishing gear.
Further, the Sub-Committee endorsed guidelines on in-water cleaning of biofouling to align with the 2023 Biofouling Guidelines, ensuring safer practices for invasive species management. Other notable efforts include updates to the 2023 Guidelines for developing the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, strengthening protocols under the Hong Kong Convention. Discussions also addressed regulatory measures to manage discharge waters from Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS), with the GESAMP Task Team refining methodologies for assessing environmental risks.
In a proactive move, the Sub-Committee approved draft guidelines on Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to minimize NOx emissions and agreed on interim guidance for biofuel blends under MARPOL Annex I, facilitating sustainable fuel transport. Moreover, the revision of MARPOL Annex IV is ongoing to enhance the performance of sewage treatment plants, focusing on effluent quality and management.
An innovative concept of “polar fuels” is under review to mitigate Black Carbon emissions in the Arctic, alongside efforts to improve oil spill response capabilities in cold regions. These initiatives, underpinned by international collaboration and scientific research, highlight IMO’s commitment to sustainable maritime practices and its pivotal role in protecting marine ecosystems.
Marex Media