News

The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 75th session from November 16th to 20th, 2020. This brief provides an overview of the more significant issues agreed at this session, including matters pertaining to GHG reduction efforts, air pollution, energy efficiency and ballast water management. Download the MEPC 75 Brief here

The importance of sharing experience and best practices of shipping in Polar waters was highlighted during the 4th Meeting of the Arctic Shipping Best Practice Information Forum. Addressing the meeting, IMO’s Heike Deggim provided an overview of IMO regulations and guidance for shipping in Polar regions including the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), mandatory since 2017, which sets additional requirements for safety and protection for ships trading in the harsh environments of the Arctic and Antarctic waters. Recent developments include the development of safety measures for ships not currently covered by the Polar Code, because they do not fall under the SOLAS convention. These include fishing vessels and yachts. IMO has developed two sets of draft guidelines, one on safety measures for fishing vessels of 24 m in length and over operating in polar waters and one for pleasure yachts of 300 gross tonnage and above not engaged in trade operating in polar waters. Both are expected to be approved next year. Read more: IMO News

Albion Marine welcomes the draft amendments to the MARPOL convention that require ships to combine a technical and an operational approach to reduce their carbon intensity. Draft new mandatory regulations to cut the carbon intensity of existing ships have been approved by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee. This builds on current mandatory energy efficiency requirements to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The MEPC also agreed the terms of reference for assessing the possible impacts on States, paying particular attention to the needs of developing countries, in particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs). Read more: IMO News

Microplastics, the residue of plastic in the ocean, is one of the challenges which environmentalists are looking to confront. In a first of its kind demonstration project, Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines in collaboration with the Miura Company have developed and tested a water filtration device to capture the plastics. The microplastics collection device is activated during the operation of the ballast water treatment system typically during the cargo handling operations in a port. Using a filter with a backwashing function for the ballast water treatment, the device efficiently collects microplastics trapped in the filter before the treated water is discharged overboard. Based on the results of the first test, the project team is continuing to improve the device. MOL says that they are examining ways to make it easier for crewmembers to use and increase microplastics collection capacity. More information: Maritime Executive