IMO MEPC meeting draws to a close with final text on GHG strategy awaited

As the shipping industry awaits the final text coming out of this week’s IMO Marine and Environmental Protection Committee meeting (MEPC 83) this evening - on a global strategy to achieve net zero for shipping – other decisions have already been taken.

IMO reports that MEPC has already taken the following decisions and has: 

-       adopted a new 2025 Action Plan to combat marine plastic litter from ships 

-       approved Interim guidance on the carriage of blends of biofuels and MARPOL Annex I cargoes by conventional bunker ships  

-       approved Guidance on in-water cleaning of ships' biofouling  

-       adopted Amendments to the 2023 Guidelines for the development of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials 

In addition, the Committee has established a new North Atlantic Emissions Control Areas (ECA), the world’s largest stretching from Portugal to Greenland, as well as reviewing Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas for marine protection, and the Ballast Water Management Convention.  

At the opening of MEPC 83, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez (pictured) told more than 1200 delegates that he hoped “by the end of the week, we can take another significant step forward in delivering the goals of the IMO GHG Strategy.” He praised Member States for their efforts to find common ground, while noting that key issues remain under negotiation. 

“The work is not yet done,” he added. “But we are nearly there - and I am sure in the coming days we will reach that point. What we do here will have a global impact on an industry that continues to demonstrate its essential role in the world.”