Discussion and review of a range of topics and work on ballast water management will be carried out at the world’s top marine environment review body, which meets in London in late September / early October.
Delegates to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (Meeting No. 82), a committee of the International Maritime Organization, will focus on a range of matters that require in-person discussion to help-along work on preparing draft amendments to the Ballast Water Management Convention. MEPC 82 will also consider proposals on approval of modifications to ballast water management systems with existing type approval, and to guidance for completing the ballast water management book.
The Ballast Water Convention (which is more formally known as “The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004“) aims to prevent the spread of aquatic organisms from one part of the globe to another by means of being transferred in a ship’s ballast water.
Anti-plastic work continues
MEPC 82 will also carry out a review into the effectiveness of the Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships (see Resolution MEPC.310(73) of October 2018). The Action Plan (which also applies to fishing vessels) was developed to contribute to the global solution to prevent plastic litter entering the oceans through ship-based activities. Scientific studies have shown that despite the existing regulatory framework to prevent marine plastic litter entering the sea via ships, discharges of plastic still occurs. The Action Plan is said by the IMO to provide a mechanism to identify specific outcomes and actions to achieve those outcomes “in a way that is meaningful and measurable”. Outcomes sought by the Action Plan include reduction of marine plastic litter from fishing vessels; reduce commercial freight shipping’s contribution to marine plastic litter; improve the effectiveness of port reception facilities and treatment in reducing marine plastic litter; enhance public awareness / education / seafarer training; improve understanding of the contribution of ships to marine plastic litter; improve the understanding of the regulatory framework; strengthen international co-operation; and targeted technical co-operation and capacity building.
MEPC 82 will also look into how to progress the safe transport of plastic pellets by ship. Back in March this year (at MEPC.81) the IMO approved “Recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers“. MEPC 82 “is expected to “approve draft guidelines on good practice relating to clean-up of plastic pellets from ship-source releases”.
