IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee 71 opens

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 71) is now under way at IMO Headquarters in London from 3 to 7 July.

One of the key items on the agenda is the implementation of the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, which will enter into force on 8 September 2017. The Committee will consider draft amendments to the BWM Convention which will determine the implementation schedule for installations of ballast water management systems.

Following ratification by Greece last week, on 26 June, the BWM Convention has been ratified by 60 countries, representing 68.46% of world merchant shipping tonnage, IMO informed.

The Committee is also set to address the prevention of atmospheric pollution from ships, including the reduction of GHG emissions and the implementation of the 0.50% global sulphur limit for sulphur in fuel oil used on board ships.

The MEPC was opened by Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Arsenio Dominguez (Panama).