The above short video, produced by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, showcases how IMO’s MARPOL Convention has a long history of protecting the environment from the impact of shipping via a robust regulatory framework and emphasizes its ongoing commitment to this important work.
On September 28th, 2023, at IMO World Maritime day, the whole maritime community will celebrate 50 years since this milestone environmental treaty became effective with the aim to address the prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
Today, MARPOL covers pollution of the sea by oil, noxious liquid substances in bulk, harmful substances in packaged form, sewage from ships and garbage from ships, air pollution from ships, and regulation of energy efficiency. It also allows for the adoption of special areas with even stricter controls on operational discharges.
However, the Convention has evolved through the years. For example, in 2018, the adoption of the Initial IMO Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Strategy to decarbonize the sector as soon as possible has set the policy framework for tMARPOL to enhance energy efficiency of ships.
