IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) will conduct a meeting on 18 to 22 February to IMO’s headquarters, London. IMO’s agenda includes MARPOL Annex VI guidelines, safety measures on reducing the risks of use and carriage of heavy fuel oil, as well as measures aiming to decrease the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping.
Specifically, the meeting will firstly finalize draft guidelines on the implementation of the 0.50% sulphur limit under MARPOL Annex VI.
The guidelines, that will be discussed, will enable the preparations for and the implementation of the lowest limit for sulphur content in vessels’ emissions, that is to take effect on January 1, 2020.
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Moreover, under consideration will also be the draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, that are related to fuel oil samples and testing.
Also, the verification of fuel oil sulphur content and draft amendments to associated port State control and onboard sampling guidelines will be in the spot of discussions.
IMO has already issued ship implementation planning guidance, in attempts to helping shipowners cope with the new limit.
The meeting will begin to work on improvements and solutions on decreasing the risk of use and carriage of heavy fuel oil, concerning the vessels that sail in Arctic waters, for instance.
The work on identifying appropriate control measures to reduce the impact on the Arctic of Black Carbon emissions from international shipping will continue.
In addition, the meeting aspires to think of comprehensive proposal to amend Annex 1 to the IMO Convention for the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention), in order to include controls on the biocide cybutryne.
Furthermore, IMO’s sub-Committee will revise the guidelines on the assessment of liquid substances that are transferred in bulk.
In conclusion, the meeting will review the 2015 Guidelines on Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems.
