In an effort to tackle with marine litter, the IMO MEPC 81, that took place 18-22 March 2024, discussed about the reporting procedures for lost containers and carriage of plastic pellets by sea and took important decisions towards. Containers lost overboard can be a serious hazard to navigation and safety at sea as well as to the marine environment.
In particular, the MEPC adopted amendments to MARPOL Protocol I, referencing a procedure for reporting lost freight containers. The amendments to article V of Protocol I of the MARPOL Convention (Provisions concerning reports on incidents involving harmful substances) would add a new paragraph to say that “In case of the loss of freight container(s), the report required by article II (1) (b) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS regulations V/31 and V/32.”
The amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2026.
Related draft SOLAS chapter V amendments are set to be adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108), in May 2024, and will require the master of every ship involved in the loss of freight container(s) to communicate the particulars of such an incident to ships in the vicinity, to the nearest coastal State and to the flag State. Latest report by the WSC, updated that in 2022, 661 containers were lost at sea. Reviewing the results of the total fifteen-year period surveyed (2008-2022), on average 1,566 containers were lost at sea each year.
Furthermore, MEPC approved Recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers, agreed by the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 11). The recommendations address packaging; transport information; and stowage of plastic pellets.
