The 80th session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), 3-7 July 2023, discussed measures to tackle the serious issue of marine litter due to shipping.
Carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers
The MEPC noted and concurred with the ongoing work in the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) to address the risks to the marine environment from plastic pellets. This risk has been highlighted by incidents, including the X-Press Pearl in 2021, during which 11,000 tonnes of plastic pellets were spilled off the shore of Sri Lanka.
The Committee noted the two-stage approach agreed by the Sub-Committee in relation to reducing the environmental risk associated with the maritime transport of plastic pellets in freight containers, namely:
- The development of a draft circular containing recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers, addressing in particular packaging, notification, and stowage, to be finalized at PPR 11 following input by the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 9, which meets 20-29 September) ,with a view to approval by MEPC 81 in 2024;
- The development of amendments to appropriate mandatory instruments, which could be informed by the experience gained from the implementation of the voluntary measures.
The MEPC noted that the PPR Sub-Committee has agreed that plastic pellets should not be carried in bulk.
Mandatory reporting of lost containers – draft MARPOL amendments set for approval
The MEPC approved, for subsequent adoption, draft amendments to MARPOL protocol I referring to a procedure for reporting lost freight containers. Containers lost overboard can be a serious hazard to navigation and safety at sea as well as to the marine environment.
The draft 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.”
Related draft SOLAS chapter V amendments were approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 107), to 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 also to the flag State.
Capacity building to address marine plastic litter from ships
GloLitter Partnerships, a project between the Government of Norway, IMO and FAO is supporting developing countries, including Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), in identifying opportunities for the prevention and reduction of marine litter.
