Tag: MEPC 68

 Map showing major shipping routes across the globe Excitement is building towards a new global agreement this year in Paris to control global pollution causing climate change, in an effort to keep global temperature increase and related climatic disruptions below a level that avoids the most dangerous impacts. Virtually all countries are expected to make commitments to reduce their emissions, and the major industrialized and emerging economies are expected to emerge with commitments for all emissions within their territory, resulting in coverage of the vast majority of global emissions. However, two important sectors that are an integral part of the global economy could be left out of the Paris agreement. Emissions from international aviation and shipping, accounting for more than 5% of global emissions, are not including in country targets, since emissions occur during trips between countries or over international waters. Setting shipping targets This week in London, a meeting will take place under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which will consider a new proposal to establish a target for the global shipping sector, covering the 70 000 odd ocean-going large ships that transport cargo and passengers between countries. The last time the global community tried to directly tackle emissions ...

  The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition expressed concern over the lack of any new significant provisions in Part II of the Polar Code thatwould adequately protect the Antarctic environment from pollution.The London-based UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) is expected to adopt Part II of the Polar Code concerning pollution prevention towards the end of the week 11 – 15th May 2015. Part II of the Code addresses pollution discharges from ships such as oil, chemicals, sewage and rubbish while at sea and is expected to strengthen existing regulations particularly in the Arctic. It will compliment Part I, which addresses safety of shipping in polar regions and was adopted towards the end of 2014. Both Parts of the Code are expected to take effect from the beginning of 2017. “If the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopt Part II of the Polar Code focusing on pollution prevention as expected to this week, itwill do little to provide any new protection for Antarctic waters”, said Sian Prior, Shipping Advisor to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition.” Prior continued: "The Polar Code should require ships sailing in Antarctic waters to: Completely stop discharging raw sewage. Under Part II, this will continue to be ...

  The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meets for its 68th session from 11 to 15 May 2015, at IMO Headquarters in London.  Items on the agenda include the proposed adoption of the environmental part of the Polar Code and associated draft MARPOL amendments to make the Code mandatory; the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention; further work on air pollution and energy efficiency measures; and a proposal to extend the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) to parts of the Coral Sea. Polar Code environmental provisions set for adoption  The MEPC is expected to adopt the environmental requirements of the mandatory International Code for ships operating in polar waters (Polar Code), and the associated MARPOL amendments to make the Code mandatory. This follows the adoption, by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in December 2014 of the Polar Code and related amendments to make it mandatory under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).  The Polar Code is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2017.   The Polar Code covers the full range of design, construction, equipment, operational, training, search and rescue ...