Tag: plastics

Researchers from Kyushu University and Asahi Kasei Corporation have developed a new way to estimate the age of microplastics found in the upper oceans. The method involves a combination of analyzing plastic oxidation levels with environmental factors such as UV exposure and ambient temperature.

To reduce the risk of large nurdle spills experienced in recent years, the regulatory work is now focusing on packaging requirements for plastic pellets within the freight container, notification to the carrier so that containers containing plastic pellets can be identified quickly to aid recovery, and stowage requirements for containers containing plastic pellets, argues Mrs. Kim Jefferies, Special Adviser, Arendal. 

Last IMO Committee, MEPC 79, took place from 12-16 December 2022 adopting amendments to MARPOL Annex V to make the Garbage Record Book mandatory also for ships of 100 gross tonnage and above and less than 400 gross tonnage, among others issues.

BIMCO announced a collaboration with Ocean Bottle, in order to support its campaign to remove single-use plastic bottles from ships.

The first regional task force meeting for Asia-Pacific countries in a major international project to help reduce marine plastic litter from maritime transport and the fishing sector has been held in Busan, Republic of Korea.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is reiterating its ban on all single-use plastics at all ports under its jurisdiction as it moves forward to sustainable port operations.

The OceanCleanUp  team just published its latest findings on the composition, origins and age of plastic debris accumulating in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) in the journal Scientific Reports. The new study reveals 75% to 86% of plastic debris in the Great Pacific GPGP originates from fishing activities at sea.

The Ocean Cleanup has now officially removed more than 100,000 kg of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP).

Ocean plastic pollution was a focus at the recent UN oceans conference, which issued a declaration in support of an earlier decision by the UN Environment Assembly to start negotiations for a global plastics treaty. IMO also participated in the conference, highlighting its commitment to addressing climate change ocean issues for a more sustainable future.

Columbia Ship Management has joined forces with the Cyprus-based AKTI Project and Research Centre to support research into the detection and analysis of coastal microplastics in waters off the coast of Cyprus.