The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) is currently holding a week-long meeting, with the implementation of the 0.50% limit on sulfur in fuel oil on board ships from January 1, 2020 among key items on the agenda.
In addition, the PPR, which is meeting February 5 to February 9 at the IMO headquarters in London, will continue to look at how to measure black carbon emissions from shipping.
Other matters on the agenda include the development of further guidance to support the implementation of the Ballast Water Management Convention, including ballast water sampling and analysis.
Revised guidelines for the use of dispersants for combating oil pollution at sea, which take into account experience from the Deepwater Horizon incident, are expected to be finalized. The Deepwater Horizon was an ultra-deepwater offshore drilling rig that exploded and sank in 2010, causing the death of 11 crewmen and the largest oil spill in U.S. waters.
The ongoing revision of the product lists and index in the international code for carriage of chemicals in bulk will continue, as well as consideration of requirements to address the discharge of high-viscosity solidifying and persistent floating products (such as certain vegetable oils).
The meeting will also consider including new controls on the biocide cybutryne in the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships.
Photo: GeoffreyWhiteway
